Ozzy Osbourne was overwhelmed by the love of his fans.
Shortly before the Black Sabbath frontman’s death from a heart attack on July 22 at the age of 76, wife Sharon Osbourne took a moment to reflect on her husband’s legacy and his July 5 “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert, sharing that Ozzy had quite an emotional reaction after he took the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
“He turned around and he said to me that night, he said, ‘I had no idea that so many people liked me,’” Sharon told Pollstar in an interview published Aug. 5, but conducted on July 17. “Ozzy’s always been in his own bubble.”
But Sharon wasn’t surprised by the reaction of the crowd, adding, “Oh my God, the metal fans are the most loyal fans in the world! When they’re a fan, you’ve got them for life. They don’t go anywhere.”
And the 72-year-old—who shares children Aimee Osbourne, 41, Kelly Osbourne, 40, and Jack Osbourne, 39, with Ozzy—was overjoyed by how well the event was received by those who attended in person and the millions who watched online.
“It was a huge success, because it was a phenomenal event,” Sharon said. “It was the first time, I think, that anybody’s gone into retirement and done it, where the show is streamed and it goes to charity. So it’s the first time anybody has said goodnight like that, it’s the perfect way, when you’ve had such a long career, to end it.”
As Sharon—who also served as Ozzy’s manager for much of his career—explained, “I never wanted Ozzy to just disappear without some big event. And it’s the best way then to go home to where it all started, to go to his favorite stadium in the world (Villa Park), which is [home to] his beloved Aston Villa (soccer) team, and it was just perfect.”
The event was truly a who’s who of metal icons, with bands like Metallica, Mastodon, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses and more—many of whom were featured during Sharon and Ozzy’s famed Ozzfest music festival—taking the stage to pay homage to the Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath.
“It was the perfect storm,” Sharon recalled, “put it that way.”
In the days following Ozzy’s passing, Sharon and her family shared their own tributes to the musician, with Jack reflecting on how difficult the loss has been for him.
"I haven’t really wanted to post anything since the passing of my father," he said on Instagram Aug. 6. "My heart has hurt too much."
Jack added that he was so lucky to call Ozzy dad, saying, “My heart is full of so much sadness and sorrow, but also so much love and gratitude. I got 14,501 days with that man and I know that is such a blessing."
And his sister Kelly echoed that sentiment, writing on Instagram Stories Aug. 4, “Grief is a strange thing. It sneaks up on you in waves—I will not be ok for a while—but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference. I'm holding on tight to the love, the light, and the legacy left behind.”
For a look at Ozzy and his loved ones over the years, keep reading.
1969
Before being known as Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tommy Iommi performed under the name Earth.
1970
The heavy metal band members were ready to rock as they posed for this shot.
1972
Ozzy, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, struggled with school early on. It was his passion for music that ultimately helped him move forward.
“I left school with a little more education than when I first started going,” he told The Associated Press in 2010. “Because of my dyslexia, I couldn’t learn. So, I was teased a lot by one of my sister about not bing able to read. It’s very shameful.”
“If it wasn’t for The Beatles turning me onto music in a big way, I don’t know what I would have done,” he continued. “Music has been the main thing that got me out of the area, the place I was born.”
1973
In 1968, he and his friends formed Black Sabbath, inspired by the film of the same name, with their self-titled debut album earning major commercial success. In 1971, he married his first wife Thelma Riley, with whom he shared kids Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne and Elliot Kingsley.
1974
The “Paranoid” singer, donning shiny pants embellished with a snake, embraced the crowd during the band’s set at the California Jam music festival.
1975
Black Sabbath walked the streets of London in style.
1976
The band performed at the iconic Hammersmith Odeon—now named the Eventim Apollo—in London.
1977
Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill were all smiles as they showed off their silver recording certification for Technical Ecstasy.
1980
Ozzy was happy to sink his teeth into a macabre photo shoot. He was fired from Black Sabbath the year before due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.
"Money would be the alcohol and the drugs and I behaved badly,” he said in his documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne of that time. "That was one of the lowest points of my life.”
1982
Ozzy—as a solo artist—took the stage at Madison Square Garden for his Diary of a Madman tour, just two days after he infamously bit into a dead bat that was thrown onto the stage, which he believed was fake.
"I just thought it was a rubber bat," Ozzy said in the documentary, "and I just put it in my mouth and crunched down. I just f--king bit into it, you know, being the f--king clown that I am [and was like], 'Oh no! It's real.'"
Later that year, he married his manager, Sharon Arden.
1983
The “Iron Man” singer, donning his iconic dark eyeliner, posed with a cigarette before a performance in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their first child together, Aimee Osbourne.
1984
Ozzy and Motlëy Crüe’s Vince Neil posed after performing for their Bark at the Moon tour. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their daughter Kelly Osbourne.
1985
Ozzy and Sharon, who tied the knot in 1982, were in paradise as they vacationed in Brazil. They also welcomed their son, Jack Osbourne.
1986
Posing for pics before a performance in Chicago on July 13, 1986.
1987
Ozzy at home with Sharon and their kids Kelly, Jack and Aimee.
1988
The British star showcased his '80s rockstar hair for this portrait in his garden in May 1988.
1989
In August 1989, Ozzy's band performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in Russia.
1991
The singer proved he was a style icon as he posed in round-rimmed sunglasses and a black and red theatrical military-inspired ensemble.
1992
Black Sabbath made its mark as the band members left their handprints at the Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
1995
Ozzy sang his heart out at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany.
1997
A portrait of the Osbourne family at their luxury home in Beverly Hills.
1998
Black Sabbath proved their bond was forever as they celebrated 30 years as a band. Ozzy had rejoined one year earlier.
1999
In 1999, the rocker attended the unveiling of the Ozzy Osbourne Action Figure at McFarlane Toy Showroom in New York City.
2000
The Grammy-winner rocked his signature black leather style at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
2003
Ozzy and Sharon’s lives were on full display for the past year as they starred in their reality TV show The Osbournes from 2002 until 2005.
2006
Kelly proved she was daddy’s little girl as she attended Black Sabbath’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2012
Ozzy performed at the Gods of Metal Festival in Milan, Italy.
2015
Ozzy and Sharon attended the premiere of Amy at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles.
One year later, Ozzy and Sharon had taken a break after the latter had cheated on his wife. The couple ultimately reconciled, with Ozzy sharing on Good Morning America that they were “back on track again.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had emphasized that Sharon was, in fact, the One.
"She's the only one I've ever loved in my life," he said of his wife during his documentary. "I mean, she's my soulmate."
2018
The rock legend was glowing as he announced his No More Tours II: Final World Tour during a press conference.
2019
Ozzy looked back at his star-studded life, realizing that he had done a lot during his 50-year career.
"I never thought I'd make it this far," he told Rolling Stone in 2018 while reflecting on his career. "I don't understand why I'm alive still after the hell-raising days. I guess whoever the man is upstairs, if there even is one, wants me to stick around."