Ozzy Osbourne once admitted he “should have died 100 times” while reflecting on his history of substance and alcohol abuse.
The rock legend is being laid to rest today, with his funeral taking place in his hometown of Birmingham, England. As fans gather to mourn, Ozzy’s past comments on death have resurfaced.
In the documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, produced by his son Jack Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness looked back on his life from his Birmingham roots to his triumphant solo career after Black Sabbath.
“I should have died 100 times and never did. If you wanted me to do something, tell me not to. I can’t remember the 80s at all. Never happened,” Ozzy reminisced about his tumultuous history.
Known for his electrifying stage presence and wild offstage antics, the metal icon was infamous for his outrageous live shows.
He shared, “I did my last show New Year’s Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves and I found out that I have a mild form.”
Parkinson’s advocacy groups have praised Ozzy for candidly addressing his diagnosis and assisting others in “feeling less alone” while facing the condition’s obstacles. Parkinson’s UK lauded the Black Sabbath icon for “normalizing tough conversations,” while Cure Parkinson’s thanked him for “putting a spotlight” on their cause.
Proceeds from the Black Sabbath reunion performance earlier this month supported Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice. Caroline Rassell, CEO of Parkinson’s UK, remarked, “News of Ozzy Osbourne’s death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to so many.
“By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson’s, Ozzy and all his family helped so many families in the same situation. They normalized tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that’s on the rise and affecting more people every day.
“All of our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends and fans worldwide. His memory and the impact he left on the world will live on in all of them.”
Ozzy’s family announced his death last week in a statement.
It 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.”
