In 2010, a Massachusetts-based research company called Knome used a blood sample taken from Ozzy to map out his genetic code and attempt to figure out how he has survived after years of abusing drugs and alcohol. Researchers at Knome hoped that analyzing Ozzy‘s blood and DNA would give them insight into how drugs are absorbed in the body, and why some people can survive extreme substance abuse while others can’t. They discovered a never-before-seen mutation that may explain Osbourne‘s ability to consume alcohol in great quantities and several genetic variations that predisposed him to drug and alcohol dependencies.

Although he’s sober now, the now-75-year-old Ozzy estimates that he took drugs and used alcohol for more than 40 years, according to Rolling Stone.

He also survived a 2003 bike accident in which he broke his neck and was diagnosed a few years back with a genetic disorder that is similar to Parkinson’s Disease.

In 2018, Ozzy spoke to Orange County Register about his substance abuse and how he finally became sober. He said: “I don’t drink alcohol anymore…I don’t smoke tobacco. I don’t use drugs… I’m doing good right now. I now think, ‘How did I think going into a bar and getting smashed and doing all that cocaine was fun?'”

He added: “I have come to think that if right now you had a gun, a bag of cocaine and a gallon of booze and you said, ‘Take your pick,’ I’d pick up the gun. It’s not worth it.

“I don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions, so I won’t be making one this year. I just hope that God keeps me alive.”

Ozzy previously held a gig as a health columnist for England’s Sunday Times. In the column — which was largely ghostwritten by his memoir co-writer, Chris Ayres — Ozzy admitted: “By all accounts, I’m a medical miracle. When I die, I should donate my body to the Natural History Museum.”

Ozzy and Billy are longtime friends who co-host the “Ozzy Speaks” show on SiriusXM. The BLACK SABBATH singer also makes an appearance on Morrison‘s star-studded new album, “The Morrison Project”, which features additional guest contributions from the likes of SLIPKNOT‘s Corey Taylor, MINISTRY‘s Al Jourgensen, MÖTLEY CRÜE‘s John 5 and others. The LP arrived in April.

Ozzy previously appeared on Morrison‘s 2015 song “Gods Of Rock N Roll”.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne stated about Morrison: “Billy Morrison has been a good, good friend for such a long, long time. He’s helped me out a lot of times over the years.”

Asked what he and Morrison have in common on a musical level, Osbourne laughed and said: “Well, we’re both fucking crazy.”

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson’s. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was ‘stricken” with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Parkinson’s disease is an incurable progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects an estimated one million Americans, more men than women and most often in people over age 60. The disease is not fatal but it increases the risk of pneumonia, falls and other conditions that may lead to death.

Last November, Ozzy spoke to Rolling Stone UK about the possibility of returning to the live stage. He said: “I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will. But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.

“I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the fucking point in that? I’m not going up there in a fucking wheelchair. I’ve seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he’s got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair. But I couldn’t do that.”

Ozzy went on to pay tribute to his fans who made it possible for him to have a five-plus-decade career, first with SABBATH and then as a solo artist.

“That’s one of the things I’ve been the most fucking pissed off at: I never got the chance to say goodbye or thank you,” he said. “Because my fans are what it’s all about. If I can just do a few gigs… They’ve been loyal to me for fucking years. They write to me, they know all about my dogs. It’s my extended family really, and they give us the lifestyle we have. For whatever reason, that’s my goal to work to. To do those shows. If it’s at Ozzfest or somewhere, or even a fucking gig at the Roundhouse (in London)

“If I can’t continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’ That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.”

Earlier in November, Ozzy and Sharon‘s son Jack told The Messenger that his father’s days of hitting the road are likely behind him. “I don’t think he’ll tour again,” Jack said. “But he’s gunning to do one-off shows — like festivals, gigs, things like that.”

“He’s not done yet,” he added.

Last September, Ozzy opened up about his series of operations in an interview with Metal Hammer as he shared his hopes of making “one more album” and a return to touring.

“I’ve had all the surgery now, thank God,” the 75-year-old said. “I’m feeling okay. It was just dragging on. I thought I’d be back on my feet months ago. I just couldn’t get used to this mode of living, constantly having something wrong. I can’t walk properly yet, but I’m not in any pain anymore and the surgery on my spine went great.”

Osbourne also discussed his plans for 2024, saying: “I’m getting myself fit. I’ve done two albums fairly recently (2020’s ‘Ordinary Man’ and 2022’s ‘Patient Number 9’), but I want to do one more album and then go back on the road.”

Last July, the BLACK SABBATH singer canceled his appearance at the Power Trip festival due to his ongoing physical ailments.

Ozzy‘s health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 more than two years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne‘s health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne‘s previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially cancelled  in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last two years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.