Black Sabbath co-founder and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, just a few weeks after Sabbath’s final festival, Back to the Beginning, where Ozzy also performed his solo hits. He had been facing numerous health issues since 2019 and had to stop touring. Over the years, things became increasingly difficult for him as he battled Parkinson’s disease. In his final memoir, Last Rites (Share by The Times), the musician reflected on death and how he came to terms with it.
What Ozzy Osbourne said about death in his final memoir
“Death’s been knocking at my door for the last six years, louder and louder. And at some point I’m gonna have to let him in. The funny thing is, I used to worry more about my mortality when I was younger.”
“It’s weird. You get closer to the end — the very thing you were scared of your whole life — and suddenly the weight’s lifted off you. Not that I’m ready to go. But I’ve had a good run. I think I made a mark on the world. And I’m glad I didn’t check out early, like so many others.”
“When the end does come, I don’t want to be cremated. It’s like you were never here. You’re just a bag of dust. That’s not for me. I wanna make the flowers grow. The only conversation I’ve had with Sharon was when we decided we wanted to be buried together. I’ve also said to Sharon, ‘Don’t you dare go before me!’ It’s my biggest fear now, Sharon leaving this world before I do. If she does, I won’t be too far behind.”
He continued talking about what happens after death
“I say to ’em, ‘I’ve no idea, but it won’t be long now, so if you hang around a bit, maybe I can haunt you and give you the answer,’” he quipped.
“As for what I want on my tombstone, that’s one of the subjects my family definitely won’t let me discuss. Between you and me, though, I’m thinking something short and sweet. ‘I told you I wasn’t feeling well’ should do the trick,” Ozzy Osbourne said.