Ozzy Osbourne has detailed the severe health struggles he faced in the months leading up to his death at age 76 on July 22, as revealed in his posthumously released memoir, Last Rites. The Black Sabbath star described a series of ailments that nearly prevented him from performing his final gig.
In an extract published in The Sunday Times, Ozzy wrote that he and his wife Sharon had planned to leave Los Angeles in December 2024 to prepare for Black Sabbath's final show at Villa Park in Birmingham in July 2025. However, his back gave out, and he contracted pneumonia, which exacerbated his emphysema and caused one of his lungs to collapse. His doctor initially refused to operate, citing his weakened state, but a team at Cedars-Sinai hospital eventually performed surgery using 'human cement' to fill cracks in his vertebrae.
Ozzy then developed sepsis, which he described as 'touch and go' given his age and pre-existing conditions including Parkinson's disease and blood clots. After two months of antibiotics and an IV drip, he recovered, only to suffer pneumonia again. He and Sharon finally travelled to England in May, accompanied by their daughter Aimee and Ozzy's nurse.
Sharon had been planning the Birmingham gig since the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and Ozzy called her 'unstoppable' and 'determined' to give fans a final farewell. Despite initial doubts about his voice, his nerves vanished on stage. More than 42,000 fans attended the 'Back To The Beginning' show, where Ozzy told the crowd: 'You've no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
In a separate clip from his upcoming BBC documentary, Ozzy admitted he was 'scared' to move back to the UK after years in Los Angeles. Speaking with his daughter Kelly, he expressed apprehension about the change, while Sharon said home is wherever they are together. Ozzy reflected on the prospect of living alone with Sharon for the first time, saying, 'I can't wait till I'm there.'
