Osbourne toured with Motley Crue in the 1980s, and it was during this time that he is rumoured to have shocked his fellow rockers after “spotting” a line of ants. MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee is one of five hard-rock luminaries who spoke to The New York Times about Ozzy Osbourne's career and impact ahead of the BLACK SABBATH's final show, which is Ozzy Osbourne tours & concert list along with photos, videos, and setlists of their live performances. Sixx previously thanked Osbourne for helping Motley Crue break through to stardom. Continue reading Read more The residency has been rescheduled for September. Mötley Crüe’s tour with Ozzy Osbourne has passed into legend for its debauchery, as recounted in the band’s autobiography The Dirt and the subsequent movie version. In one memorable episode, Ozzy snorted a line of ants in front of the band while wearing a dress. After Sharon Osbourne revealed she had disinvited a band from Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath farewell concert, fans took to social media to speculate which one it was. “My guess is Motley Crue Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Comments on Ozzy + Black Sabbath's Farewell Though the band was not present at the show, Motley Crue did acknowledge the special moment in metal history. The time Ozzy Osbourne snorted ants Ozzy Osbourne is known to have infamously snorted ants while touring with Motley Crue in 1984. Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue launched one of the most debauched tours of all time in January 1984. Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning show featured a long list of musicians paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne’s long career, but one band that was notably missing was Motley Crue. The ‘80s Nikki Sixx revealed why Mötley Crüe didn't perform at Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath farewell show after Sharon Osbourne said a band was disinvited. While on tour with Motley Crue in the early 1980s, he snorted a line of ants through a straw, daring band leader Nikki Sixx to do the same. Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning show featured a long list of musicians paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne’s long career, but one band that was notably missing was Motley Crue. The ‘80s Nikki Sixx explained why Motley Crue were unable to perform at Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in July 2025. So what happened? Nikki Sixx Responds Nikki Sixx, bassist and founding member of Mötley Crüe, took to X (formerly Twitter) to answer that very question. After congratulating Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne on the success of the show, Sixx was asked directly by a fan if the band had been invited to perform. His response was brief: “We have been having health issues within the The recent “ Back to the Beginning ” concert, a momentous event celebrating Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, featured numerous rock and metal legends. However, one notable band with a deep historical connection to Ozzy — Mötley Crüe —was not present. Bassist Nikki Sixx has since shed light on their absence, addressing a fan’s query on the social media platform X. Q: Did Motley Crue acknowledge the Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath tribute show? A: Yes, Nikki Sixx posted a heartfelt tribute on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne for their crucial support in Motley Crue’s early career. Though fans doubted whether the incident actually occurred, Motley Crue's drummer Tommy Lee insisted it happened and Ozzy himself has also set the record straight. As metal fans packed Birmingham for BLACK SABBATH’s farewell show, many wondered why MÖTLEY CRÜE — longtime allies of Ozzy Osbourne — were missing from the lineup. The intertwined fates of bands like Mötley Crüe and figures like Ozzy Osbourne reveal the depth of gratitude and respect within the community. They continue to support each other through times of celebration and adversity, as proven by Sixx’s public acknowledgment of the significant opportunities Ozzy provided his band in the past.
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