Ozzy cans festival for surgery

Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne is to undergo surgery for an unspecified condition, it’s been confirmed.

The procedure has forced the cancellation of his Ozzfiesta festival, planned for Mexico on the weekend of May 27-31.

The singer, 66, will go under the knife ahead of Sabbath’s farewell show in Japan in November.

Ozzfiesta organisers say: “Ozzy is having surgery, scheduled for May, following his South American tour. He requires at least four weeks of recovery time. We are very disappointed that we need to cancel.”

The five-day event was to include performances by Ozzy’s solo band and Black Label Society, a dinner party with Sharon Osbourne, an acoustic performance by Zakk Wylde, charity golf tournament and comedy routines.

Sabbath are expected to complete a final album before embarking on a run of farewell shows towards the end of 2015 – which could feature original drummer Bill Ward. The singer plans to return to his solo career afterwards.

Freelance Online News Contributor

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.