Ozzy Osbourne expressed that he would “die a happy man” if he could show his gratitude to fans before his farewell show.
The iconic Black Sabbath frontman, often referred to as the Prince of Darkness, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76, surrounded by love.
Before his passing, the “Crazy Train” singer managed to perform at his “Back to the Start” concert in Birmingham earlier this month.
In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, he shared his desire to be “fully well enough” for one final live performance. He mentioned, “If I can’t keep doing shows regularly, I just want to do one more where I can say, ‘Hello, thank you for my life.’
“That’s what I’m working toward; when I die at the end of it, I’ll be a happy man,” he added.
His wish came to fruition during the Black Sabbath Farewell Concert on July 5th at Birmingham, where he surprised an audience of 42,000 people. This turned out to be his last performance.
Even while battling Parkinson’s, he performed from a black leather chair, dressed in a leather overcoat and a distinctive gold armband.
During this emotional gig, the heavy metal legend played five songs solo before reuniting with former bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler for a few more tracks.
The event, hosted by Jason Momoa, also featured performances from bands like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, and Alice in Chains.
In a touching moment, he and his wife Sharon witnessed their daughter Kelly’s engagement to Sid Wilson backstage, adding even more significance to the show.
In the same interview from earlier in 2023, Ozzy candidly mentioned feelings about mortality, acknowledging that he could have “at most 10 years” left. He stated, “I’m not afraid to die, but I don’t want a long, painful existence.” He also conveyed a preference for a dignified end if faced with a terminal illness.
Reflecting on life, he joked about a recent interaction with Sharon regarding his smoking habits, “How long do you want me to be alive?! Time speeds up as you age,” he remarked, adding that he and Sharon had recently celebrated 41 years of marriage, which he found amazing.
