Ozzy Osbourne is having his heart monitored daily ahead of Black Sabbath gig

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed his medical worries ahead of his final Black Sabbath gig in July (Picture: Harry How/Getty Images)

Ozzy Osbourne is under strict medical supervision ahead of his big Black Sabbath goodbye gig on July 5 in his beloved Birmingham.

The Back To The Beginning show, taking place at the iconic Villa Park stadium, will see 76-year-old Ozzy reuniting with Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time in 20 years.

It comes after Ozzy revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020, and two years after he paused touring following extensive spinal surgery in 2023.

It’s been a ‘slow’ recovery process for the TV star, who has now revealed his heart rate is being monitored daily in the run up to the big final gig.

Chatting on Ozzy Speaks, as reported by Mail Online, his blood pressure is being taken 15 times a day.

Ozzy explained: ‘I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.

He will be taking to the stage for a solo segment before his reunion gig with the band (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images) Ozzy revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020 (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

‘It’s endurance. The first thing that goes when you’re laid up is your stamina.

‘I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I’ve got this f***ing device on my finger. It’s a monitor to say how my heart rate is.’

He also opened up about his mental state.

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor) slow movement stiff and inflexible muscles

A person with Parkinson’s disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.

These include:

memory problems depression and anxiety balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall) loss of sense of smell (anosmia) problems sleeping (insomnia)

Although there’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.

‘My head’s crazy. ADHD – I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner,’ he said.

I’m not going up there saying “It’s going to be great. I’m really confident.”

‘In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, “I’m going to play. I’m going to die.”

He continued: ‘And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs. Sharon goes, “just don’t think about it”. I obsess about a f***ing bird c***ping on my show.

‘But all I can say is I’m giving 120 percent. If my God wants me to do the show. I’ll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I’ll be insane by Friday. So I’m just taking it one day at a time.’

Black Sabbath have performed a few iterations of their band throughout the years, but not with the original line up, as Birmingham will experience in July.

(L-R) Musicians Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi will be reunited for the first time in 20 years (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Black Sabbath formed when Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne (left to right) hoped to escape factory life (Picture: Chris Walter/WireImage)

The fundraising one-off concert will see Ozzy perform a solo segment before the legendary rockers come together one final time.

Proceeds will raise money for Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Earlier this month, Ozzy confessed he might be ‘sitting down’ for the show.

‘I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up,’ he told The Guardian.

He said the reunion concert was conceived by his wife, Sharon, as ‘something to give me a reason to get up in the morning’.

‘I do weights, bike riding, I’ve got a guy living at my house who’s working with me. It’s tough – I’ve been laid up for such a long time,’ he said.

‘I’ve been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It’s like starting all over again.

‘I’ve got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going.

‘I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs.

The icon said he could be sitting down for the July 5 gig (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) It will take place at Villa Park, with support sets from the likes of Metallica, Slayer and Alice in Chains (Picture: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

‘I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around.

‘I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.’

In 2019 Ozzy had a fall at home which exacerbated injuries from a serious quad bike crash in 2003.

The all-day event at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where the heavy rock pioneers formed in 1968, will also feature sets by a host of major metal bands including Metallica, Slayer and Alice In Chains.

In 2017 the band played what was billed to be their ‘last’ gig with Ozzy, guitarist Iommi and bassist Butler – but without Ward on drums.

Black Sabbath’s story began when Ozzy, Iommi, Butler and Ward were looking to escape a life of factory work.

Their eponymous debut album in 1970 made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records.

They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.

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