
Death never takes a holiday but you do: 10 best crime books for summer
Writers Chris Brookmyre and Dr Marisa Haetzman (Image: Getty Images)
Why has STV or BBC Scotland not given us a small screen version of Parry's Raven and Fisher Victorian murder mysteries? Budget - or the lack of it - is, presumably, the boring answer. But this splendid series, now drawing to a close, is tailor-made for a TV adaptation. Set in Edinburgh's medical community in the mid-1800s, this is the fifth and final volume in a series of wonderfully crafted entertainments by husband-and-wife duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, operating under the Ambrose Parry nom de plume. Victorian virtues turn out to be anything but in this gripping story which takes in photography, pornography and people trafficking.
White City
Dominic Nolan, Headline, £10.99, July 3
Out in paperback at the start of July, this is crime fiction as historical epic. Inspired by a real-life event - the Eastcastle Street robbery of a Post Office van in London in 1952 - this sweeping novel takes the temperature of the capital in the post-war years, culminating in the Notting Hill riots at the end of the decade. More James Ellroy than Agatha Christie, it's bleak, brutal and often thrilling. It's about cops and robbers - and how close both those sides can be - as well as postwar housing, Rachmanism (Peter Rachman is one of just a number of real-life people who appear in its pages; see also Lady Docker), racism and politics at the margins. Both vivid and visceral, it's a rewarding reminder of just how ambitious crime fiction can be.
The Good Liar, Denise Mina, Harvill Secker, £16.99, July 31
Oh, this is also very good. Published at the end of July, Denise Mina's new book is a reminder of just how potent a writer the Glasgow author is. The Good Liar is a standalone novel that is embedded in the worlds of forensic science and the law. Doctor Claudia O'Shiel is a blood spatter expert who becomes involved in the investigation of a brutal double murder in an opulent London townhouse. The chief suspect is a Viscount who's never out of the papers. What follows is a novel about grief (O'Shiel has recently lost her husband), the seductive nature of the British establishment and moral compromise. It's sharp, clear-eyed and clever.
Rum Punch, Elmore Leonard, Penguin, £9.99, out now
'Sunday morning, Ordell took Louis to watch the white-power demonstration in downtown Palm Beach.
''Young skinhead Nazis,' Ordell said, 'Look, even little Nazi girls marching down Worth Avenue. You believe it?''
Rum Punch, Elmore Leonard (Image: Penguin)
Ah, I'd forgotten what a joy it was to read Elmore Leonard. Since the author's death in 2013 he has slightly slipped out of the public eye, but Penguin has now added him to its Modern Classics Crime and Espionage series. The first three of 14 books - Rum Punch, The Switch and Swag - are out now and they're essential reading. Rum Punch is the source material for Quentin Tarantino's film Jackie Brown, which is fine and all, but the original is better. Leonard is one of the great prose stylists of the late 20th century. And these handsomely designed reissues are a wonderful excuse to become reacquainted with one of crime fiction's true originals.
The Cut
Richard Armitage, Faber, £18.99, August 28
Richard Armitage (Image: PA)
Actor Richard Armitage (The Hobbit, Captain America) made something of a splash with his debut thriller Geneva in 2023. This follow-up is a tricksy, time-switching story about High School rivalries and a teenage murder, jumping between then (the 1990s) and now. At times the result pushes hard against the border of believability, but you do keep reading to find out what really happened in the past and what's going to happen in the present.
The Man Who Died Seven Times, Yashuhiko Nishizawa, Pushkin Vertigo, £14.99, August 14
More tricksy, time-switching entertainment. On steroids. In fact Yasuhiko Nishizawa's crime novel - translated by Jesse Kirkwood - qualifies for that Doctor Who description, 'wibbly wobbly timey-wimey'. The man in the title is Hisataro's grandfather. He's dead on the first page and then comes back to life a few pages later. That's because for some reason his grandson regularly relives certain days over and over. And so when his grandad is killed - yes, it's murder - he decides to try and change the course of events. But it proves more difficult than he imagines. This is puzzle fiction for want of a better description. It has no other purpose than to entertain. It succeeds at that.
