My dad loved Ozzy. "Crazy Train" was his ringtone for years. He loved "The Osbournes" on MTV. I would watch it with him every once in awhile. I just remember asking him if he could understand a word Ozzy was saying because I sure couldn't. Ozzy reminds me of my dad in some ways, so it was fitting that I got to finish this book this time of year, since today marks the sixth anniversary of the day my dad died. Rest in peace too, old man. Hopefully you and Ozzy ended up in the same place and you're having a good time together.
Ozzy was touring in 2018 when he got a bad staph infection in his hand and needed surgery. Then he got the flu. Then he fell one night while trying to get back in bed and reinjured his neck, the one he broke in a quad accident in 2003. The original surgeon made things worse, so instead of getting better, he kept getting worse and having to delay his tour. He didn't want to disappoint the fans, but he also couldn't move.
Years went by and he still wasn't in any kind of shape to perform. He did manage to make it to the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in 2022, where he was able to stand on stage (leaning on a stick) and sing. You can see the pure joy in his face at performing. He was determined to give the Birmingham crowd one last show with his Black Sabbath band members and he did in July of this year, less than three weeks before he died. He couldn't stand, he could barely sing, but he did it. "Last Rites" chronicled that journey from being okay in 2018 to death's door 7 years later. It was sad but it was also inspiring to know that despite everything, all the pain he must have been in, that he was able to do it and say goodbye to his fans. He was genuinely overwhelmed by the love. He said he had no idea he was so well liked.
Hopefully he was surrounded by love and peace his last few days.
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