Just two weeks prior to his last performance, Ozzy Osbourne’s medical team informed him of his terminal condition and advised against proceeding with the concert, as shared by his wife, Sharon Osbourne.
The iconic British heavy metal musician, who passed away exactly one year ago, was celebrated as a hero during his “Back to the Beginning” concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5 of the previous year.
The frontman of Black Sabbath performed seated on a black throne adorned with a bat during the spectacular concert held at Villa Park stadium. He reunited with the original band members, alongside other rock legends like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Alice in Chains.
In a discussion with a BBC local radio station, Osbourne mentioned that the concert almost didn’t take place.
“Ozzy was aware of his condition. He had been informed two weeks prior to the performance that he was dying, and they advised him against doing the show,” she recounted.
According to his wife, who stated that Ozzy, aged 76 at his passing and battling Parkinson’s Disease, had a different plan in mind. “He responded, ‘Yeah, right. Leave me alone.’”
Sharon characterized the concert, which benefited several UK charities, as a “gift” that her husband was able to cherish in his final days. “It was a blessing to be surrounded by his dedicated team, friends, family, and fans.”
“His deepest affection was for the audience, and that’s how he desired to leave the world. Just one final performance, and he achieved it — and he excelled.”
However, during the final two weeks of his life, he “appeared to be the happiest I had ever seen him,” she recalled. “It was wonderful to witness him smiling every day.”
She described the event as an “absolute joy,” emphasizing the positive impact it had on Ozzy during a challenging period. “He had been feeling very low, very despondent, knowing it was nearing the end,” she shared, noting his fear of not being able to perform.
Osbourne was present in Birmingham to commemorate the city’s inaugural Ozzy Day, honoring her late husband. She expressed his pride in his “humble beginnings,” becoming emotional when explaining the significance of her attendance.
“I can’t forget the contributions Birmingham made to Ozzy,” she said, her voice trembling, adding that despite his rise to fame, he always remembered his roots.
When asked what message she would convey to fans on this anniversary, she replied: “As Ozzy would say, ‘When you think of me, just crank up the music as loud as it can go and head bang.’”