Like a Bullet
Andrew Cartmel, Titan Books,£9.99, July 8
Like a Bullet by Andrew Cartmel (Image: Titan Books)
This year has been a bumper one for Andrew Cartmel fans. There's already been a new Vinyl Detective book - Underscore, the eighth in this hugely entertaining series. And next month sees the third in his Paperback Sleuth series in which our morally ambivalent heroine Cordelia Stanmer tracks down rare paperbacks and somehow becomes embroiled in the odd spot of murder as a result. In her latest adventure she is tasked with finding copies of a pulp wartime series originally published in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In fine condition, it goes without saying. (Not mint condition. That's for coins, stamps, comics and records.) In doing so she meets dodgy brothers, one-armed ex-military men and an author with a taste for Bettie Page and bondage. It's a brisk amuse-bouche of a book, one that wears its learning lightly. Very moreish.
The Diary of Lies, Philip Miller, Polygon, £9.99, August 7
The third Shona Sandison thriller is full of spies, conspiracies, government secrets, the newspaper industry and, inevitably, murder. Plenty, then, for our journalist heroine to get her teeth into. Miller, formerly arts correspondent of this parish, has proven himself a very able crime writer in recent years. Among the many admirers of his last novel, The Hollow Tree, was David Peace, author of the Red Riding Quartet, and The Damned United no less.
Murder Takes a Vacation, Laura Lippman, Faber, £9.99, August 14
Mrs Blossom is, as the title implies, going on holiday. A cruise down the Seine. Quite something given that she has never left the United States before. It's just a pity that there has to be a murder at the start of it.
Veteran crime writer Laura Lippman has taken a minor character from her Tess Monaghan series and placed her front and centre in this cosy crime story. It works perfectly well enough as such, but, really, what makes this essential is that at heart it is a nuanced and clever character study of a flawed, decent woman in her sixties coming to terms with grief and a growing sense of adventure. Mrs Blossom is a delight to spend time with. Oh, and by the way, you may well come away from this with a newfound interest in the abstract artist Joan Mitchell and the ceramics of American industrial designer Russel Wright.
A Particularly Nasty Case, Adam Kay, Orion, £16.99, August 28
Not out until the end of August, former doctor Adam Kay has - as his publisher points out - 'decided to stop writing about saving people's lives and start killing them off instead.' Everyone from Russell T Davies to the aforementioned Chris Brookmyre and Joanna Lumley are raving about this development. Chapter 26 is entitled 'Autopsy-turvy'. How you respond to that may tell you whether you'll like it or not. (It made me smirk.)
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Emotional moment Ozzy Osbourne celebrates with daughter Kelly after she got engaged at last concert days before death
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EMOTIONAL footage shows the moment Ozzy Osbourne watched his daughter Kelly get engaged just days before his death. Kelly Osborne got engaged to her boyfriend Sid Wilson at the veteran rocker's final concert earlier this month. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Sid WIlson proposed to Kelly Osbourne earlier this month 6 Ozzy seemed very happy at the news Credit: instagram/kellyosbourne 6 Ozzy pictured with daughter Kelly back in 2020 Credit: Splash 6 Ozzy Osbourne died after a battle with Parkinson's Credit: Getty Images - Getty The daughter of Sharon and rock legend Ozzy shared a video of the moment Sid popped the question backstage at her father's final ever Black Sabbath gig. It was confirmed Ozzy tragically died today, following a battle with Parkinson's. The Black Sabbath star revealed he had the disease in an emotional interview in 2020. Earlier this month, Ozzy was seen unwinding with his family and friends backstage after his last ever performance on stage. More on Ozzy Osbourne: Who is Kelly Osbourne's fiance and Slipknot member Sid Wilson? Who is Jack Osbourne's wife Aree Gearhart and do the couple have any children together? Jack Osbourne's wife Aree Gearhart 'If it's end of the road, I can't complain' How hard-living rocker Ozzy Osbourne had no regrets amid health battles Ozzy Osbourne joined Black Sabbath on stage for poignant final show weeks before death aged 76 Emotional moment Ozzy celebrated with daughter Kelly after she got engaged at last concert days before death But Sid, 48, had an even bigger surprise for Kelly, 40, when he dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. Stood in front of Sharon and Ozzy, they appeared to have an idea of what was to come as the former X Factor judge could be heard saying to everyone in the room: "You've got to be quiet!" Sid then took the hand of Kelly, who was dressed down in some comfy leopard print trousers and a simple black hoodie. He said to the TV personality: "Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world!" Ozzy then appeared to give the game away as he jokingly quipped with his signature potty mouth: "F*** off, you are not marrying my daughter!" The group laughed before Sid continued as he said: "I want to spend the rest of my life with you - and ask in front of all of our family and friends, Kelly, will you marry me?" Ozzy Osbourne top five greatest moments Kelly turned her head as she looked on open-mouthed before Sid began to stand up and place the ring onto her finger. Proud dad Ozzy could not hold back his excitement after the incredible news. The star and Sharon were among those beaming and cheering after the cute moment. The legendary rocker has been married for over 40 years to X Factor icon Sharon, 71. Sid proposed to Kelly with a bespoke custom-designed ring from Los Angeles based jewellers, Mouawad. He designed the ring with the team through various one-on-one meetings in order to ensure it was right for Kelly. Sid chose to curate a