The passing of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne in July at the age of 76 marked the end of an era in music and pop culture. Countless musicians and celebrities paid tribute to him. Ozzy was an unapologetic, glorious original to his very last day. With the recent publication of the Black Sabbath legend's posthumous memoir, Last Rites, his son, Jack, 39, looked back at his dad's colorful life with palpable affection and respect.
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Jack Is Grateful for the "Outpour of Love"
Per ABC News via Good Morning America, Jack talked about the compassion and grief that Ozzy's death occasioned worldwide. "None of us expected it to be like this, with that outpour of love," he acknowledged. Many have also asked about the well-being of his mother, Sharon. She and Ozzy had been married since 1982 and she took his passing hard.
Jack said, "You know, when people have been asking me that question, I say, 'She's OK, but she's not OK.' I know she feels the love... every child sits there and kind of has this thought about one day that parents won't be there, and what will that be like. It's just a part of being human. We just didn't think of it. It was a different weight to it, you know?"
Ozzy Completed the Book Two Days Prior to His Death
In the course of the GMA interview, Jack was asked about a telling line from Last Rites. That line was "If I'd been clean and sober, I wouldn't be Ozzy. If I had done normal, sensible things, I wouldn't be Ozzy." Were those the traits and behaviors that defined this complex artist? Jack hastened to explain on his late dad's behalf.
With a hint of mirth, he said, "There's definitely some truth to that. But here's the thing, he was clean and sober at the end. And he was still Ozzy."
He Performed for the Final Time 17 Days Before His Passing
Jack remembered what it felt like seeing Ozzy on stage that last time. "Before he went onstage, I ran back into the dressing room and I just gave him a big hug. I just kissed him. I just said, 'Crush it. You're gonna do so good.'"
He and his brother were emotional spectators as Ozzy went through his paces one more time. "We both were just crying, it wasn't because of feeling sorry for him. It wasn't because we were sad for him. I think it was because we knew it was the last time. In hindsight, it kind of was a living wake, you know, if you think about it. He got to say goodbye to everyone."
And how would this larger than life musical luminary have wanted to be remembered? Jack replied, "Oh, man. That's a tough one. Someone who loved his job and his family,"
