Sharon Osbourne Fulfills Ozzy’s ‘Final Wish’ Before His Death at Age 76
via STAR TRENDS / YouTube
Ozzy’s Death Confirmed by Family
On July 22, the music world was shaken by the news that Ozzy Osbourne, often called the “Prince of Darkness,” had died at 76. He had been living with Parkinson’s disease, a serious neurological condition that slowly affected his body.
“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,” read a statement from the Osbourne family. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
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A Final Concert Close to Home
Just two weeks before his death, Ozzy joined his Black Sabbath bandmates for their final concert, “Back to the Beginning,” held at Birmingham’s Villa Park. This location held special meaning—it was close to where the band formed back in 1968.
The concert wasn’t just a goodbye for fans. It was also part of a bigger plan: Sharon Osbourne made sure Ozzy’s long-held wish was fulfilled. For years, Ozzy and Sharon had talked about wanting to return home to the UK after living in the United States for decades.
Returning to the UK
Ozzy was born in Birmingham in 1948, and moving back to England was something he looked forward to. Sharon told The Sun earlier this year, “He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.”
She also explained more about his condition. “Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. It’s not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it’s affected his legs,” she said. “But his voice is as good as it’s ever been.”
A BBC report confirmed that Ozzy passed away in the UK, meaning that his wish to die in his home country was granted.
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Why Villa Park Was Chosen
Sharon spoke with Music Business Worldwide about why Villa Park was the right place for Black Sabbath’s farewell. “The only place that we could do it would have been Aston, because that’s where Ozzy was born and grew up, which is right where the Villa ground is,” she said.
“It became a celebration of the music. All the generations are going to be there that Sabbath and Ozzy have passed the torch down to.”
The event also raised $190 million (£140 million) for charity, with performances by Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and Alice in Chains.
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Tributes from Across Music
Since the news broke, many famous artists have shared tributes. Members of Black Sabbath expressed their grief, while Elton John, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, and Yungblud also paid their respects. Yungblud called Ozzy the “greatest of all time.”
