OZZY OSBOURNE Retires As OZZFEST Headliner: 'It's Time For Me To Move On'

August 12, 2005

Ozzy Osbourne announced on Friday (August 12) that he is retiring as the headliner of his long-running namesake package tour, Ozzfest.

"After 10 years, the Ozzfest's name and reputation have been established," he said in a statement. "It's time for me to move on and do other things." His publicist noted in a statement, "Ozzfest will carry on in 2006, however Ozzy will limit his performances to only a few, select cities."

Osbourne, who's been performing with BLACK SABBATH this summer as the tour's headliner, has been dogged by throat problems, which have forced the band to drop off of the bill on several recent dates, reports MTV.com.

The August 7 concert — which had been slated for Somerset, Wisconsin's Float Rite Park Amphitheatre — was postponed until September 10 in an effort to give Osbourne time to rest his strained vocal chords; it will be the last date of this summer's trek, according to MTV.com. SABBATH have canceled three Ozzfest appearances so far this year — shows on July 27 in Holmdel, New Jersey, July 31 in Noblesville, Indiana and August 2 in Columbus, Ohio — as a direct result of Ozzy's stressed voice. Ticketholders for all three dates were offered full refunds, while co-headliners IRON MAIDEN were called upon to extend their set.

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