Ozzy Osbourne's sister reveals Black Sabbath star's final text before his death
The Black Sabbath guitarist - whose real name was John Osbourne - died on Tuesday (22.07.25) aged 76, and his sister has opened up about getting to watch his final show at the Back To The Beginning concert at Birmingham's Villa Park on July 5.
Speaking at her sibling Gillian's house, Jean told the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'We had an executive box in the stadium, and when I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John I just broke down.
'We didn't really get a chance to chat much because it was such a chaotic visit. But in his last text to me he said he would be coming to Birmingham again.
"He said 'I can't wait to come back'. We were hoping to see him this week.'
Ozzy text his siblings on the day as he drove down Lodge Road, where the family lived close to Aston Villa's stadium.
She added: "He said he couldn't believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform. He was blown away."
The two sisters saw Ozzy when he was back in Birmingham to be given the freedom of the city alongside his Sabbath bandmates.
They have been left stunned by the "outpouring of love" since his death,
Jean said: "We just can't believe he is gone and we won't be getting another phone call or text from him.
"Every week without fail he would get in touch, either by phone or text, to ask how we were all doing and what was going on."
No cause of death has been given, but Ozzy - who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 2019 - had been open with the public about his health.
Jean added: 'He was frail but [his death] still came as a shock. He still had plans and things he wanted to do.
"We don't know the details of his death, it's still too early. It's just so sad. I'm just thankful he died in England."
His death comes just two weeks after the rocker reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates for their Back To The Back to the Beginning farewell show in their hometown of Birmingham, England which raised millions of pounds for charity.
His family said in a statement: "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."
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Geezer Butler "wasn't prepared" for how "frail" Ozzy Osbourne was during rehearsals for the Black Sabbath reunion gig. The band got back together for one huge final show - the Back to the Beginning concert - at Villa Park in their home town of Birmingham, England, on July 5 and bassist Butler admitted he was shocked to see singer Osbourne in such poor health. In an essay written for The Sunday Times newspaper, Butler said: "The rehearsals for that final show started a month before at a studio in the Oxfordshire countryside. "Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and I ran through seven songs together. Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days to get rid of the rust. "Then it was time for Ozzy to join us. I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. "He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane - being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones." 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The band got back together for one huge final show - the Back to the Beginning concert - at Villa Park in their home town of Birmingham, England, on July 5 and bassist Butler admitted he was shocked to see singer Osbourne in such poor health. In an essay written for The Sunday Times newspaper, Butler said: "The rehearsals for that final show started a month before at a studio in the Oxfordshire countryside. "Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and I ran through seven songs together. Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days to get rid of the rust. "Then it was time for Ozzy to join us. I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. "He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane - being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones." Butler went on to reveal his friend - who died on July 22 just two weeks after the concert - was unusually quiet during rehearsals because he found the work so exhausting. "(Ozzy) didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair," Butler said. "We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. "We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old." Butler said he wished he had been able to spend more time with Osbourne because he had no idea the appearance at the gig would be the last time they would ever see each other. "Nobody knew he'd be gone from us little more than two weeks after the final show, but I am so grateful we got to play one last time together in front of his beloved fans." Geezer Butler "wasn't prepared" for how "frail" Ozzy Osbourne was during rehearsals for the Black Sabbath reunion gig. The band got back together for one huge final show - the Back to the Beginning concert - at Villa Park in their home town of Birmingham, England, on July 5 and bassist Butler admitted he was shocked to see singer Osbourne in such poor health. In an essay written for The Sunday Times newspaper, Butler said: "The rehearsals for that final show started a month before at a studio in the Oxfordshire countryside. "Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and I ran through seven songs together. Of course, not having played together for 20 years, it took a couple of days to get rid of the rust. "Then it was time for Ozzy to join us. I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. "He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane - being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones." Butler went on to reveal his friend - who died on July 22 just two weeks after the concert - was unusually quiet during rehearsals because he found the work so exhausting. "(Ozzy) didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair," Butler said. "We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. "We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old." Butler said he wished he had been able to spend more time with Osbourne because he had no idea the appearance at the gig would be the last time they would ever see each other. "Nobody knew he'd be gone from us little more than two weeks after the final show, but I am so grateful we got to play one last time together in front of his beloved fans."
