Ozzy Osbourne retirement ‘coming up’ says Sharon

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne last week (Image credit: Getty)

Ozzy Osbourne will retire a short time after Black Sabbath play their final show, wife and manager Sharon has insisted.

She was speaking after the announcement that his Ozzfest and Slipknot’s Knotfest events would merge in September this year.

The California weekender takes place before Black Sabbath’s final scheduled appearance in Brazil on December 4 – although more shows could be added in 2017.

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Sharon made no reference to her marital split with the frontman, 67 – although she’d confirmed it last week.

She said: “I don’t want Ozzy singing Crazy Train at 75. I think it’s best you go out before you hit 70, and go out on top.”

She added: “It’s not going to be within the next year, but it’s coming up.”

Ozzy said: “Everybody’s dying, you know. I go, ‘I hope I don’t die tonight!’ It’s like the year of the dying rock star, isn’t it? It’s like one a week.”

He previously confirmed plans to refocus on his solo career once Black Sabbath’s The End tour was over. The band make a headline appearance at the Download festival next month.

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Black Sabbath The End tour 2016

Jun 01: Budapest Arena, Hungary
Jun 08: Berlin Waldebuhne, Germany
Jun 11: Download Festival, UK
Jun 13:Verona Arena, Italy
Jun 15: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jun 17: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 19: Hellfest, France
Jun 23: Halden Tons of Rock, Norway
Jun 25: Copenhagen Copenhell, Denmark
Jun 28: Vienna Stadthalle, Austria
Jun 30: Prague 02 Arena, Czech Republic
Jul 02: Krakow Tauron Arena, Poland
Jul 05: Riga Arena, Latvia
Jul 07: Helsinki Monsters of Rock, Finland
Jul 09: Stockholm Monsters of Rock, Sweden
Jul 12: Moscow Olympisky Arena, Russia
Aug 17: Wantagh Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, NY
Aug 19: Philadelphia Susquehanna Bank Center, PA
Aug 21: Washington Jiffy Lube Live, DC
Aug 23: Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
Aug 25: Boston Xfinity Center, MA
Aug 27: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
Aug 29: Toronto Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, ON
Aug 31: Detroit DTE Energy Music Theater, MI
Sep 02: Indianapolis Klipsch Music Center, IN
Sep 04: Chicago Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, IL
Sep 07: Dallas Gexa Energy Pavilion, TX
Sep 09: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater, NM
Sep 11: Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheater, UT
Sep 13: Portland Sunlight Supply Arena, OR
Sep 15: Oakland Oracle Arena, CA
Sep 17: Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, NV
Sep 19: Hollywood Hollywood Bowl, CA
Sep 21: Phoenix AK-Chin Pavilion, AZ
Sep 24: Devore San Manuel Amphitheatre, CA
Nov 16: Mexico City Foro Sol, Mexico
Nov 19: Santiago Estadio Nacional, Chile
Nov 24: Cordoba Orfeo Superdomo, Argentina
Nov 26: Buenos Aires Estadio Valez, Argentina
Nov 30: Curitiba Pedreira Paulo Leminski, Brazil
Dec 02: Rio de Jeneiro Apoteose, Brazil
Dec 04: Sao Pualo Estadio do Morumbi, Brazil

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.

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