Concerts canceled: Ozzy Osbourne can no longer go on tour because of his back problems

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Rock singer Osbourne at an autograph session in September: farewell to touring life

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Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

"Never could I have imagined that my days as a touring artist would end like this," Ozzy Osbourne sighed in a written message to his fans, which he published on social media on Wednesday morning.

In it, the legendary hard rock singer announces that he has had to cancel his announced 2023 tour dates in the UK and on the European continent.

The damage his spine suffered in an accident four years ago no longer allowed it, the statement said.

"I'm genuinely humbled that you guys have been patiently holding your tickets for so long," he wrote of the tour, which was originally scheduled for October 2020, then pushed back to early 2022 and is now set to take place in May 2023.

"I have realized that I am not physically able to play the upcoming concerts as I would not be able to make the necessary travel," said Osbourne.

The 74-year-old Grammy winner and former frontman of proto-metal band Black Sabbath wrote that his singing voice is perfectly fine.

But he is physically weakened after three surgeries, stem cell treatments, physical therapy and a novel HAL treatment that uses an exoskeleton robotic suit to improve movement and balance.

Osbourne thanked his family, fans, band and crew members, and metal band Judas Priest for supporting the tour.

The singer expressed his anger (with a curse) at disappointing his fans.

The cost of the tickets would be reimbursed via the ticket offices, it said.

Five concerts planned in Germany are also affected by the cancellation.

Osbourne should have played in Dortmund's Westfalenhalle on May 7th, on May 14th.

in the Olympiahalle Munich, on 24.5.

in the Hamburg Barclays Arena, on May 26th in the SAP Arena Mannheim, and on May 28th.

in Berlin in the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

His team is working on ideas for how he can perform in the future without having to travel from city to city and country to country, Ozzy Osbourne said in a statement.

feb/AP