Moment With Mel: Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne seems like an unlikely subject to write about for this station, but there’s a reason why I’m sharing info about Ozzy. This morning, in an exclusive interview with “Good Morning America”, the legendary rocker shared that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Ozzy took a fall last year and had to cancel his tour, which was supposed to hit Charlotte. The fall injured Ozzy’s neck, and he had to have surgery last February. Ozzy says that surgery damaged some nerves in his body, but he also revealed today that his doctor then told him he was suffering from Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses slowly in most people, and has no cure.
According to Ozzy’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy has PRKN 2. She says, “It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it’s — it’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.”
Ozzy is on medication for the disease, and wanted to come clean with all his fans. Since the diagnosis though, Ozzy’s family has helped him get through his tough days, and they helped him return to the studio. His newest album titled “Ordinary Man” comes out in February.
Now, being a rock chick, this news makes me sad. But I also happen to be a big Ozzy Osbourne fan. I’ve seen him 11 times live, and he’s one of the few rock stars that I’d love to meet. Without question, Ozzy helped me make it though my teenage years.
Having older brothers, I got into Black Sabbath around the age of 13. I used to sneak in to my brother’s room and listen to his 8-track tapes. After learning about Black Sabbath, I then sought out early Ozzy solo albums.
I was the kid that everyone thought had a perfect life but in reality struggled with lots of issues. Ozzy was one of those artists that just spoke to my soul. I’d put on headphones and listen to Ozzy albums. His music helped me get through a lot of hard times. I was a kid that had a bit more than just teenage angst. I realize now I was dealing with depression, but back then, in 1986, I just knew I struggled with some things.
I know it seems odd, but when I hear certain Ozzy songs now, I can remember the dark times those songs helped me through. It’s amazing how music can affect people. I always felt like Ozzy understood the pain I was going through.
As we get older, so do our heroes and the people we admire, which is sad. Although Ozzy may seem like an unlikely hero, I’m a huge fan. His music has meant so much to me, and hearing this news today makes me a bit despondent. Much love and luck to Ozzy!
You can read more on his diagnosis here and the video from this morning is below.
