Ozzy Osbourne Suffered “5 Years of Absolute Hell” Before Death

by

Ozzy Osbourne had been facing a difficult health journey prior to his death.

For some time prior to his passing at 76 on July 22nd, this iconic rock star had been open about dealing with various health problems, notably Parkinson’s disease among them.

In 2023, during an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” he expressed that the past five years have been nothing short of a living nightmare for him and his family. Despite the hardships, they’ve stood by him, offering unwavering support. He went on to say that it’s been an incredibly challenging and difficult period in their lives.

In the shared interview, Jack Osbourne clarified that although some fans connected his father’s health issues with Parkinson’s Disease, several of the difficulties he has experienced recently are instead the result of a fall-induced neck injury in 2019. This incident followed an earlier neck injury from a bike crash back in 2000.

Reflecting upon the situation, Ozzy shared, “I got up and continued despite having broken my neck, and I managed to work through it. However, eventually, everything fell apart.

Even though his health necessitated a break from live performances, the Black Sabbath singer got one final opportunity to perform just 21 days before his passing, on July 5 for a special one-night event. Ignoring health worries, he was determined to share the stage with his bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward one last time.

He shared with The Guardian in May, “It’s been quite challenging as I’ve been bedridden for so long.” He continued, “Being immobile for such an extended period causes a loss of strength. It feels as if I have to begin anew in regaining it.

Ozzy added, “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.”

In February, Sharon Osbourne shared that he was looking forward to giving one final performance. In the end, the event turned out to be his farewell.

He’s thrilled to be reuniting with his buddies and pals again, and everyone seems excited about it,” she shared with the BBC earlier. “Ozzy didn’t get a chance to bid farewell to his friends and fans, and he feels like this is his final chapter.

For a look back at Ozzy’s life, read on.

Prior to their fame as Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Tommy Iommi were previously recognized by the name Earth.

The heavy metal band members were ready to rock as they posed for this shot.

Born as John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England in 1948, Ozzy faced challenges in school during his early years. However, it was his deep-seated love for music that eventually propelled him forward.

In 2010, he shared with The Associated Press that he had acquired slightly more education than when he initially attended school. Due to his dyslexia, he found it difficult to learn, which led to him being teased by one of his siblings about his reading abilities. This was a source of great embarrassment for him.

Without The Beatles igniting my passion for music, I’m not sure where I’d be,” he explained. “Music, and it alone, has been my ticket out of the town where I grew up.

1968 saw him, along with his companions, establish the band Black Sabbath, drawing inspiration from a movie of the same name. Their self-titled first album experienced significant commercial triumph. In 1971, he tied the knot with Thelma Riley, who became his first wife and mother to their children Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne, and Elliot Kingsley.

At the California Jam music festival, the “Paranoid” singer, sporting glitzy snakeskin-adorned trousers, warmly interacted with the audience during the band’s performance.

Black Sabbath walked the streets of London in style.

The band performed at the iconic Hammersmith Odeon—now named the Eventim Apollo—in London.

The quartet, comprising Tony, Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill, all wore broad grins as they proudly displayed their silver award for the album titled “Technical Ecstasy“.

Ozzy relished the opportunity for a grim, yet intriguing photoshoot. His dismissal from Black Sabbath happened a year prior, stemming from his battles with alcohol and substance misuse.

He stated in his ‘Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne’ documentary that money, much like alcohol and drugs, had led him to act recklessly during that period. He described it as one of the darkest moments in his life.

At Madison Square Garden, Ozzy Osbourne, performing as a solo act, kicked off his Diary of a Madman tour, an event taking place only two days following an incident where he notoriously sank his teeth into what he thought was a rubber bat that had been tossed onto the stage. In reality, it was a genuine bat.

In the documentary, Ozzy explained, “I assumed it was a rubber bat, so I went ahead and took a bite. Unfortunately, it turned out to be real, and I found myself in quite a predicament.

Later that year, he married his manager, Sharon Arden.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share that the singer known for “Iron Man”, adorned with his signature dark eyeliner, stood casually with a cigarette before taking the stage in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. It was in this very place where Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their first child, none other than Aimee Osbourne.

After finishing their Bark at the Moon concert tour, Ozzy and Vince Neil from Motley Crue struck a pose. Subsequently, Ozzy and Sharon had a daughter named Kelly Osbourne.

Ozzy and Sharon, married since 1982, found bliss during their getaway in Brazil. Their family expanded when they had their son, Jack Osbourne.

The artist demonstrated his status as a fashion trendsetter, sporting round-framed shades and a dramatic, military-inspired attire with contrasting black and red hues.

Black Sabbath left an indelible impact by placing their handprints on the Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, symbolizing their significant presence in the music industry.

Ozzy sang his heart out at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany. 

Black Sabbath demonstrated the strength of their lasting connection when they commemorated three decades together as a musical group, with Ozzy rejoining them just a year prior to this milestone celebration.

For a span of over a year, starting from 2002 to 2005, the daily lives of Ozzy and Sharon were openly shown through their hit reality TV series, titled The Osbournes.

Kelly demonstrated her strong bond with her father by attending Black Sabbath’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ozzy performed at the Gods of Metal Festival in Milan, Italy.

Ozzy and Sharon attended the premiere of Amy at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles.

Approximately one year had passed since Ozzy and Sharon decided to take some time apart following her infidelity. However, the pair managed to mend their relationship, as evidenced by Ozzy’s statement during an interview with Good Morning America, where he expressed that they were “back on the same path again.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had emphasized that Sharon was, in fact, the One.

In a heartfelt declaration, I couldn’t help but express, “She’s been the sole object of my affection throughout my entire existence. Truly, she is my other half, my soulmate.

The famous rock icon radiated with excitement as he declared his No More Tours II: Farewell Global Tour at a press event.

Over the course of his illustrious five-decade career, Ozzy took a moment to reflect on the multitude of accomplishments he’d achieved, gazing back at his sparkling past.

In an interview with Rolling Stone back in 2018, he expressed surprise at how far he had come in his career. He confessed that he didn’t know why he was still alive given his wild past. He mused that perhaps the person up there, if there is one, has a plan for him to keep living.

At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Ozzy was joined by Sharon to announce the winner in the Best Rap/Sung Performance category. In a personal revelation, he disclosed that he had been secretly coping with a Parkinson’s condition.

At Fingerprints Music store in Long Beach, California, Ozzy personally autographed copies of his album titled “Patient Number 9” for delighted fans.

In other words, Ozzy achieved his second entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, marking his solo career as the reason for this recognition, having previously been inducted with Black Sabbath.

On their website in 2024, the Hall of Fame declared Ozzy Osbourne as a rock & roll legend who has miraculously overcome numerous obstacles. Battling through addictions, accidents, health issues, and adversities that would’ve stopped most others, his extraordinary resilience and unyielding determination have enabled him to thrive even into his seventies.

Read More

2025-07-23 00:47