Sharon fulfils Ozzy Osbourne's final wish in heartbreaking move
The announcement revealed that the Black Sabbath icon's loved ones, including his devoted wife Sharon of more than four decades, had assembled around him one last time as he peacefully passed away on Tuesday morning aged 76.
The tragic news comes mere weeks after the frontman took to the stage for his final performance during his Back to the Beginning concert at Aston Villa's home ground, Villa Park.
The family's statement confirming his passing read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.
"We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis," reports the Mirror.
The family's message included a location marker reading: "Birmingham, England July 22, 2025" - confirming that Ozzy had returned to his homeland one final time. Ozzy Osbourne. Sharon, Kelly, Ozzy, Aimee and Jack Osbourne arrive at the 2000 Grammy Awards. (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Ozzy and Sharon, 72, had previously discussed their desire to relocate back to the UK from Los Angeles amid the rocker's declining health. Ozzy had expressed he was "desperate to come home".
Although they had hoped to make the move earlier, Ozzy's ongoing health struggles delayed their plans as he fought Parkinson's disease and endured multiple operations for a spinal injury. "It's time for me to spend some time with my grandkids," he told the Guardian in May as he prepared for his final show.
"I don't want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family."
The rock legend and wife Sharon were set to return to their Buckinghamshire residence to mark the farewell performance.
Ozzy had been open about his longing to relocate back to England, discussing his ambition as far back as August 2022 following more than two decades in Los Angeles. He slammed "everything's f***ing ridiculous (in America)."
He also pointed to gun violence in the nation as another factor behind his wish to depart. "Everything's f***ing ridiculous [in America]. I'm fed up with people getting killed every day," he told The Observer.
"God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert. ... it's f***ing crazy."
Nevertheless, the relocation was postponed for years owing to Ozzy's deteriorating health.
Chatting to Planet Rock's Loz Guest regarding Black Sabbath's star-studded Back to the Beginning concert on July 5, Sharon confirmed that the performance had provided Ozzy with the opportunity to return home finally.
She said: "He's coming over in March. His brothers (in Black Sabbath), he's excited to be here with them."
When asked if they were still permanently relocating back to the UK following the gig, Sharon replied: "Yeah, we are."
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy departed school at 15 and took on various jobs including factory work before joining forces with school mate Geezer Butler in several bands.
The duo then connected with the other founding members of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, to establish what was initially called Earth Blues Company – later abbreviated to Earth – in 1968.
Originally a Mod who adored soul music, Osbourne developed a more sinister persona after penning lyrics for a track titled Black Sabbath after the 1963 Boris Karloff film of the same name.
The moniker remained – after they were compelled to alter it from Earth – and the group proceeded to shift millions of albums over the following decade thanks to genre-defining numbers including Paranoid and War Pigs.
The band became extensively recognised for establishing the blueprint of heavy metal.
However, substance abuse started to impact Osbourne and his rapport with his bandmates, and he was ultimately dismissed in 1979.
He embarked on a solo venture, achieving acclaim during the 1980s, before reuniting with Sabbath on multiple occasions – including in 2016 for a farewell world tour.
In 2022, Ozzy proclaimed "Birmingham forever," during a shock appearance at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in his hometown.
The Black Sabbath legend was among numerous Brummie performers to take the stage, including Dexy's Midnight Runners, UB40, and Musical Youth.
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The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ozzy Osbourne's most outrageous moments from bat eating to meat throwing and feud with TV legend
SINCE shooting to fame as part of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne carved out a staggering career in the entertainment industry spanning almost 60 years. But this week, he sadly passed away 7 Ozzy Osbourne passed away following his battle with Parkinson's Credit: PA And with the world mourning the loss, it's impossible not to look back at the jaw-dropping moments that defined his one-of-a-kind career. Whether he was biting the head off a bat on stage, hurling raw meat into crowds, or feuding with TV royalty. Here's a look back at the most outrageous and iconic moments in the life of the rock legend. Bat-Biting (1982) 7 This bat-biting incident became a career defining moment for Ozzy Osbourne Credit: Alamy T he singer - dubbed the - has always played up to his satanic image. READ MORE ON OZZY OSBOURNE So when a fan hurled what he thought was a rubber bat toy at him on stage in January 1982, Turned out it was in fact a real bat and he later recalled: 'Immediately, something felt wrong.' There was a foul taste, and he felt the severed head twitch in his mouth. The teenage bat-thrower later insisted it was already dead, but Ozzy always maintained he felt it moving. Most read in TV Ozzy's Death Metal (1995) 7 Ozzy had almost killed a man by tossing a TV out a hotel window Credit: Getty Wild rocker He was boozing with guitarist Zakk Wylde in Prague unaware of a smoker outside when he decided to throw a TV out of his hotel room. Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne performing their version of Changes together He recalled: 'I am in The Four Seasons and I am watching the TV and I go to Zakk, 'I have never thrown a f****** TV out of the window of a hotel room. Let's f****** do it'. 'So I ripped the window open, picked it up and threw it out of the f****** window. It landed on the floor and f****** exploded. It went like a bomb. 