Ozzy Osbourne was aware that his days were numbered before his last performance with Black Sabbath. In a podcast with Bunnie Xo, Sharon Osbourne shared her thoughts during the days leading up to her husband’s return to the stage.
In July, Ozzy took part in Black Sabbath’s farewell concert, titled “Back to the Beginning,” held in Birmingham, England. He passed away on July 22, at the age of 76.
“Two weeks before the show, they told him he would likely die soon, and he did,” Sharon recalled. “But he was determined to perform.” She mentioned that he’d expressed his desire to go out on his own terms, stating something like, “I’m still dying, whether it’s two weeks or six months.” It’s a stark reminder of that relentless spirit.
His final show was a 10-hour event hosted by Jason Momoa, featuring appearances from artists like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Steven Tyler. There was even a memorable moment where legendary drummers like Danny Carey, Chad Smith, and Travis Barker had a jam session on a cover of Sabbath’s “Symptoms of the Universe.”
During his farewell, Ozzy was brought onto the stage seated on a throne, decorated with a skull and a black bat. Despite being seated, he sang classics like “Crazy Train” and “Mama I’m Coming Home.” He reportedly told the audience, “I’m so happy to be on this stage…You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Reflecting on his passing, Sharon noted that it was “very quick,” yet insisted that her husband lived very much like a rock star. “He loved people, he loved his audience. Even if you weren’t a fan of his music, you couldn’t dislike him,” she explained. “He went the way he wanted to go, and he knew it.” It’s a bittersweet thought, really.
Despite the grief she felt, she was adamant about not wallowing in sadness. “I’m going to keep working and doing what I’m supposed to do with my life. That’s it,” she said. Ozzy’s passing on July 22 came just after that final performance. The family’s statement expressed that while words couldn’t convey their sorrow, he was surrounded by love in his final moments, and they requested privacy during this time.
In a recent documentary, Ozzy spoke about feeling the weight of his thoughts for Sharon during that last concert, wishing he hadn’t let it make him emotional. It’s a powerful sentiment, the kind that reminds us just how intertwined our lives can be with our passions and our loved ones.
