Some may remember him as John Michael Osbourne. Others, as the “Godfather of Metal” or the “Prince of Darkness.” However you choose to remember Ozzy Osbourne, he will always be known as a rock music legend. We’re talking 50 years in the music business with more than 100M records sold, multiple Grammys, and two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are plenty of other honors and achievements to be listed, but when it comes down to it, those awards and mentions are not nearly as important as the person Ozzy Osbourne was.
In his second autobiography, Last Rites, Osbourne gets into the later years of his life, continuing from where he left off in his 2010 autobiography, I Am Ozzy. He reflects on his career, marriage, and life, but does so in a humorous yet surprisingly honest way. It is definitely a page-turner, especially the parts that get into his final performances.
When Osbourne was on his farewell tour back in 2018, he ended up dealing with health issues—including a near-total paralysis—that prompted him to cancel the tour and retreat from public life. Still, he persevered and reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates this past July for the ‘Back to the Beginning’ benefit concert in Birmingham, England. Last Rites was finished just days before the concert took place. His son, Jack Osbourne, shares,
“Here’s the truth—my father fought a very hard fight to get on that stage in Birmingham on July 5. He was determined to say goodbye to his fans, and that’s exactly what he did. He loved them deeply because they gave him the life he had. He always said he would have been nothing without their love and support. That last show was his way of giving back one final time.”
Overall, Last Rites is a final look into Osbourne’s life and legacy. Jack continues,
“My father had been working on ‘Last Rites’ for a very long time—chipping away at it over the last three or four years. He always felt he needed to do a follow-up to ‘I Am Ozzy,’ because so much had happened in the 20 years since that book was released. From life after the TV show, to the Sabbath reunion, to releasing his last two albums, and finally his health issues. It was important to him to capture all of that.”
He also shares,
“My father would want people to smile, laugh, and feel love when they read it. He absolutely hated when people felt sorry for him. I know some fans will get emotional—it’s hard not to—but he couldn’t stand when people cried in front of him or got sad around him. So enjoy his words. Feel his energy. Remember who he will always be. And never stop loving him.”
Last Rites is out now via Grand Central Publishing. You can purchase a copy here.
