Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Words: “I Had No Idea So Many People Liked Me”
I’m Riley Carter, reporting that on July 5 at Villa Park, Ozzy Osbourne revealed he had no idea so many fans cared about him during his Back to the Beginning farewell concert.
Another day, another rock icon leaving us all speechless with a peek behind the curtain.
Sharon Osbourne opened up in a July 17 interview with Pollstar, published August 5, about her husband’s emotional reaction when he took the stage in his hometown of Birmingham, England. Overwhelmed by the roaring crowd, Ozzy Osbourne, 76, turned to Sharon and admitted, “I had no idea that so many people liked me.” According to Sharon, this moment summed up his entire career in a single sentence.
The Black Sabbath frontman, whose real name was John Michael Osbourne, officially retired after that July 5 show and sadly passed away on July 22 from a heart attack. Sharon, who managed his career for decades and now mourns alongside their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, said she always wanted a grand goodbye instead of a quiet exit. “It was the first time anyone has gone into retirement and streamed the show for charity,” she noted, pointing out this unique digital twist on a farewell tour and how it aligned with their longtime commitment to giving back.
Villa Park isn’t just any venue for Ozzy. It’s home to his beloved Aston Villa football club and the stadium where he first found his feet after leaving school. Sharon called it “the perfect place to say goodnight” to a generation of headbangers who followed him from Earth to Black Sabbath to solo superstardom.
The lineup felt like a reunion of metal royalty. Metallica, Mastodon, Anthrax, Alice in Chains and Guns N’ Roses all paid homage to the “Prince of Darkness,” many of them alumni of the famous Ozzfest festival Sharon and Ozzy launched together. Fans tuned in from around the globe, making it a landmark moment in rock history and underlining just how loyal metalheads can be.
In the days after Ozzy’s passing, Sharon kept the spotlight on family tributes. Jack Osbourne took to Instagram on August 6 to reveal that he “hasn’t really wanted to post anything since the passing of my father,” writing that his heart “is full of sadness and sorrow, but also so much love and gratitude.” He counted every one of his 14,501 days with his dad as a blessing. Kelly Osbourne echoed that sentiment on August 4, admitting on Instagram Stories that “grief sneaks up on you in waves,” but that knowing fans share her pain brings comfort.
Ozzy’s journey began as a dyslexic school kid in Birmingham, teased for struggling to read. He credits The Beatles with sparking his passion for music and helping him escape his tough neighborhood. In 1968 he and his mates formed Earth, which soon evolved into Black Sabbath—a group that defined heavy metal for generations.
From his raw early days to selling out arenas worldwide, Ozzy Osbourne never stopped surprising critics or captivating audiences. His final message—spoken in an honest moment of disbelief—reminded everyone why he remained a cultural force up until the end.
Anyway, that was Ozzy’s final curtain call. Play it loud or keep it mellow, your choice.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Pollstar, Instagram
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
