Ozzy's Medical Woes

Wed., Oct. 15, 2003 11:30 AM PDT by

There's no place like home for the Oz man--at least for the time being.

Ozzy Osbourne has postponed his upcoming European tour as he copes with a worsening tremor that is not, according to his doctor, Parkinson's disease.

Viewers of MTV's The Osbournes have noted Osbourne's shaky condition during the past seasons, and the once-hard-living rocker says things had gotten so bad that he sought out neurological treatment.

"I have been in Boston for the last three weeks having medical tests for a tremor which has become markedly worse over the last two years," the metal man said in a surprise statement issued Tuesday. "I was at the point where it felt as if this problem was practically destroying my life along with my self-esteem.

"I was no longer comfortable being around people, which, as you can imagine, is not the best trait for a performer," Osbourne continued, before thanking his physican, Dr. Allan H. Ropper, for helping him rein in the tremor.

"Ozzy Osbourne does not have Parkinson's disease. However, he does have a tremor, which is coming under control with medication," Ropper says in the statement.

Ropper, a neurological specialist at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center and the chairman of the neurology department at Tufts University in Boston, also says he advised the 54-year-old Osbourne to call off the tour, which had been set to begin October 22 in Dublin.

"Unfortunately, one of the side effects of the medication is dry mouth, which greatly impairs the voice. This problem usually subsides after three to four weeks, but the downside is that this will definitely affect Mr. Osbourne's ability to sing at this time."

Camp Osbourne says the tour will now likely be delayed until January. Osbourne is also going to skip Fashion Rocks for the Prince's Trust, a charity event he was scheduled to play at London's famed Royal Albert Hall along with Beyonc?, Sheryl Crow, Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams and Bryan Ferry. Instead, he has sent a check for $50,000.

"I feel like I keep letting you all down, which breaks my heart," Osbourne says to fans, "but you have my word that I will be over in the new year to complete my European tour. I ask that you please hang in there with me as I promise that you will definitely get the best Ozzy Osbourne show you've ever seen!"

Life under the microscope has been bittersweet for the Osbournes. While their MTV series has made them millions, earned the clan an Emmy and hugely increased the family's profile (rejuvenating Ozzy, launching daughter Kelly's career, paving the way for wife Sharon's talk show), it has come with a steep price. Son Jack wound up in rehab for drug and alcohol abuse, and Ozzy, himself a longtime substance abuser, fell off the wagon, nearly ending his marriage.

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