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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Sean Morrison

Ozzy Osbourne cancels US tour due to medical treatment

Ozzy Osbourne, pictured in 2015, has been admitted to hospital after suffering from flu (Picture: PA)

Ozzy Osbourne has cancelled his tour of North America to undergo medical treatment.

The 71-year-old former Black Sabbath front man recently revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had previously been recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at home.

He had been set to embark on the US leg of his No More Tours 2 tour in May, but will instead travel to Europe for medical treatment.

In a statement, Osbourne said: "I'm so thankful that everyone has been patient because I've had a s*** year. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to Switzerland for treatment until April and the treatment takes six-eight weeks.

Rock star Ozzy Osbourne earlier revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Live Nation)

"I don't want to start a tour and then cancel shows at the last minute, as it's just not fair to the fans.

"I'd rather they get a refund now and when I do the North American tour down the road, everyone who bought a ticket for these shows will be the first ones in line to purchase tickets at that time."

The UK leg of the tour is set to begin in Newcastle upon Tyne in October.

The heavy metal star Osbourne, known to fans as the Prince of Darkness, revealed in January he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease.

He and wife Sharon, 67, said at the time they planned to go abroad for treatment, while Osbourne admitted he found it difficult to keep the facts about his health a secret.

He said: "To hide something inside for a while, it's hard. You never feel proper, you feel guilty.

"I'm no good with secrets. I cannot walk around with it any more because it's like I'm running out of excuses, you know?"

Osbourne's touring has been disrupted by a series of health issues. He fell at home last year, aggravating injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003.

His latest album, Ordinary Man, is set for release on Friday.

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