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Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham: Will he come to Germany again?
Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
British rock legend Ozzy Osbourne made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Monday night.
In front of thousands of spectators, the former Black Sabbath singer played the joint hit "Paranoid" with his former bandmate and guitarist Tony Iommi at the Alexander Stadium.
"Let's go crazy!" yelled 73-year-old Osbourne to the excited crowd.
Osbourne and Iommi founded Black Sabbath in Birmingham more than 50 years ago together with Bill Ward and Geezer Butler.
The influential heavy metal band also gave their last concert in the city in 2017.
Osbourne, who remains active as a solo artist, has struggled with health issues in recent years.
Appearances planned in Germany
Osbourne has suffered from Parkinson's for years.
In an interview in 2020, the rock star talked about how much the disease was troubling him: »For the last year I've actually just been lying in bed and felt sorry for myself.
I told myself, 'I'm dead anyway, I'm finished, it's all over,'" Osbourne said.
Quite a few had speculated that he would never perform again.
But next year he wants to make up for his farewell tour, which has been postponed several times.
Among other things, appearances in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Dortmund and Mannheim are planned.
Osbourne, also known as the "Prince of Darkness," caused a stir 40 years ago when he bit off the head of a bat on stage.
His band Black Sabbath achieved cult status and released 19 albums by 2013.
Beginning in 1980, Osbourne achieved several platinum awards as a solo artist.
Jeff Lynne caused negative headlines around the Commonwealth Games, which take place every four years.
Surprisingly, his band, Electric Light Orchestra ("Don't Bring Me Down"), did not perform at the graduation ceremony.
Electric Light Orchestra is considered one of the most important groups Britain's second city has ever produced.
bam/dpa