Ozzy Osbourne Declared He Was ‘Not a Rock Star Anymore’ Before Death, Says Son: ‘He Was Done’
Shortly before Ozzy Osbourne’s death, he performed a final farewell concert in Birmingham. Several weeks later, the Black Sabbath singer died. His son, Jack Osbourne, said that in the period between his final concert and his death, his father announced his retirement from rock star status. He made this clear when he said he wanted to cut his hair.
Ozzy Osbourne’s son said he declared he wasn’t a rock star before his death
On the Hate to Break it to Ya with Jamie Kennedy, Jack Osbourne recalled a conversation he had with his father following his farewell concert. As Osbourne brushed his teeth, he told Jack he wanted to change up his appearance.
“I think I’m gonna cut my hair off,” he said, per TMZ.
When Jack asked why he wanted to cut his hair, he said he no longer felt he had to have it long. He wasn’t a rock star anymore.
“I’ve retired,” Osbourne said. “I’m not a rock star anymore.”
Jack believed this meant his father “was done” and “was OK with his journey.” He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Jack said his father’s death still came as a surprise, but he believed Osbourne had prepared for the end of his life.
“Obviously, everyone knew he was sick,” he said. “But we weren’t expecting it to be as quick as it was. I think he was done.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s death certificate lists his job as ‘rock legend’
Though Osbourne said he was no longer a rock star, he is listed as one on his death certificate. Legal expert Adam Jones from HD Claims UK shared why a title like “rock legend” can be listed on a legal document.
“A death certificate is first and foremost a legal document,” he said. “There are very strict rules around the medical cause of death, but slightly more flexibility in the ‘occupation’ field — which is likely how a term like ‘Rock Legend’ was included. The occupation section is filled out based on information provided by the informant – usually a family member – and isn’t medically or legally verified in the same way other parts of the certificate are. So while it’s unusual, it’s not unlawful.”
While families can’t list anything they want in the “occupation” field, “Rock Legend” did apply to Osbourne.
“You couldn’t, for example, write something sentimental like ‘Best Dad Ever’ or anything obscene,” Jones said. “But descriptors like ‘legend’ – if used as part of a former occupation – fall into a bit of a grey area. Registrars tend to allow it unless it undermines the seriousness of the document.”
His final concert celebrated his career
Osbourne’s final concert was a celebration of his lengthy career in the music industry. He held it in Birmingham, where he grew up.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” he said, per his official website. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
All profits from the concert were shared between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
