Huge rock band reschedule several shows so they can 'grieve' Ozzy Osbourne

Rockers Pantera say they can't face taking to the stage following the death of their 'inspiration' Ozzy Osbourne.

The heavy metal band have rescheduled a number of shows so they can grieve the music icon. The death of the Black Sabbath frontman, a pioneer in the genre, was announced last Tuesday. His devastated family said in a statement that the 76-year-old was “surrounded by love” at the time of his passing.

Pantera - Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benant - grew close to Ozzy and say they need time to come to terms with the loss of their friend. In 1997, the group performed at Ozzfest, a music festival featuring heavy metal acts organised by him and his wife Sharon and they stayed close ever since.

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Pantera said: “Ozzy wasn’t just a legend who shaped the very foundation of heavy metal and inspired Pantera from the beginning — he was family. A mentor, a brother, and a constant presence in our lives both on and off the stage. The bond we shared with him ran far deeper than music.

“In light of this profound loss, we need time and space to grieve — to be with our families, our crew, and each other as we process and honour the life of someone who meant so much to us. Out of respect, and to allow members of our team the time to mourn, we will be the following rescheduling shows. July 28 - Saratoga Springs, NY → Tuesday, September 9. July 31 - Holmdel, NJ → Monday, September 8."

Out of respect, and to allow members of our team the time to mourn, we will be rescheduling the following shows:

Zakk recently recalled the most “wholesome” moment from his time on tour with Ozzy. In an interview with Metal Hammer back in April, he looked back at their time on the road together. “I remember we played the Budokan [Arena] in Tokyo. I’d always have a bag of beer with me, just in case anywhere we were going didn’t have beer,” he said.

"He comes in the room after the gig. He goes ‘Zakky, Zakky… you got any beers?’ I go, ‘Yeah, but I’m not giving you one here. You’re going to get us fired! Mum’s [Sharon Osbourne] right across the hall – she’s going to come and see the two of us drinking, is that going to be good?’”

“[Ozzy] goes, ‘Alright, tell you what, I’ll meet you in the bathroom.’ So I go in the bathroom, I’m waiting. All of a sudden, I hear the door open - he comes in the stall right next to me, and I push a Kirin or Asahi under there. I hear the ‘psssst’ of the can, then ‘glug, glug, glug!’ He downs it in one, puts the can down, pushes it back under and goes, ‘Thanks, Zakk. I’ll see you at dinner.’”

In a statement that devastated the music world last week, the Osbourne family, including Kelly and Ozzy's wife Sharon, had 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." Ozzy's former Black Sabbath bandmates have alsoissued moving statements. Sharon is said to have been left utterly broken by Ozzy's death.

Fans have since been leaving tributes outside his Buckinghamshire home, with flowers and loving message laid outside the gates. Half-drunk pints and bottles of beer have also been left alongside candles as mourners toast the rock icon on Birmingham's Black Sabbath bridge. In the wake of his sad death, details surrounding his final hours have emerged as it's been reported air ambulance crew flew to the Black Sabbath star's mansion in Buckinghamshire and worked for two hours to save his life.

Thousands of fans have called for Birmingham Aiport to be renamed after the Prince of Darkness, but the airport has announced its own plans to honour Ozzy. Instead, Birmingham Aiport is planning to add artwork paying tribute to the Black Sabbath frontman in its terminal.

A spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "Ozzy Osborne is an inspiration to so many in our region proving that talent, hard work, and commitment can take you to all corners of the world. In the coming weeks, we will be looking at how we can celebrate his heritage and contribution to the region via terminal artwork, creating a greater sense of place for Birmingham and his fans."

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