dazzling 18K yellow gold ring adorned with both white and yellow diamonds, as well as citrine accents. Kelly and the Slipknot star had actually been friends for over 20 years before they took their friendship to the next level in 2022. Ozzy's family statement BLACK Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. A statement from his family said: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. "Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Their son was born later that year, prompting Kelly to tell her fans that becoming a mum 'is the best thing that ever happened to me.' She's also frequently heaped praised on her partner, calling him 'My best friend, my soulmate,' and adding, 'After 23 years of friendship, I can't believe where we have ended up!' The engagement came backstage as Ozzy played his final ever show with Black Sabbath at Villa Park. The rocker, 76, had curated a day of epic rock music with a series of iconic bands and stars lined up to play before his final farewell set. Called Back To The Beginning, it was frontman and rock veteran Ozzy's last time performing on stage amid his worsening diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. It was the first time in 20 years that the original Black Sabbath line-up have performed together. Ozzy had vowed it would be his final performance due to his deteriorating health. He went public with his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2020 before finally succumbing to the disease in his health battle. Ozzy Osbourne's iconic career The singer then pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963, aged 15. After appearing in a handful of school plays, Ozzy joined Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler in their first group Rare Breed in 1967. When that band split, the pair reunited in Polka Tulk Blues alongside Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The group later became known as Black Sabbath and went onto shatter the music world with their whining guitar solos, Occult-based lyrics and Ozzy's screeching vocals. In 1970, the group gained a cult following in both the US and UK after releasing their eponymous first album. Black Sabbath saw incredible success with hit tracks such as Paranoid but discord in the group saw most of the original line-up leave. Ozzy himself quit the band in 1978, with a spiral into drug abuse leading to a divorce from first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with. It was then he first met a young Sharon Arden, who Ozzy at first wrote off as he believed she would think he was a "lunatic". But the singer could not be more wrong and the pair married in Hawaii in July 1982 before going on to have three children together, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. With Sharon's encouragement and help from her music manager dad Don, he began to carve out a successful solo career. His seminal first album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 became a multi-platinum success thanks to Ozzy's howling vocals and macabre laugh on hit Crazy Train. Coupled with the Prince of Darkness' insane tour that saw him bite the head off a live bat, a string of successful tracks followed - cementing Ozzy as a rock legend around the world. In 1992, the singer announced his retirement but four years later created the beloved annual music festival Ozzfest with Sharon, which featured heavy metal acts touring the US and some of Europe. Ozzy returned to Black Sabbath in 1999, with the band winning a Grammy for best metal performance for the song Iron Man. They later earned the same award in 2013 after releasing single God Is Dead? from album 13. 6 Kelly and Sid are set to marry after sharing the happy engagement Credit: Getty


Metro
9 hours ago
- Metro
Music legend Ozzy Osbourne dies 'surrounded by love' aged 76
Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76 (Picture: Getty Images) Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. The music legend's family confirmed the news in a statement earlier today, sharing that he died this morning. The message, from his wife Sharon Osbourne and their three children – Kelly, Jack and Aimee, read: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. 'We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Ozzy's cause of death has yet to be confirmed, but he had open about his devastating battle with Parkinson's over the last few years. Osbourne and Sharon have been married since 1982 (Picture: Wireimage) The sad news comes just weeks after he performed with Black Sabbath for the final time. At the beginning of the month, he took to the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham for the Back to the Beginning show, and delighted the crowd with a short solo. During the all-day event, he was also joined on stage by bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. 'It's so good to be on this stage. You have no idea,' he said, thanking those who had gathered at the stadium 'from the bottom of [his] heart. 'You have no idea how I feel.' Ozzy recently performed on stage at Black Sabbath's farewell gig In January 2020, he revealed in an emotional interview that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's after suffering health complications due to a fall in 2019, which meant he had to have surgery on his neck. Sharon explained: 'It's Parkin's II, which a form of Parkinson's. There's so many different types of Parkinson's. It's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does effect certain nerves in your body. 'It's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.' The star had been battling a string of health issues (Picture: Getty) Speaking to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, she continued: 'I'm on a host of medications, mainly for this surgery. I've got numbness down this arm from the surgery, my legs [keep] going cold. 