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Ozzy Osbourne's Final Days: Tributes Pour In As Rock Legend Passes

Published 11 hours ago4 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Ozzy Osbourne's Final Days: Tributes Pour In As Rock Legend Passes

Legendary heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, known widely as the "Prince of Darkness," passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, due to cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease. His passing led to an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans worldwide, particularly in his home city of Birmingham, where tens of thousands paid their respects at the Black Sabbath Bench on Broad Street, leaving a sea of flowers, messages, and various tributes. The Birmingham city council later collected these tokens of affection to be passed on to the Osbourne family as a lasting reminder of public support.

In a notable revelation, documents show that Ozzy Osbourne had filed to trademark his iconic "Prince of Darkness" moniker just days before his death, on June 13. His UK-based firm, Monowise, submitted the application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, seeking protection for "entertainment services, namely providing non-downloadable pre-recorded music via a website." The trademark request also extended to the sale of merchandise, including clothes, games, and accessories. While a similar application has already been approved by UK trademark authorities, the US department had yet to rubber-stamp the requests at the time of his passing.

Ozzy's final performance with Black Sabbath took place on July 5, a farewell gig that remarkably raised £140 million for charity. Despite this being a "farewell," fans may yet have another opportunity to experience the band live in a new form. Black Sabbath had previously trademarked their name in virtual reality, hinting at the possibility of future hologram performances, much like ABBA's successful 'Voyage' show in London, which has been running since 2022.

Following his burial, Ozzy's son, Jack Osbourne, shared a deeply moving tribute on Instagram, expressing his grief and cherished memories of his father. Jack, 39, one of three children Ozzy shared with his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne, wrote, "I haven’t really wanted to post anything since the passing of my father. My heart has hurt too much. I’m gonna keep this short because he certainly hated long rambling speeches." He added, "He was so many things to so many people, but I was so lucky and blessed to be apart of a very small group that got to call him ‘Dad.'"

Jack's heartfelt message was accompanied by a poignant video montage capturing various moments from Ozzy's life, including a childhood visit to the Howard Stern show in 1997 where a young Jack described having Osbourne as a dad as "very cool," alongside clips of shoulder rides, reality show antics, and road adventures. The montage was set to Ozzy's sentimental Beatles-esque ballad "So Tired" from his 1983 solo album, "Bark at the Moon," featuring lyrics like, "Time has come to say goodbye/ I know it’s gonna make you cry/ But you belong to another, my love/And half a love that just ain’t enough/ I am so tired (so tired)/ And I just can’t wait around for you."

Reflecting on his time with his father, Jack wrote, "My heart is full of so much sadness and sorrow, but also so much love and gratitude. I got 14,501 days with that man and I know that is such a blessing." He concluded his tribute with a powerful quote from late gonzo writer Hunter S. Thompson's "The Proud Highway: The Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967": "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body… but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!’" The video ended with images of Ozzy smiling with his children and grandchildren, as well as archival footage of him teaching a young Jack how to bow to an audience. The tribute also included a photo of the NSFW flower arrangement at Ozzy's private funeral, which read "Ozzy F–king Osbourne." Jack affirmed, "That was my dad. He lived and he lived his life fully. I love you dad."

Jack's tribute followed closely on the heels of a message from his sister, Kelly Osbourne, who publicly thanked fans for their overwhelming support. "I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough … but from the bottom of my heart, thank you," Kelly expressed. She added, "The love, support and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life. Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain… I will not be OK for a while — but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference. I’m holding on tight to the love, the light and the legacy left behind."

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