Sharon Osbourne reveals Ozzy can no longer walk as Parkinson’s worsens amid 'emotional' final gig

Sharon Osbourne has revealed her husband Ozzy can no longer walk due to Parkinson's disease. The Brummie rock star is set to make a highly-anticipated return to his hometown to play what has been dubbed 'the greatest heavy metal show ever'.

Wife and manager Sharon teamed up with Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Villa Park to announce the gig called Back To The Beginning. Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Pantera, Anthrax and Alice in Chains will join Black Sabbath.

But Ozzy's long-awaited return to the stage with Black Sabbath at Villa Park will be bittersweet. Despite no longer being able to walk, his 'voice is as good as it's ever been'.

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Speaking to The Sun, Sharon said: "He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. It’s not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it’s affected his legs.

"But his voice is as good as it’s ever been." Ozzy, 76, is due to move back to the UK next month.

He spoke on Sirius XM radio show in the US about Parkinson's - a condition where parts of the brain become progressively damaged, according to the NHS.

He said: "I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive. I may be moaning that I can’t walk but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it."

Black Sabbath have sold more than 75million records since forming in 1968, while Ozzy has released 13 solo albums. Stars including Slash and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses and bands including Limp Bizkit, The Smashing Pumpkins and Korn will be there on the day.

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, who is the show’s music director, said: "This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever."

Tickets go on sale at 10am on February 14 through Live Nation. Profits will be shared between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Black Sabbath's original line-up — Ozzy, Tony, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — will reunite for the first time in 20 years. On planning the concert, Sharon said it was 'tough' trying to find a date that all the stars were free.

It took about a year and a half to plan, she revealed. She added: "The response was overwhelming. I keep saying that the guys have been pioneers — they’ve been doing this for so long and have influenced so many bands.

"You can’t believe so many bands have come forward to do it." Prince of Darkness Ozzy last performed in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, when he walked on stage.

Sharon added: "It’s unbelievable, really, to think it’s all happening here at Villa Park as well. They’re hometown boys that were self-made, self-taught."