The Black Sabbath rocker says he had 'such a slow recovery' that he thought he was dying after undergoing a gruelling spine surgery amid his health woes.

• Aug 3, 2020

AceShowbiz - Ozzy Osbourne was "convinced" he was dying after undergoing gruelling spine surgery.

The Black Sabbath rocker, 71, has endured the flu, had multiple hospitalisations, neck surgery, and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in recent years, with the spine operation the latest in a string of health-related procedures.

Speaking to SiriusXM, the star admitted it had been "such a slow recovery" that he was convinced he'd had it - and that his family knew all about it.

"I'm not back to 100 per cent. I'm about 75 per cent there," he candidly shared. "Spine surgery is bad news, man. I've been in such a bad state with pain; I'm still having a lot of pain."

"There was a point I was convinced that I was dying. I was in that much discomfort and pain and misery. I thought they were all hiding it from me."

Ozzy added, "I remember saying to (wife) Sharon, 'You've gotta level with me. Is it worse than you're making it out (to be)?' She says, 'No.' "

Despite his health woes, the star has no plans to stop performing, telling Entertainment Tonight he's waiting for the Covid-19 pandemic to be over before he jumps back on stage.

"As soon as I get back on my feet, I'll (be) out. I can't wait. Pandemic or not, I can't wait," he insisted, with Sharon adding, "Once they allow artists to go back and perform, if I have to, I'll wheel him on."