Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne expressed his desire for his funeral to be a celebration rather than a somber event. He emphasized he doesn’t want it to feel like a “Mopefest.”
More than a decade before his passing at age 76 last week, the Black Sabbath frontman shared his thoughts on what he hoped for when the time came.
In a 2011 Q&A for a column in The Times of London, the “Crazy Train” star, often dubbed the Prince of Darkness, was queried about his ideas for his memorial.
“Honestly, I don’t care what they choose for my funeral,” he mentioned. “They could play a medley by Justin Bieber or even Susan Boyle. Just make sure it’s a celebration, not a Mopefest,” he reiterated.
He also humorously suggested incorporating light-hearted moments, like a video of him joking about a doctor’s diagnosis. “No dwelling on the difficult times,” he added.
Ozzy made it clear he wanted the occasion to uplift those left behind. “Answering your question, yes, it matters that the family doesn’t just wallow in sadness,” he remarked.
He pointed out that many people often live with a glum outlook. “By any measure, we, especially in this industry, are pretty fortunate,” he stated.
Ozzy indicated he didn’t want his funeral to be a dreary affair. Instead, he aimed for it to be a moment to express gratitude. “I want it to be a time to say ‘Thank you,'” he shared.
In 2023, he conveyed, “I’d die a happy man if I got a chance to express my appreciation to my loyal fans during a farewell show.”
When speaking with Rolling Stone that year, he shared that his ultimate goal was to feel “well enough” for one final live performance before passing.
“If I can’t keep performing regularly, I just want the opportunity to say, ‘Hello, thank you for my life,'” he explained.
Ozzy was able to realize that wish on July 5 when he performed at the Black Sabbath Farewell concert in Birmingham, titled “Back to the Beginning,” managing to surprise an audience of 42,000. It turned out to be his final performance.
He passed away at age 76, having battled Parkinson’s disease for several years.
In the same interview, he mentioned he wasn’t fearful of death but wanted to avoid a long, painful decline. “I’m not afraid of dying, I just don’t want to suffer needlessly,” he said.
“If I had a terminal condition, I would prefer a dignified end, like going to a place in Switzerland for assistance,” he noted.
Reflecting on his life with Sharon, he remarked, “We recently celebrated our 41st anniversary, which is remarkable for me.”
Ozzy is survived by his wife Sharon Osbourne, along with six children and ten grandchildren.
