Ozzy Osbourne’s Sisters Detail “Frail” Final Weeks Before His Death

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Ozzy Osbourne’s sisters Jean Powell and Gillian Hemming are carrying on his legacy.

Following the confirmation of Black Sabbath frontman, John Michael Osbourne (also known as Ozzy Osbourne), passing away at age 76 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, his older sisters revealed details about their last family gathering during the band’s July 5 farewell concert at England’s Villa Park.

Jean, at the age of 85, shared with The Mirror (published on July 23) that it was saddening to see Ozzy Osbourne struggle to stand upright during his final performance. However, he added, “He was still our John, still managing to make us laugh with his jokes.

For that reason, she and Gillian were in disbelief about his passing.

Jean went on, saying that even though he was weak, his passing still took them by surprise. Remarkably, he shared that although they weren’t aware of the specifics surrounding his demise, they were grateful that he passed away in England.

Apart from enjoying his last few weeks in England, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who is also survived by his brother Paul Osbourne, had the chance to reunite with bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a final performance, as well as witnessing his daughter Kelly get engaged to her fiancé Sid Wilson backstage.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer spent his last weeks in England, reunited with his bandmates for one last concert, and saw his daughter get engaged at the same event.

That evening, I was reminded of when I received a message from him while he was driving on Lodge Road, our former residence close to the stadium. He had expressed his astonishment at seeing so many people strolling down our old street to witness his performance.

Even though numerous people might recall Ozzy as a renowned rock star or a familiar face from The Osbournes, his family sees him as so much more than that.

As a devoted admirer, I’d put it this way: “He was more than just a celebrity to us; he felt like family, my brother. The outpouring of affection since his passing has left me speechless. It’s hard to grasp that he’s gone, and I won’t receive another heartfelt call or message from him anymore. Every week, without fail, I looked forward to hearing from him.

As I reveled in his last show earlier this month, Jean and I were already mapping out our next reunion with Ozzy.

Or,

During the time I was savoring his final performance earlier this month, Jean and I were already plotting our future meet-ups with Ozzy.

She shared that we had a private box at the stadium, and when I gazed upon the multitude of fans eagerly anticipating our John, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed and shed tears. Our interaction during his visit was limited due to the sheer chaos, but in his final message to me, he promised a return to Birmingham. We were looking forward to meeting him this week.

For her part, Gillian, 80, gushed about how genuine her little brother was—even amid all the fame.

Jean expressed her immense pride in him and all his accomplishments, saying, ‘He remained humble despite his success.’ The image the public had of John truly reflected who he was behind the scenes. He was genuine and exceptional.

She said, ‘He was simply our John,’ and continued, ‘His humor was something that never failed to amuse us. It’s that aspect I’ll always cherish.’

To look back at Ozzy’s life in photos, keep reading.

Prior to their fame as Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Tommy Iommi initially performed using the name Earth.

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

Originating from Birmingham, England in 1948 as John Michael Osbourne, Ozzy faced challenges in school initially. However, his deep-rooted love for music served as a driving force that propelled him to overcome these early obstacles.

He shared with The Associated Press in 2010 that he had acquired slightly more education upon leaving school compared to when he initially enrolled. Due to his dyslexia, he found it challenging to learn, which often led to him being teased by one of his sisters about his reading difficulties. This was a source of great embarrassment for him.

Without The Beatles introducing me to music on a grand scale, I’m not sure where I’d be. Music has been my primary means of escape from the town where I grew up.

1968 saw him, along with his companions, establish the band Black Sabbath, inspired by a movie of the same name. Their first album, also titled Black Sabbath, achieved significant commercial triumph. In 1971, he tied the knot with Thelma Riley, who became his first wife and together they had children named Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne, and Elliot Kingsley.

At the California Jam music festival, the lead singer, known for his “Paranoid” hits, interacted warmly with the audience while performing, clad in flashy serpent-embellished trousers and accompanied by his band.

Black Sabbath walked the streets of London in style.

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

Tony, Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill gleamed with satisfaction as they displayed their silver recognition awards for the album “Technical Ecstasy“.

Ozzy relished the opportunity for a dark, eerie photoshoot. The previous year had seen him dismissed from Black Sabbath, following his battles with alcoholism and substance abuse.

In his documentary titled “Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne,” he admitted, “Money, much like alcohol and drugs, had a destructive influence on me during that period.” He further added, “That time represented one of the darkest moments in my life.

On the Diary of a Madman tour, Ozzy Osbourne performed at Madison Square Garden as a solo act, an event that took place mere days after the incident where a supposedly fake bat was tossed onstage and he accidentally bit into it.

In the course of a recent documentary, I found myself in an unexpected predicament. Upon initial inspection, I assumed the object to be a rubber bat. With a dash of my usual playful spirit, I gave it a try and took a chomp. Little did I know, it was the real deal! My immediate reaction was one of surprise, as I exclaimed, “Oh dear! It’s authentic!

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

The “Iron Man” vocalist, sporting his well-known dark eyeliner, struck a pose with a cigarette prior to a show in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Ozzy and Sharon had their first child together, who was named Aimee Osbourne.

After completing their Bark at the Moon tour, Ozzy and Motley Crue’s Vince Neil struck a pose. Subsequently, Ozzy and Sharon joyously welcomed their daughter, Kelly Osbourne.

Ozzy and Sharon, married since 1982, found bliss during their getaway in Brazil. Their family expanded with the arrival of their son, Jack Osbourne.

Posing for pics before a performance in Chicago on July 13, 1986.

Ozzy at home with Sharon and their kids Kelly, Jack and Aimee.

The British star showcased his ’80s rockstar hair for this portrait in his garden in May 1988.

In August 1989, Ozzy’s band performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in Russia.

As a die-hard fan, I couldn’t help but be blown away when my idol strutted his stuff in those stylish round-framed shades and an amazingly cool, black-and-red theatrical military-inspired outfit. He truly embodied the essence of a fashion icon!

The members of Black Sabbath left their distinctive marks by placing their handprints on the Rock Walk of Fame, a notable landmark in Los Angeles.

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

A portrait of the Osbourne family at their luxury home in Beverly Hills.

Black Sabbath solidified their unbreakable connection by celebrating three decades as a musical group, with Ozzy rejoining them just the previous year.

Back in 1999, the rock star was present at the reveal of the Ozzy Osbourne Action Figure at the McFarlane Toy Showroom, which happened to be located in New York City.

The Grammy-winner rocked his signature black leather style at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

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

Kelly demonstrated her strong connection with her father by attending Black Sabbath’s induction ceremony at 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 a year passed, and following an instance of infidelity by Sharon, Ozzy and she decided to take some time apart. However, their relationship eventually healed, as Ozzy stated on “Good Morning America” that they had found themselves “back in sync again.

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

He declared that his wife is the only one he has ever cherished throughout his entire life, expressing that she is like a soulmate to him, during the making of his documentary.

The renowned rock figure radiated with excitement as he declared his No More Tours II: Last Global Tour at a press event.

Reflecting on my illustrious journey spanning five decades, I can’t help but marvel at the abundance of experiences and achievements I’ve accumulated as a dedicated follower in this industry.

He expressed to Rolling Stone in 2018 that he never anticipated reaching this point in his career, while looking back on his life. He finds it hard to comprehend why he’s still alive after his wild past. It seems as though the person upstairs, if there is one, wants him to continue living.

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2025-07-23 18:18