(Tuesday, October 7) marks the release of Ozzy Osbourne’s long-awaited second autobiography, Last Rites (Grand Central Publishing). Completed just days before the legendary musician’s passing in July 2025, the book offers a raw and intimate look at the final years of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy Award-winning artist.
The memoir chronicles the past seven years of Ozzy’s life — a period marked by health battles, personal growth, and a powerful final return to the stage.
A Brutally Honest and Life-Affirming Farewell
Last Rites captures the very essence of Ozzy Osbourne — equal parts outrageous, self-deprecating, and profound. Described as “the shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Ozzy’s descent into hell,” the book balances dark humor with heartfelt honesty.
It details his struggles with near-total paralysis from the neck down, his emotional reunion with BLACK SABBATH, and his determination to perform one last time.
“Because of his horrific music, California will indefinitely suspend Kid Rock from performing in the Golden State,”
“You’re welcome!”
(Editor’s note: above quote example format retained for block formatting consistency, not part of Ozzy article content.)
“Unflinching, brutally honest, but surprisingly life-affirming, Last Rites demonstrates once again why Ozzy has transcended his status as ‘the godfather of metal’ and ‘The Prince Of Darkness’ to become a modern-day folk hero and international treasure,” reads the book’s synopsis.
A Look Back at a Legendary Life
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy rose from working-class beginnings to become one of the most influential figures in rock and heavy metal history.
With more than 100 million albums sold across his career — both as a solo artist and as a member of BLACK SABBATH — Ozzy achieved what few could dream of: global fame, longevity, and redemption.
Last Rites follows his earlier bestsellers, 2010’s I Am Ozzy and 2011’s Trust Me, I’m Dr. Ozzy: Advice From Rock’s Ultimate Survivor. This final installment captures his later-life reflections, including his marriage to Sharon Osbourne, his health battles, and his triumphant “Back To The Beginning” concert — a globally streamed event that reunited him with his BLACK SABBATH bandmates for one last performance.
Jack Osbourne Reflects on His Father’s Final Work
In a special Q&A shared with the press, Ozzy’s son Jack Osbourne opened up about the book’s origins, his father’s creative process, and how Last Rites became a tribute to both his career and resilience.
Q: How did the idea for doing “Last Rites” come about?
Jack: “My father had been working on Last Rites for a very long time — chipping away at it over the last three or four years. He always felt he needed to do a follow-up to I Am Ozzy, because so much had happened in the 20 years since that book was released. From life after the TV show, to the SABBATH reunion, to releasing his last two albums, and finally his health issues. It was important to him to capture all of that.”
According to Jack, Ozzy viewed the book as a way to document his final chapter honestly — not just as a rock star, but as a husband, father, and survivor.
“He Finished It Just Days Before He Passed”
Q: Do you or other family members have favorite passages or anecdotes from the book?
Jack: “If I’m being honest, not many of the family members have read the book yet — it’s been a difficult time for everyone. For me, the last chapter is what I’ve reflected on the most. He finished it just a few days before he passed.”
That final chapter — reportedly a mixture of gratitude, humor, and humility — is already being described by early readers as one of the most powerful farewells ever written by a rock musician.
Slowing Down, Looking Back
Q: Throughout “Last Rites,” Ozzy reflects on his early life with the insight gained as we grow older. Were there things that changed about him and the way he experienced the world towards the end of his life?
Jack: “There’s a lot to reflect on with that question. My father was always considered the ‘wild man of rock,’ the ‘Prince Of Darkness’ and so on, but the last seven years were the complete opposite. Because of his injuries and declining health, he slowed down. And sometimes with a curse comes a blessing. Slowing down gave him the space to really reflect on his journey — his successes, his failures, his joys, his sadness and ultimately, what mattered most to him. This book captures some of that.”
It’s a side of Ozzy few ever saw — vulnerable, contemplative, and full of gratitude for a life well lived.
A Private Creative Process
Q: Do you recall any moments or conversations with Ozzy as he was working on the book?
Jack: “He was very private about the process and didn’t share much about what he was including. I’d try to ask, but he’d often brush it off. I’ve often said this about my father, he was the most humble egomaniac you could ever meet. He honestly didn’t think anyone would care about what he was writing in Last Rites. So when I asked him, he always downplayed it.”
Even at the end of his career, Ozzy’s humility and humor never faded — qualities that endeared him to generations of fans.
A Final Goodbye to the Fans
Q: It’s clear from reading “Last Rites” that Ozzy loved his fans. Is there anything that didn’t make it into the book that you’d like for them to know?
Jack: “Here’s the truth — my father fought a very hard fight to get on that stage in Birmingham on July 5. He was determined to say goodbye to his fans, and that’s exactly what he did. He loved them deeply because they gave him the life he had. He always said he would have been nothing without their love and support. That last show was his way of giving back one final time.”
That final performance in Birmingham — Ozzy’s hometown — is now remembered as a fitting, emotional farewell from one of rock’s greatest showmen.
“He Wanted People to Smile, Not Cry”
Q: What do you think Ozzy would like readers to take away from the book?
Jack: “My father would want people to smile, laugh, and feel love when they read it. He absolutely hated when people felt sorry for him. I know some fans will get emotional — it’s hard not to — but he couldn’t stand when people cried in front of him or got sad around him. So enjoy his words. Feel his energy. Remember who he will always be. And never stop loving him.”
A Legacy Eternal
With Last Rites, Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind more than music — he leaves a philosophy, one rooted in resilience, humor, and boundless love for his fans.
It’s the closing statement of a man who lived loudly, loved deeply, and, even in his final years, found a way to laugh at life’s madness.
In his own words, Ozzy Osbourne never wanted pity — only connection. And with Last Rites, that connection will live on forever.
