Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t quite ready to leave this world, yet he was oddly prepared to face death. But here’s where it gets controversial: his new memoir, "Last Rites," reveals a surprising mix of defiance and acceptance toward his mortality that few expected from the Prince of Darkness.
In his final memoir, released posthumously, Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22 at 76, shares an intimate look at his lifelong dance with death. Officially, his death was caused by a heart attack, but the real story is much deeper—it was a life marked by wild excess and chaos that almost did him in many times before. Born John Osbourne in 1948, he was continually astonished that after years of heavy drinking, drug use, and reckless behavior, he managed to keep living.
"Last Rites," the third memoir co-written with Chris Ayres (following 2009’s "I Am Ozzy" and 2011’s "Trust Me, I’m Dr. Ozzy"), is a raw and revealing journey. It blends medical reality with vivid memories, capturing the moments when metal’s notorious wildman was forced to confront his own fragility after injuries forced the cancellation of his farewell tour in 2018. The book oscillates between deeply grateful storytelling and a hopeful yearning for one final chance at redemption. It’s the perfect curtain call for a life lived without limits. For readers who aren’t rock legends with lavish fortunes, it might even stir a wish to escape the trials of old age entirely.
If anyone was shocked by his survival past 70, it was Ozzy himself. He outlived numerous rock icons like Keith Moon, John Bonham, and Bon Scott, who died young, as well as fellow legends like Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead, who wrote the lyrics to Ozzy’s poignant 1991 ballad, "Mama, I’m Coming Home." "Last Rites" offers a striking portrait of a man caught between beckoning death and clinging desperately to life, haunted by survivor’s guilt and amazed at his own endurance.
Anyone familiar with Ozzy’s MTV reality show, "The Osbournes," airing from 2002 to 2005, might be surprised that he was only 53 when America first saw this side of him. The show, a precursor to today’s celebrity reality TV craze, presented the unlikely image of rock’s wildest figure as a somewhat bewildered, bumbling family man surrounded by his outspoken wife Sharon and spirited children Kelly and Jack. Meanwhile, Ozzy himself became the show’s darkly comedic relief, often slurring his words and mumbling behind tinted glasses, a far cry from his onstage persona.
"The Osbournes" arguably kicked off the trend of reality TV serving as a path to redemption for celebrities whose careers were either stalled or tarnished. Despite hating the show and often showing disinterest in being filmed, Ozzy’s vulnerable yet funny presence made him beloved by audiences. Behind the scenes, however, he was fighting demons—depression, guilt, and a Parkinson’s diagnosis—problems that the public never fully saw. The endearing image of him as a goofy, burrito-loving father was a stark contrast to his ongoing battles with addiction and mental health.
The memoir candidly details the severe health crises starting in 2019 that triggered his slow decline. A seemingly minor injury from a fall—partly caused by a staph infection and Ozzy’s habit of diving into bed like a teenager—compounded earlier damage from an ATV accident, knocking loose the bolts and screws holding his body together. "I didn’t need a doctor so much as I needed a mechanic," he quips. But the spinal surgery intended to fix him only led to complications that forced him off the tour circuit indefinitely.
What followed were years marked by physical suffering and emotional isolation, compounded by the onset of COVID-19. The memoir takes on the rhythm of a quest narrative, chronicling cycles of worsening health and fleeting recovery, paralleled by creative bursts—collaborations with Post Malone and Busta Rhymes, and recording with an up-and-coming producer. These projects fueled his determination to make peace with his past and seek closure before his final curtain.
"Last Rites" stands as the heartfelt story of redemption that "The Osbournes" reality show never truly captured—genuine, big-hearted, unafraid to acknowledge Ozzy’s darker moments while overflowing with gratitude for the life he led.
Ozzy openly reflects on regrets, including the destructive episodes that led to his ousting from Black Sabbath, his turbulent solo career, and the tragic 1982 plane crash that claimed the lives of his guitarist Randy Rhoads and makeup assistant Rachel Youngblood—"the two most sensible people on the entire tour," tragically lost due to the recklessness of an amateur pilot under the influence. The memoir is also permeated by his sorrow over personal missteps, like failing to thank his father for support early in his career, and the haunting memory of a violent blackout in 1989 that landed him in prison after an attempt on Sharon’s life.
One unresolved chapter detailed in the book is the estrangement from Black Sabbath bandmate Bill Ward, a rift Ozzy admits he never worked hard enough to heal. The final pages chronicle a triumphant 2025 reunion show and charity event in Ozzy’s hometown of Birmingham, titled "Back to the Beginning," marking a poignant full circle just seventeen days before his passing.
By the time of his death, Ozzy’s last known addiction had an unexpectedly mild twist—a quirky passion for Pink Lady apples, dismissing all others with the memorable line, "None of that Granny Smith bullsh*t." This small detail serves as a touching reminder that despite wealth, medical care, and family support, Ozzy spent his final years locked in battles not only with his body but with hope, pain, and mortality.
He closes "Last Rites" with a contemplative note on the afterlife: "People ask me what I think’s gonna happen in the afterlife. I say to ‘em, I’ve no idea, but it won’t be long now, so if you hang around a bit, maybe I can haunt you and give you the answer."
And here’s the controversial question we’re left with: does Ozzy’s story challenge our ideas about living fast and dying young, or is his long, tumultuous life proof that even the wildest lives can be lived with grace, grit, and ultimately, hope? What do you think—did Ozzy cheat death, or was he exactly where he needed to be when he finally left? Share your thoughts below.
