Why Ozzy Osbourne Would ‘Take A Bad Gig Over No Gig’

Legendary singer Ozzy Osbourne has been around since his rise in the ‘70s as Black Sabbath’s lead vocalist. The singer-songwriter has had his ups and downs, healthwise and in his career, but he says he would rather fail than do nothing at all.

In February, Ozzy announced that he would not be touring anymore due to his health and physical limitations; however, he will be back in October 2023 for the inaugural Power Trip festival in California.

Ozzy shares his experience on bad gigs

Ozzy admitted that he did some bad gigs in the past, he would rather do so than let his waiting audience down. “I remember some good gigs, and I’ve done my fair share of f–king bad gigs. A guitar player can change his guitar. A drummer can change the drum. If my voice goes, I’m f–ked,” the singer said.

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He also recalled his experience at Nassau Coliseum in New York, where he had to perform even after his voice went out. “The kids were already there, and I thought, ‘What the f–k am I gonna do now?’ I went out and tried to sing,” Ozzy shared. “They gave me a standing ovation. The kids would rather see you being bad than go home.”

Ozzy’s thoughts on retirement

For Ozzy, live performance is a major part of his life, and despite having to cancel his 2023 European tour due to health concerns, the singer is still hoping to get on the road and keep doing what he loves best. “I’ve gotta do more gigs if I have to get someone to wheel me out there,” Ozzy said. “I mean, you can’t retire from this game. It’s not a job, it’s a f–king passion. I don’t know how to do anything else.”

“The thought of sitting in my house all day. I’m a road dog, you know? I’ve been doing it f–king 55 years. It’s the best thing to have ever happened to me,” the 74-year-old said.