Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne has admitted he fears his life will end in a hotel room, after claiming he'd spent half a century continuously on the road. Despite his desire to give fans a final farewell show, at which he may need to be seated, he's adamant that his touring life is all but over.
"I’d love to say ‘never say never’, but it is time [to retire]. I don't do any of the rock star lifestyle any more," he explained. "I lived on the road for 50-odd years, and I’ve kind of got used to not picking up my bags and getting on the bus again... I’m kind of like a homebody. I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.” Ozzy has had plenty of past misadventures in hotel rooms, once landing himself a huge bill after throwing a TV out of the window at a plush Four Seasons resort.
He also reportedly damaged a hotel room almost beyond repair after bringing a dead shark into it, with bandmate Tony Iommi later recalling how he'd "hauled it through a window, dismembered it and soaked our room in blood".
Then there was the time when he locked himself in a hotel room for three months after he was fired from Black Sabbath over his drug and alcohol addiction.
The man who infamously bit the head off a bat live onstage is now certain he's had enough of his chaotic rocker lifestyle, though.
He added in this week's interview with the Guardian that he no longer drinks, smokes drugs or goes to bars and prefers the comfort of his own home.
He also joked that shopping with his wife leaves him feeling the urge to "stab" himself in the neck after just half an hour.
Now his priority is enjoying his home life at a relaxed pace he'd never thought possible during his "50 year" stint on the road - and he just wants to spend time with his grandkids, including daughter Kelly's toddler son Sidney.
Despite health issues, chronic pain and ambivalence about leaving the house, his devoted wife and manager Sharon urged him to do the final comeback concert "to give me a reason to get up in the morning" - and he's now expected to play in Birmingham on July 5.