'Little did I know that there was a guy smoking a cigarette and I shudder to think if that had hit him on the head. I would have killed him stone f****** dead.' Meat Throwing (1980's) 7 The rock legend hurled raw meat and animal parts into the crowd Credit: Getty In the Eighties, Ozzy took his fan interaction to a whole new level with a ritual as outrageous as it was unforgettable. The rock legend began hurling raw meat and animal parts into the crowd — all whilst encouraging fans to return the favour with whatever strange items they could sneak into the venue. One being the now-infamous bat incident and whilst some chalked it up to his on-stage theatrics, the truth was far more tongue-in-cheek. He revealed in his documentary The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, the inspiration came from old slapstick films featuring custard pie fights. He said: 'It gave me this idea to throw, instead of pie, bits of meat and animal parts into the audience. 'I thought it was hilarious. (They'd throw back) sheep testicles, live snakes, dead rats, all kinds of things. Someone once threw a live frog onto onstage, it was the biggest frog I'd ever seen and it landed on its back.' TV Legend Feud (2002) 7 Not yet disgraced TV host and comedian Bill Cosby slammed the Osbourne's family show Credit: Getty Back in 2002 Ozzy and his family created a reality show big enough to rival The Kardashians. The Osbourne's documented the ups and downs of the family's day to day life but not everyone had a good opinion about he show. Not yet disgraced TV host and comedian Bill Cosby slammed the MTV series as "not entertainment". Ozzy later revealed in his autobiography that Cosby had sent a letter scolding the family's use of foul language and supposed bad influence. Wife Sharon was quick to fire back with a letter of her own, pointing out that Cosby wasn't exactly a saint — especially after news of his extramarital affair surfaced in the late nineties. She also called out the hypocrisy of him clutching at straws over swearing whilst TV was drowning in violence. The Alamo (1982) 7 The Birmingham-born rocker was arrested at the site when he decided to publically urinate Back in 1982 a very drunk Ozzy was seen dressed in one of wife Sharon's gowns during a photo shoot near the Alamo — the iconic Texas landmark where outnumbered rebels made their famed last stand against the Mexican army. The Birmingham-born rocker was arrested at the site when he decided to publically urinate. He later returned to the landmark with son Jack with Ozzy admitting he wasn't sure if he actually peed on the memorial as he was "very inebriated". But Ozzy's fears were calmed once they were met by local councilman Robert Trevino who found Ozzy's old police report. He then revealed the star was only charged with public intoxication that day - and never with public urination or public indecency. Dove De-Capitation (1981) 7 Ozzy pulled one of the most bizarre stunts in music history Credit: The Mega Agency A bat isn't the only thing The Black Sabbath Frontman bit into. Back in 1981, during a meeting with CBS Records to celebrate his new solo deal, Ozzy pulled one of the most bizarre stunts in music history. Hoping to make an impression, he arrived at the boardroom carrying two white doves. What was supposed to be a quirky gesture quickly turned into a PR nightmare when he suddenly grabbed one of the doves and bit it's head off. Spitting it onto the conference table in front of label executives and later reportedly did the same to the second dove, he admitted: 'They were all throwing up all over the place. People were freaked.' He was immediately thrown out from the building and whilst the label was appalled, the stunt only added to Ozzy's reputation as rock's most unpredictable wild man.
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I cut off my famous daughter after my son died - I want her to know I'm sorry'
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Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Sunday World
Louis Walsh reveals inside story of Osbournes' relationship after Ozzy's passing
'Ozzy never played the showbiz card – he lived for Sharon and his children.' Louis was close to Sharon, Ozzy and the Osbourne family for 15 years and reveals that Ozzy was 'a one-off, genuine, honest guy'. Whenever they were out to dinner, Walsh says Ozzy never wanted to be the centre of attention. 'Ozzy wasn't showbizzy at all away from the stage,' Louis says. Ozzy and Sharon stayed together through thick and thin Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th 'He never played the showbiz card, he was always himself. It's only when he went on stage that he was the larger-than-life rocker. 'The Osbournes weren't what they appeared to be on their reality TV show. 'Ozzy, Sharon and the children, Kelly, Jack and Amy, were very much a family, a great family.' Walsh loved Ozzy's sense of humour. 'He used to come down to The X Factor and he'd be the brightest and the funniest man in the dressing room,' Louis says. Louis and Sharon 'Ozzy was always the life and soul of the party.' Despite the fact that they had a turbulent life at times, with Ozzy admitting to cheating on Sharon with 'groupies', Walsh says that seeing them together there was no mistaking their genuine love for each other. 'Sharon would literally light up as soon as Ozzy walked into the room,' Louis says. 'They were best friends, they were soul mates. They understood each other. They would fight and laugh and joke and play music. They were a very solid unit. 'She idolised the man, she made him what he was and he idolised her. Sharon was his best friend and they lived their lives for each other. I've never seen two people more together and having fun all the time and creating something amazing.' Although Louis and Sharon struck up a close bond while judges on The X Factor, the Mayo man admits their relationship got off to a frosty start before the show was launched. Sharon and Ozzy with Kelly and Jack 'I had been on BBC Radio One reviewing records and I slated Kelly's cover of the Madonna song, Papa Don't Preach,' Louis recalls. 'Sharon was furious and even wrote a letter to Heat magazine in the UK complaining about me and asking, 'Who is he?' 'Then Simon [Cowell] said to me one day, 'Guess who I have, I've got Sharon Osbourne for X Factor.' And he laughed. So I had to just face the music with Sharon. Read more 'It took time for Sharon to come around, but she knew that I was just myself. We bonded on fun really, and the fact that I wasn't Simon's lap dog. She wasn't and I wasn't. And we used to laugh about him all the time. 'I was lucky to spend time with the Osbournes and I'm really fond of them. They are just normal people at the end of the day – I even remember giving out to Kelly one time for being rude to her mother. 'Although we all knew that he was unwell, I was shocked when the news came through on Tuesday that he had died at the age of 76. 'It is devastating for Sharon and the family. They had a great life. 'It's going to be so tough for her, but she has a great family who love her and she adores them.'
