A near-death experience on his ATV bike has convinced Ozzy Osbourne to take a break from the road.
In light of the serious injuries he suffered in last month’s accident, the Prince of F–ing Darkness has decided to scrap a 20-date British tour to give himself more time to recover.
“I am deeply disappointed, but it’s out of my control,” the 55-year-old heavy metal icon said in a statement released through his London-based publicist. “Right now I need to concentrate on my recovery and unfortunately this is something I cannot rush.”
Osbourne suffered several broken ribs, a fractured collarbone and a broken vertebra in his neck after falling off his quad bike at his Buckinghamshire estate and had no pulse in the moments afterward. Luckily, he was revived by his security guard after he stopped breathing.
The December 8 crash left the former Black Sabbath frontman on a respirator in intensive care and heavily sedated for two weeks. He also underwent emergency surgery to stem bleeding in his lungs and restore blood flow to a major artery.
After stabilizing him, Osbourne’s doctors said the rocker did not suffer any paralysis, but might need up to six months to make a full recovery.
Despite chomping at the bat, er bit, to get back onstage again, Ozzy said he’ll rebook the England dates as soon as “the doctors tell me I am fit and ready.”
Crazy, but that’s how it goes.
Osbourne was supposed to launch a trek through his native England and other European cities last year, including a charity gig for Fashion Rocks for the Prince’s Trust, but was forced to postpone due to medication he was taking for a tremor which also had the adverse affect of making his throat dry. The jaunt was then rescheduled for February 22 at London’s Wembley Arena followed by shows in Birmingham with Godsmack on February 24 and 26 before his latest health scare.
Reflecting back on his near-death experience, the Ozman told London’s Daily Mirror in a New Year’s interview that he has given up riding ATV’s for good. Osbourne now wears a neckbrace and will have his left arm in a sling for awhile.
The good news is that the singer was able to leave the hospital in time to spend Christmas with his wife Sharon and their teenage children, Jack and Kelly. He’s due to remain in Britain until doctors give him the okay to travel to his home in Los Angeles.
