Ozzy Osbourne's final wish resurfaces: What the rock legend hoped to be remembered for before his death at 76
Birmingham
's skyline,
Ozzy Osbourne
returned to the stage one last time. The 'Back to the Beginning'
benefit concert
was more than a nostalgic reunion—it became a parting gift to his hometown and a heartfelt goodbye to generations of fans.
Seated on a throne due to deteriorating health, the 76-year-old
rock legend
performed with his original
Black Sabbath
bandmates for the first time in 20 years. No one in the crowd could have guessed that just over two weeks later, the voice that once shook arenas would fall silent forever. Osbourne passed away on the morning of July 22, surrounded by his family and, as his wife Sharon wrote in a statement, 'surrounded by love.'
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'Survival Is My Legacy'
While tributes pour in from every corner of the music world, an interview Ozzy gave to
PEOPLE
in 2022 has resurfaced, offering a rare, reflective glimpse into how the five-time Grammy winner wished to be remembered.
'Survival is my legacy,' he had declared. 'I mean, I'm 73. People go, 'Well, you're 70… why don't I throw the towel in?' Why should I? People still want to buy my records. People still want to see me, so why should I?'
True to his words, Ozzy refused to be boxed in by age or illness. Diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease
in 2019 and plagued by spinal injuries, he still chose the stage when most would've chosen silence. His parting performance raised more than $190 million for causes close to his heart, including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorn Children's Hospice, according to
Rolling Stone
.
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Ozzy Osbourne, legendary rock icon, passes away at 76- here's a look at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's iconic 45-year love story
— RollingStone (@RollingStone)
From Bombsites to Black Sabbath
Ozzy's journey was never just about fame or music—it was a story of grit. Born in Aston, Birmingham, he once played on bombsites as a child. In a 2018 interview with
The Guardian
, he mused, 'I'd like to be remembered for the work I did with Black Sabbath… but to be honest, just being remembered would be an achievement to me.'
It's a sentiment that resonates now more than ever. Fans across generations remember Ozzy not just as the 'Prince of Darkness,' but as a man who defied the odds—an embodiment of survival, persistence, and reinvention.
Behind the theatrics and the
metal anthems
was a man who believed in passion. His advice to aspiring dreamers: 'Never give up. If you've got a passion for something, you've got to find a way around it to carry on the passion.'
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, and his children Jessica and Louis from his first marriage. He also leaves behind grandchildren—and millions of fans who will never forget the howl, the power, and the heart behind the music.
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