Earlier this month, Ozzy Osbourne canceled his scheduled performance at Power Trip festival, a new, hard-rock and heavy-metal version of Coachella that broke the internet in March when the event announced its ridiculously star-studded lineup. That roster includes Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, TOOL, Iron Maiden and, replacing Ozzy, Judas Priest.
"Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I'm just not ready yet," the 74-year-old Black Sabbath icon said in a statement announcing the bad news, "and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-assed."
Today (July 24th), the heavy-metal godfather offered a health update, talking to co-host Billy Morrison on SiriusXM's Ozzy Speaks, revealing that he recently had a blood clot filter removed from one of his arteries and describing the challenge of trying to locate a suitable vein on his body. "I'm battling through," he said of his continuing struggles. Read a transcript and listen to an excerpt below.
Ozzy Speaks airs monthly on Ozzy's Boneyard, the singer's exclusive SiriusXM channel. The newest episode airs Thursday, July 27th at 5 p.m. ET and will be available on the SXM App.
BILLY MORRISON How are you mate?
OZZY OSBOURNE I'm battling through, like, for instance last Monday, I went to have a filter removed and I went...
MORRISON You texted me that. What's a filter?
OZZY When I had the blood clots in my legs, they put a filter in your artery to stop the blood clots going to your heart and your brain. It sounds worse than it is.
MORRISON It sounds terrible.
OZZY So, on Monday I went to have it removed. The blood clots have jammed you all up. It's just disappointment after disappointment. Just get this thing fucking done so I can go get on with my life.
MORRISON What a pain in the ass. I'm so sorry you're going through this.
OZZY So, they put a thing down there in my neck, straight down to my groin.
MORRISON What? Inside you?
OZZY Oh yeah.
MORRISON Oh my God. They put you out?
OZZY Oh yeah. Bing.
MORRISON We like that bit.
OZZY Yeah, but they can't even find a vein on me.
MORRISON Ozzy, I had them send in for specialists to try and get a vein on me.
OZZY Do you have that thing where they put a scan on you and find one inside?
MORRISON Yeah, but then they've actually gotta get it and I always, do you ever have this? They go, "Right. Show me your arm." I'm like, "Listen, I've got more experience than all of you put together."
