Ozzy Osbourne Announces New Farewell Tour
Nine months after Black Sabbath completed their final tour, singer Ozzy Osbourne has announced his own farewell tour, which will kick off in May 2018 and run into 2020.
"People keep asking me when I’m retiring," Osbourne said in a statement, fresh off his Ozzfest. performance on Saturday. "This will be my final world tour, but I can’t say I won’t do some shows here and there."
Osbourne will begin this final tour in Mexico on May 5, before launching a string of dates in South America, then in Europe and finally in North America. You can see the latest tour dates below. Details of the North American leg of the tour will be announced in 2018.
His touring band will include guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and two guys who played on Black Sabbath's farewell shows, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman.
This isn't Osbourne's first farewell tour. He last proclaimed his pending retirement back in 1992, after embarking on his No More Tours trek, a pun on his current album at the time, No More Tears. But days after the shows were over, the singer revealed a change of heart, saying he was "already bored with retirement." "Retirement sucked," said Osbourne. "It wasn't too long before I started getting antsy and writing songs again."
He's now working on new music, his first since 2010's Scream, but he's uncertain whether he'll release an album or just singles from the sessions. On Nov. 17, Black Sabbath will release The End, a live CD/DVD taken from their final two shows on the tour. "My emotions are flying all over the place," Osbourne said during rehearsals prior to Sabbath's final performance. "Since I've got to this building today, I've been happy, I've been tearful. Let's see what happens."
Ozzy Osbourne Farewell Tour Dates
5/5, Mexico — TBA
5/8, Santiago, Chile —TBA
5/11, Buenos Aires, Argentina — TBA
5/13, São Paulo, Brazil— TBA
5/16, Curitiba, Brazil — TBA
5/18, Belo Horizonte, Brazil — TBA
5/20, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — TBA
6/1, Moscow, Russia — Olympiisky
6/3, St. Petersburg, Russia — Ice Palace (Ledovi Dvorets)
6/6, Finland — TBA
6/8, Solvesborg, Sweden — Sweden Rock Festival
6/10, Donington, UK — Download Festival
6/13, Prague, Czech Republic — Airport Letnany
6/15, Paris, France — Download Festival
6/17, Italy — TBA
6/20, Halden, Norway — Tons of Rock Festival
6/22, Copenhagen, Denmark — Copenhell Festival
6/24, Dessel, Belgium —Graspop Metal Meeting
6/26, Krakow, Poland — Impact Festival
6/28, Oberhausen, Germany — König-Pilsnet Arena
6/30, Madrid, Spain — Download Festival
7/2, Lisbon, Portugal — Meo Arena