Ozzy Osbourne‘s bassist has recalled Black Sabbath’s final gig and admits the late rocker ‘needed assistance’ during rehearsals.
The beloved musician, famously known as the Prince of Darkness, died on Tuesday at the age of 76 – just weeks after performing his final show with the band.
Ozzy was reportedly warned by insurers that they wouldn’t cover the concert if he insisted on standing to bid farewell to his devoted fans.
But his wife Sharon managed to sort something with providers to ensure his last concert went ahead.
Despite Ozzy not being in the best state of health, Black Sabbath continued to rehearse and after a few weeks they were ready to greet their adoring fans and give them a show to remember.
Bandmate Geezer Butler has since spoken out about his passing, revealing how Ozzy was in his final moments.
Ozzy Osbourne’s bassist has recalled Black Sabbath’s final gig and admits the late rocker ‘needed assistance’ during rehearsals
The beloved musician, famously known as the Prince of Darkness, died on Tuesday at the age of 76 – just weeks after performing his final show with the band (pictured right with his bandmates Geezer Butler and Tommy Iommi in 2013)
He told The Times: ‘I knew he wasn’t in good health, but I wasn’t prepared to see how frail he was.
‘He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane – being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones.’
Geezer went on to share the one thing he wished he had done before he passed.
He added: ‘I wish I’d had more time backstage with Ozzy, but wishes are redundant now. As Ozzy used to say: “Wish in one hand and s**t in the other and see which comes first.”‘
Ozzy took to the stage for his farewell concert at Villa Park Stadium in his native Birmingham less than three weeks before his death.
The rocker reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005 to bid an emotional farewell to his decades of performing live on stage.
After selling out in minutes, over 42,000 fans packed into Villa Park for the aptly-titled Back to the Beginning show, which saw Ozzy and Black Sabbath return to their hometown – 56 years after they formed there.
Geezer said it was a ‘privilege’ to have spent the past 56 years of friendship with Ozzy and it’s been ‘one hell of a ride’.
The music legend, nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, married his second wife Sharon, who helped him transform into a successful solo artist and the couple had three children together (pictured together in 2017)
His final words on stage were: ‘It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’
A message on screen then read: ‘Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,’ before the sky lit up with fireworks.
On Wednesday, MailOnline revealed that an air ambulance was called to Osbourne’s multi-million-pound country home as paramedics battled to save his life.
The Thames Valley air ambulance landed in a field close to Welders House, the singer’s Grade II listed mansion on Tuesday morning at around 10.30am.
It’s believed that calls from Welders House had led call handlers to believe that the Black Sabbath singer’s life was in the balance.
