Ozzy Osbourne Has Death on mind. As a self-confessed hypocho…read more
The End of an Era: Black Sabbath’s Farewell Tour and Ozzy’s Reflections on Mortality
In 2016, heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath were on their swan song tour, aptly titled The End. As they prepared to take the stage in Sydney, Australia, the band found themselves reflecting on their immense legacy while grappling with the passage of time and the inevitability of mortality. For frontman Ozzy Osbourne, death seemed to linger ominously, though not in the way one might expect.
“Fing hell, man,” Ozzy muttered during a conversation, reacting to the news of Prince’s sudden death earlier that morning. Reports speculated that the music icon had overdosed. Behind his signature Lennon-esque sunglasses, Ozzy’s disbelief was palpable. “It’s been a shitty year. People keep dying. Every other week, some other c dies,” he lamented.
The year had already taken a grim toll on the music world, claiming legends like Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, and now Prince. For Ozzy, the loss of Motörhead’s Lemmy struck particularly hard. “Lemmy was the epitome of heavy metal. He always said, ‘I’ve lived my life the way I want to.’ But I bet if he had the chance to come back for a few more years, he f***ing would.”
Ozzy, 67 at the time, spoke candidly about his brushes with death. From stomach pumps to a near-fatal quad bike accident that stopped his heart twice, he admitted his self-destructive tendencies pushed him to the brink more than once. “Every time I got stoned or drunk, I didn’t just get tipsy—I got f***ed. But I haven’t drunk in three years, haven’t smoked in twelve, and I’m clean now. It’s cool,” he said, his defiant humor intact.
Clad in his usual black ensemble, Ozzy’s rock star image was somewhat undercut by the blue and purple hotel slippers he wore as he shuffled around the room. Yet, his irreverent spirit remained unshaken. When asked about the prospect of slowing down, he quipped, “Sharon told me: ‘You’re not f***ing going anywhere till this tour’s finished.’”
For Black Sabbath, The End tour wasn’t just the culmination of a legendary career—it was a reminder of time’s relentless march. Their Australian dates marked the last in the region, and their headlining spot at Download Festival in June would be their final UK performance. As they took their final bow, they left behind a legacy unmatched in the annals of heavy metal.
