Ozzy Osbourne faced numerous health challenges leading up to his passing in July — so much so that he contemplated ending his own life to alleviate his pain.
“The idea of never performing again plunged me into a deep depression,” Osbourne shared in the new documentary on Paramount+ titled Ozzy: No Escape From Now. “I’m currently taking antidepressants because I was heading towards thoughts of ending it all at one point.”
Reflecting on the time after a surgery in 2021 that aimed to fix an earlier procedure, he humorously noted that fears about failing at suicide kept those dark thoughts at bay.
“I think to myself, ‘What the hell are you saying?’ Because knowing my luck, I’d just half-do it and end up only partly dead,” the former lead of Black Sabbath disclosed. “I wouldn’t even really die, you know? That’s just my luck.”
Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife, corroborated her husband’s struggles, stating, “There are days he feels as though he’d prefer death, due to debilitating pain he can’t endure. He merely wishes for relief.”
In 2019, a significant fall resulted in a broken neck for Ozzy. “You instinctively realize you’ve severely injured yourself,” he reflected in the documentary.
He underwent surgery to fix the damage, but his issues were just beginning.
“After the surgery, he was in far worse shape than before,” Jack, Ozzy and Sharon’s son, recalled.
Jack’s sister Kelly added, “I witnessed my dad transition from being able to sit up to — and I’m sorry to say this, but it’s true — having a posture reminiscent of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.”
Sharon explained that the procedure involved inserting screws and plates into Ozzy’s body, which later became loose, exacerbating his condition. Additionally, he developed blood clots while recuperating in the hospital.
“After three months, when we brought him back home, the pain remained intense and relentless,” Sharon recounted. “It was excruciating. And while I understand Ozzy can be a dramatic type — always chasing pain relief — I could see the authenticity in his distress. You can truly see it in someone’s eyes.”
Ozzy said, “There’s a constant pain that remains, no matter the remedies you try. Such pain alters your mindset, making happiness elusive.”
Ozzy endured his pain for two years until he consulted another surgeon, who assessed the initial doctor’s approach as overly aggressive. The new doctor suggested further surgery to rectify the previous one.
After this operation, Ozzy plunged into despair, even contemplating suicide following the cancellation of his farewell tour.
“I’ve had more surgeries than I could’ve ever imagined in my lifetime,” he expressed in the documentary. “You get back up, climb that mountain, reach the summit, only to be knocked back down. It shakes your self-assurance, you know.”
Despite ongoing pain after his corrective surgery in 2021, Ozzy managed to record his 13th and last solo album, Patient Number 9, and was even well enough to perform at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and attend his upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame solo induction in 2024.
Ozzy passed away in July at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack. Just weeks prior to his death, he gave his final performance in Birmingham, his hometown.
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“It’s going to be my final farewell, making it quite emotional for me up there,” Ozzy remarked in the documentary. “I just hope I can hold back the tears thinking of Sharon. We’ve traveled a long road together, my old girl. This is it. I’ve come to terms with it.”
Ozzy: No Escape From Now is set to debut on Paramount+ Tuesday, October 7.
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