In a brand new interview with Billboard, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx opened up in regards to the band’s absence from the historic Again To The Starting farewell live performance in Birmingham, England — held on July 5, 2025, simply two weeks earlier than the passing of Ozzy Osbourne at age 76.
“It was one thing we have been simply unable to do… We could not do it even when we needed to,” Sixx defined, noting that frontman Vince Neil was recovering from a medical process on the time. Neil has since revealed that the process was associated to the stroke he suffered in December 2024, which had saved him sidelined for a lot of 2025.
Regardless of their absence, Sixx stated he tuned in to the reside stream and was moved by the spectacle. “And, man, I gotta inform ya — Ozzy, technique to fuckin’ exit with a bang. He actually did it, and all people confirmed up as a result of they beloved him and supported him. Sadly, we do not have him anymore, however we obtained one of many best rock stars of all time who got here whereas we have been right here on this planet and went again to the fuckin’ stars, man. It is like, ‘I got here down there and I kicked some fuckin’ ass.’ Thanks, Ozzy, every single day for the chance to have a profession.”
Sixx additionally appeared again on Osbourne‘s essential function in Mötley Crüe‘s rise to fame. In 1984, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne handpicked the then-upstart Los Angeles onerous rockers to open for him on tour. “Actually, they broke our band, Ozzy and Sharon,” Sixx recalled.
“Sharon noticed a band that one thing was taking place with and it was an ideal match for Ozzy, and we simply turned so shut and Ozzy took us all over the world and simply did the whole lot for us… and naturally all of the wild and enjoyable tales that’s Ozzy. I am going to without end be in debt to Sharon and Ozzy for that.”
It stays unclear if Mötley Crüe was formally invited to carry out at Again To The Starting, which was billed as the ultimate reside look of all 4 unique Black Sabbath members — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Invoice Ward. The all-star occasion doubled as a charity profit and featured appearances by Metallica, Weapons N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, and extra, with Rage In opposition to The Machine‘s Tom Morello serving as musical director. Particular collaborations additionally noticed the likes of Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler, Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, Sammy Hagar, and others take part paying tribute to the Prince of Darkness.
For Sixx, the evening was a bittersweet reminder of a determine who formed each Mötley Crüe‘s beginnings and heavy metallic at massive.
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