Ozzy Announces Retirement Tour (Again!)

Ozzy Osbourne will embark on a two-year "farewell world tour" starting in 2018.

On the trek, Ozzy — Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter — will celebrate more than five decades as a performer (both as a solo artist and as lead singer of BLACK SABBATH, which formed in 1968). This tour, expected to take Ozzy around the world with dates into 2020, will mark the end of global touring for the legendary artist, though he will continue to perform select live shows. Ozzy will be joined by longtime collaborators Zakk Wylde (guitar), Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (bass), Tommy Clufetos (drums), and Adam Wakeman (keyboards).

"People keep asking me when I'm retiring," Ozzy says. "This will be my final world tour, but I can't say I won’t do some shows here and there."

Osbourne's farewell tour will kick off in May 2018 with shows in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Those will be followed by a couple of early June dates in Russia before Osbourne embarks on on a month-long European leg, including appearances at most of the summer festivals. The beloved rock icon will subsequently headline a North American concert tour produced by Live Nation, details of which will be revealed in 2018.

Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne told Rolling Stone that the 68-year-old singer would carry on as a solo artist after BLACK SABBATH's farewell tour came to an end this past February. "We'll continue until Ozzy finishes, and Ozzy won't be long behind them when he calls it a day," she said.

"It's not going to be within the next year, but it's coming up," she said. "I don't want Ozzy singing 'Crazy Train' at 75. I think it's best you go out before you hit that 70 and go out on top."

We'll see about that.

Meh, he is getting up there. I'd check it out if it came around here.

I saw him last on the "No More Tours" tour. Good show.

I'll go as long as they keep the prices reasonable. I've seen him several times, and I love his music, but not gonna pay stupid prices to see him at this stage of his career.

It won't be Ozzy, it's an automatron.

Wrecked Neck wrote:

I'll go as long as they keep the prices reasonable. I've seen him several times, and I love his music, but not gonna pay stupid prices to see him at this stage of his career.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I've seen him numerous times already (solo and with Sabbath) and while I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him once more, I wouldn't pay crazy prices for it.

I wonder if he'll do what The Who have been doing for what seems like an eternity.

Sharon probably has the hologram all set up to take his place.

The difference between this time and No More Tours is the fact that he is a lot older. So I think this time might be true... Although he did say he was retiring only from world tours, not select shows here and there.

Ozzy was the headliner at my first gig 31 years ago and I've not seen him since. If I was going to it would have been the final Sabbath show in Birmingham.

He's an old man now and world tours are a big deal, there were parts o the Sabbath tour where he just wasn't up to it so it's the right time.

I'd like to see Sharon get one more decent studio album out of Ozzy now that Zakk is back with him.

(pffft) I'm so old that I remember his first "farewell" tour!!

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'd like to see Sharon get one more decent studio album out of Ozzy now that Zakk is back with him.

Did not know that zakk was back with ozzy. Good to hear

Fat Freddy wrote:

(pffft) I'm so old that I remember his first "farewell" tour!!

Me too. Saw KISS on their Farewell Tour of '96(?) as well.

Gilbert wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:
I'd like to see Sharon get one more decent studio album out of Ozzy now that Zakk is back with him.


Did not know that zakk was back with ozzy. Good to hear headbanger

Zakk played some shows with Oz over the summer and is part of the farewell tour band. No word on a new album or anything though. Just wishful thinking on my part.

Ozzy does usually well when zakk is around. Curious what a new studio album would sound like.

He sounds truly awful live these days. He should announce retirement today.

Quote :

Me too. Saw KISS on their Farewell Tour of '96(?) as well.

That still does seem like a farewell tour though. The KISS touring now does not hold a candle to what that lineup/performance was like circa '96.

I never liked his vocals anyway. But there has always been something catchy in his tunes...

I was actually just watching the No More Tears concert where he talks about that being his last tour.

Fat Freddy wrote:

(pffft) I'm so old that I remember his first "farewell" tour!!

Lol I missed his farewell tour, but did catch him on his retirement sucks tour.

He'll turn 69 before this tour even starts...this is it

glassprison wrote:

He sounds truly awful live these days. He should announce retirement today.

When I saw him with Sabbath a couple of years ago, he was clearly the weakest link in an otherwise solid group. But what he lacks in vocals, he makes up with his goofy, shuffling lovable charm. He's one of a kind. There will never be another Ozzy.