SAYING GOODBYE TO A ROCK LEGEND

Ozzy Osbourne, the wild man of heavy metal, lived an extraordinary life. Here, we remember a true icon

- LEO ROBERTS

His life may have been defined by chaos, controversy and tales of excess, but music legend Ozzy Osbourne got what could be described as the perfect send off last week when he passed away at 76, surrounded by loved ones.

Less than two months before his death, the self-styled 'Prince of Darkness' said, in what is believed to be his last interview, "It's time for me to spend some time with my grandkids. I don't want to die in a hotel room. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family."

Happily, he got his wish.

An emotional statement read, "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. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time." The message was signed, "Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."

Father-of-six Ozzy, who was married to former X Factor judge Sharon for 43 years, died last Tuesday morning at his Buckinghamshire home. He had suffered a long period of ill health, having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Opening up about the degenerative condition the following year, the superstar said he had been "in a terrible state".

Sharon added, "It's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect the nerves in your body. It's like you'll have a good day, then a good day and then a really bad day."

Less than three weeks before he died, Ozzy, whose lyrics included “there are no impossible dreams”, staged a triumphant farewell show, along with his legendary rock band, Black Sabbath, in Birmingham. The 10-hour concert, Back To The Beginning, was a who’s who of metal bands and featured a stellar lineup of 15 acts, including Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses.