Ozzy Osbourne’s sisters recall final meeting with rock icon: “He was our brother, not a celebrity”
Ozzy Osbourne‘s sisters have remembered their late brother, shared memories of their final meeting with him earlier this month, and also revealed the rock legend “still had plans and things he wanted to do”.
Osbourne returned to Birmingham, which remains home to his siblings, for his farewell performance, titled Back to the Beginning, that took place at Villa Park on July 5th. He performed a solo set before closing the show with the original line-up of Black Sabbath, raising close to $200 million in the process.
The Black Sabbath frontman had lived in California for several decades, and due to his mobility issues, had been unable to return home to Birmingham in recent years. However, he did successfully return for Back to the Beginning, which also gave him the opportunity to catch up with his older sisters, Jean Powell, and Gillian Hemming.
Additionally, when Black Sabbath were in Birmingham, they were awarded the freedom of the city in a ceremony, which Osbourne’s sisters attended.
Hemming told The Mirror of their final encounter: “We saw him in Birmingham the other week when he and the rest of the band were given the freedom of the city.”
However, it was somewhat of a sad encounter due to Osbourne’s mobility issues, she explained, “It was upsetting because he could not stand up straight, but he was still our John, still cracking the jokes. To us he was our brother, not a celebrity, so it’s crazy to see the outpouring of love since his death was announced.”
Despite becoming a world famous rockstar, Osbourne remained extremely close to his siblings, with Hemming revealing, “We just can’t believe he is gone and we won’t be getting another phone call or text from him. Every week without fail he would get in touch, either by phone or text, to ask how we were all doing and what was going on.”
Powell described the news, which they learned over the phone before it was announced publicly, as a “shock” before adding, “He still had plans and things he wanted to do. We don’t know the details of his death, it’s still too early. It’s just so sad. I’m just thankful he died in England.”
Additionally, she was in attendance at Villa Park, and Osbourne arranged an executive box for his sisters to watch his final show. Powell said that he was “blown away” and “couldn’t believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform”. The concert was an emotional affair for Powell, who admitted, “When I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John I just broke down.”
Although the chance to talk with him was limited at Back to the Beginning, they heaTortbreakingly had plans to see each other again in the near future. Powell explained: “He said ‘I can’t wait to come back’. We were hoping to see him this week.”
After Osbourne’s family announced that the rock legend had passed away at the age of 76, fans have since congregated at Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street in Birmingham to leave flowers and remember the Black Sabbath frontman, which has now become a shrine to him.
To celebrate his legacy, Birmingham City Council has created a book of condolence, which fans can sign in the Round Room at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until 7pm on July 23rd. The council also described him as “our own Prince from Aston, a demon, an angel and an all round hero”.
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