Ozzy Osbourne has launched the first episode of a three-part YouTube series documenting the making of new album Patient Number 9.
When Ozzy Calls, which was directed by Jack Osbourne, features snippets of interviews with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, alongside contributions from producer Andrew Watt and musicians Zakk Wylde, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Robert Trujillo and Mike McCready.
In the video, Sharon Osbourne reveals that Ozzy's desperate cry of "Mummy!" at the beginning of the album's title track is a reference to her, and that the album took much longer to complete than expected because of Ozzy's ongoing health battles, which included a three-month stretch in hospital.
"I was in a terrible amount of pain," says Ozzy. "But I stayed away from the jolly juice and the pills." And then he got Covid.
"Oh yeah," says Ozzzy. "I was fucked."
The first episode of the series also features the contributors revealing what it meant to play on the album, with Duff McKagan calling the experience "an honour" and Mike McCready saying, "for me to be a minuscule part of his history – like a footnote – is unbelievable."
Paitent Number 9 was released on September 9, and entered the UK album chart yesterday at number 2, losing out in the battle for the top spot to Robbie Williams's XXV. It's the Prince Of Darkness's highest UK chart position.
"It saved my ass," says Ozzy. "I was in a really bad place, and doing music's the only thing I know."
Ozzy's European tour kicks off in May next year. Full dates below.
Ozzy Osbourne 2023 Tour
May 03: Helsinki Hartwall Arena, Finland
May 05: Stockholm Friends Arena, Sweden
May 07: Dortmund Westfalenhalle, Germany
May 10: Madrid Wizink Arena, Spain
May 12: Bologna Unipol Arena, Italy
May 14: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
May 17: Budapest Arena, Hungary
May 19: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic
May 21: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
May 24: Hamburg Barclaycard Arena, Germany
May 26: Mannheim SAP Arena, Germany
May 28: Berlin Mercedes-Benz Arena, Germany
May 31: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, UK
Jun 03: Newcastle Utilita Arena, UK
Jun 04: Glasgow SSE Hydro, UK
Jun 07: Manchester AO Arena, UK
Jun 10: Dublin 3Arena, Ireland
Jun 12: London The O2, UK
Jun 14: Birmingham Resorts World Arena, UK