'I don't know if that's Parkinson's or what. That's the problem, because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. It's a weird feeling.' The Black Sabbath legend added that he was taking medication for his Parkin's. The couple were seeking treatment in Switzerland for his illness. The couple share children Jack, Kelly and Aimee (Picture: Getty) In 2019, Ozzy suffered a string of illnesses and accidents, which began with hospitalisation for pneumonia. Then, the reality star suffered a horror fall in his LA home, which dislodged the metal rods in his spine that had been put in after a quad-bike accident in 2003. Speaking to the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine, he recalled: 'I went to the bathroom in the night, lost my balance and landed flat on my face. I saw this big white flash when I hit the floor and I thought, 'You've finally done it now'. 'I knew it was bad, I thought I was paralysed, so very calmly I said, 'Sharon, I can't move. I think I've done my neck. Phone an ambulance'.' The musician had to undergo three operations following the fall, and had to spend Christmas away from Sharon and daughter Kelly as doctors advised he was not well enough to fly back to the UK. Osbourne, real name John Michael Osbourne, rose to fame in the 1970s as the frontman of metal band Black Sabbath, during which time he was nicknamed The Prince Of Darkness. They went on to release tracks such as Paranoid, Iron Man and Changes. His most infamous moment was in 1982 when he bit the head off a bat – believed to be dead at the time – while on stage at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 20. The creature was launched at him from the audience by a fan and it was only after he had bitten into it that he realised it was a real animal. He was later rushed to hospital for a rabies injection. To mark the occasion he released a plush bat with a velcro detachable head. This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates. If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. For more stories like this, check our entertainment page. Follow Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. Arrow MORE: Cheaper by the Dozen child star Jimmy Hunt dies aged 85 Arrow MORE: The Cosby Show stars lead tributes to Malcolm-Jamal Warner following drowning


Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Scotsman
Ozzy Osbourne dies at the age of 76 weeks after final Black Sabbath concert
Getty Images Black Sabbath frontman 'died surrounded by love' according to his family Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, his family has announced. A statement from his family said: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock. His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands. Getty Images for The Rock and Ro Ozzy Osbourne obituary: From factory worker to music's Prince of Darkness A behemoth among the monsters of rock music, Ozzy Osbourne will be best remembered for his showmanship and unique sound. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock. His theatrical stage presence – including once biting off the head of a bat – and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure. Band break-ups fuelled by disputes with fellow members and drug abuse and a well-documented battle with alcoholism cemented that reputation. He was also among the vanguard of now-ubiquitous modern reality TV stars, appearing with his family in the hit MTV show The Osbournes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands. The pair then linked up with the other founder members of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, to form what was then called Earth Blues Company – later shortened to Earth – in 1968. Initially a Mod who loved soul music, according to his biography on the band's official website, Osbourne crafted his darker image after writing lyrics for a song entitled Black Sabbath after the 1963 Boris Karloff film of the same name. The name stuck – after they were forced to change it from Earth – and the band went on to sell millions of records over the next decade on the back of sound-defining tracks including Paranoid and War Pigs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ozzy Osbourne has battled a series of health issues in recent years | Getty Images A product of their working-class roots and the post-Vietnam War era, the band tackled themes of war, social chaos and the supernatural. But drug use began to take its toll on Osbourne and his relationship with his fellow band members, and he was eventually fired in 1979. He launched a solo career, enjoying success during the 1980s, before reforming with Sabbath several times – including in 2016 for a final world tour. As a group, Black Sabbath are widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a solo artist, Osbourne released 11 albums, with his debut Blizzard Of Ozz issued in 1980, which featured two of his most revered songs, Crazy Train and Mr Crowley. The Birmingham-born singer sold more than 100 million records worldwide with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. In 2014, he was presented with a global icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Osbourne married his first wife Thelma Riley in 1971 and became a stepfather to her son. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The couple also had two children but split in 1982 after, he admitted, his rock 'n roll lifestyle meant he put her 'through hell'. He married Sharon, the daughter of his former Black Sabbath manager Don Arden, in July of that year. The pair had met in the 1970s via her father and she took over managing Osbourne after he was booted from the heavy metal group. Ozzy and Sharon had three children together: Jack, Kelly and Aimee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The couple became an unlikely hit after starring between 2002 and 2005 in The Osbournes, which also launched the careers of Jack and Kelly, but the pair temporarily split in 2016. Former X Factor judge Sharon later revealed they had tried marriage counselling to get their relationship back on track – but gave up because it made him angry. In 2017, during an interview with music magazine Rolling Stone, he joked that the secret to his marriage was 'don't get caught with your mistress'. He is quoted as telling Rolling Stone: 'When I was a crazy f*****, I'm lucky she didn't walk out. Now I'm coming on five years clean and sober, and I've realised what a f****** idiot I was. I mean, I'm still nuts, but in control of it a bit more.