“Out of hospital cardiac arrest.” It rings clinical, cold, but to millions of fans worldwide, those words signaled the end of an era the day the world lost so-called “Prince of Darkness.” Ozzy Osbourne’s actual cause of death, as confirmed by his daughter Aimée Osbourne and published in The New York Times, was the result of a cascade of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), cardiac arrest, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction a kind of cascade of illness that eventually claimed the iconic frontman at 76, days after his final electrifying performance in Birmingham.
The rock star’s health disease were no secret. For some years, Ozzy’s resilience in the face of adversity was as much a part of his legend as his songs. After being involved in a quad-bike accident back in 2003, during which he suffered severe neck injuries, a heart-pulverizing tumble in 2019 only added to the pain. That same year, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease an illness that, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation, “robs people of control over their movements” and may lead to tremors, stiffness, and loss of balance. “I did my last show New Year’s Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves,” Ozzy spoke candidly to Good Morning America. All these setbacks notwithstanding, he still kept going back to the stage, never wanting to deprive fans of just one more concert.
And what a concert it was. His last Villa Park concert was more than an act it was coming home. Sandwiched by other legends such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and his own original Black Sabbath band members, Ozzy presented fans with a night that they would never forget. “It’s so good to be on this f***ing stage, you have no idea,” he snarled to the thunderous crowd. That stark, unbridled moment was the energy which forged Ozzy into a global legend.
Upon the news of his death, Birmingham city was turned into a perpetual memorial. Thousands lined the streets of fans as Ozzy’s hearses procession traveled from his childhood house in Aston, through Broad Street, past the Black Sabbath bench and bridge a sacred site to fans. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, was spotted with tears in her eyes leaving a pink rose among the thousands of flowers and fan messages. One of the placards captured the city’s mood: “Birmingham will always love you.” Birmingham’s mayor, Zafar Iqbal, described Ozzy as “one of the city’s greatest living legends,” and spoke of how much he was loved by his home city and the rest of the world.
For others, the loss is nearly intimate-even suffocating. That is only natural, experts continue. Mourning a celebrity can hit close to home, particularly if the music has been the background score of your life. As Dr. Alan Wolfelt says, “The stronger the connection, the greater our grief when the connection is broken.” Ozzy’s words, his image, even his devils his fans spoke to his journey. It is not a loss of a rock star; it is a loss of part of your narrative.
So what does one do when a legend like Ozzy is no longer with us? Experts suggest gravitating toward community. Showing up at public memorials, posting comments on the Internet, or simply listening to his music with friends does the trick. “Finding a way to continue a bond with your deceased celebrity can help you maintain a sense of connection with them,” grief counselors say. Some fans have put together memory boxes, filled with ticket stubs, pictures, and autographed albums a physical reminder to keep things going. Others are resorting to creative memory, from fan art to donations to charity in Ozzy’s name, keeping his memory alive in creative and positive ways.
If the grief seems too much to bear, don’t face it by yourself. Sitting down with friends and talking it out, surfing the web on fan sites, or a visit to see a mental health professional can make all the difference. Grief is a normal process. But if you feel like your experience of grief is too much for you to handle on your own, or you’re having disruptions to your daily life that are impacting your mood, wellbeing and physical health and safety, you may need professional help, experts observe.
Ozzy himself used to wish his own funeral won’t be a gloomy event, and that has been obeyed by his fans. The Birmingham public procession witnessed a deluge of music, laughter, and even impromptu shouts of “Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy oi oi oi!” a demonstration of a non-usual life. Black Sabbath songs were performed by the Bostin Brass Band as the hearse went by and electronic billboards displayed “Ozzy Forever Birmingham will always love you.” Last, perhaps the best tribute to Ozzy’s legacy is to just keep on rocking, stay connected, and keep his music alive your own way.