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Osbourne added: 'When I said, 'Don't get caught by your missus,' I'm not proud of all that s***. I upset my wife and I upset my family and I made a lot of shock and shame. I love my wife, and it made me realise what a f****** idiot I've been.' He also told the magazine he had taken up painting to relax and that he was 'obsessed with Game Of Thrones', the TV series based on George RR Martin's books. In 2016, he revealed he was undergoing 'intense therapy' for a 'sex addiction' that nearly resulted in the disintegration of his marriage but he later told The Times he was not a sex addict, saying: 'I'm in a f****** rock band, aren't I?' In 2017, he and Sharon renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Osbourne has also been a firm supporter of the health service, having been treated by NHS staff in 2003 after a near-fatal accident at his Buckinghamshire home left him with a fractured neck vertebra, fractured ribs and a broken collarbone. The singer often hit the headlines for his off-the-wall comments, like his quip about Brexit to the Big Issue magazine in 2018. 'People keep going on at me about that – is it a big deal over there?' he asked in an interview with the publication. He added: 'I don't read the newspapers and I don't really talk politics because I don't really know. I don't really understand Brexit.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In his later years Osbourne attempted to press on with his rock career, but was hampered several times by illness and injury. In early February 2019, Sharon revealed he had been admitted to hospital after suffering from flu. She said her husband had experienced 'complications' from the illness and doctors advised him to go to hospital. Sharon tweeted: 'As some of you may have heard, Ozzy was admitted to hospital following some complications from the flu. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'His doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery. Thanks to everyone for their concern and love.' The illness led to him cancelling a string of tour dates while he recovered, including postponing the UK and European legs of his No More Tours 2. A tweet from his official account said planned performances in Australia, New Zealand and Japan had also been axed. In October 2018, he insisted he was not retiring, telling Rolling Stone: 'In essence, what I'm trying to do is slow my lifestyle down to a more comfortable way of living.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But within months he was forced to postpone another string of tour dates – including a show at the famous Hollywood Bowl – after suffering a fall at his Los Angeles home in April 2019. In November 2019, he returned to the stage for a one-song performance at the American Music Awards alongside rappers Post Malone and Travis Scott. The trio performed the song Take What You Want, from Malone's album Hollywood's Bleeding, although Osbourne spent most of the performance sat immobile in a gothic-style throne towards the back of the stage. Another blow came in January 2020 when the singer revealed on US television that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was discovered by doctors after a fall. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sharon, who was at his side during the Good Morning America interview, said the diagnosis was 'not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination'. She added: 'But it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.' The musician was revealed to have a rare form of the disease called Parkin 2, which he had since birth. In May 2022 Sharon shared the news that Ozzy had tested positive for Covid, and just days later she too tested positive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In August that year he made a surprise appearance onstage in his home city of Birmingham to close out the 2022 Commonwealth Games, backed by Black Sabbath as fireworks lit up the sky. But early in 2023 he announced via a lengthy statement on social media that following extensive spinal surgery he was not 'physically capable' of doing his tour dates in Europe and the UK. He said his singing voice was fine but that, following three operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy sessions and more, his body was 'still weak'. Osbourne was scheduled to return to the stage in October 2023 at the Power Trip music festival in Indio, California, alongside other rock powerhouses including Metallica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However in July he once again was forced to bow out, saying he had been 'optimistic' about a summer return but did not want the show to be 'half-assed'. Osbourne did not return to touring in 2024, but was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for a second time, one of the few to be given the honour. He also took aim at US rapper Kanye West that same year, for sampling a Black Sabbath song after being refused permission, and Osbourne referred to his remarks about Jewish people. Osbourne said on social media he did not want to be associated with West as he has brought 'untold heartache to many'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He bid farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion in his final live performance earlier this month. The legendary rocker told thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5 that it was 'so good to be on this stage' as he performed his last set from a large black throne. Osbourne and his fellow original Black Sabbath members – Iommi, Butler and Ward – were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert. Among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N'Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.