Ozzy Osbourne may have passed away at 76, but even in death, the legendary “Prince of Darkness” held tightly to his signature sense of humor and flair for the unexpected. Before his passing on July 21, 2025, the Black Sabbath frontman had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want his funeral to be a sorrowful affair. In fact, Ozzy wanted laughter, Beatles songs, and even a few coffin gags to make his final send-off anything but traditional.
For decades, he openly spoke about mortality with the same irreverent charm that made him a rock icon. In a 2011 interview with The Times, he answered a reader’s question about funeral planning, brushing off the idea that thinking about your own funeral was morbid. Ozzy joked that he didn’t care what music was played at his service, saying people could blast a mash-up of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen if it made them happy. What mattered to him was that the event be a celebration of life, not a “mope-fest.” He even suggested staging a few pranks—like a knock from inside the coffin or playing a pre-recorded video of himself asking for a “second opinion” on being declared dead. Ozzy explained that life is often full of pain and hardship, and people, especially entertainers like him, are lucky in many ways.
Because of that, he felt strongly that his funeral should be an opportunity to express gratitude, not grief. In a 2016 feature with NME titled “Soundtrack of My Life,” Ozzy shared that the one song he’d want played at his funeral was “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles. He also considered a few other tracks from albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Revolver, saying Beatles music simply felt right. Interestingly, he said he wouldn’t want his own songs played because he never actually listened to them. Fast forward to 2020, and Ozzy was still cracking jokes about his legacy. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, when Piers Morgan asked how he’d like to be remembered, Ozzy didn’t hesitate. With classic comedic timing, he quipped, “Bats taste like s—,” alluding to the infamous bat-biting incident that followed him for years.
While Ozzy’s dark humor never left him, the heartbreak following his death has been deeply felt by those closest to him. Just days after his passing, his sisters Jean Powell, 85, and Gillian Hemming, 80, spoke with The Mirror, expressing their sorrow and reminiscing about their last moments with him. Jean last saw Ozzy during Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham on July 5. Though he seemed physically weak, she never expected him to be gone so soon. She remembered how he still had future plans and had told her via text that he’d be returning to Birmingham. That final message, short and simple, reflected the same playful spirit they had always known as “John,” his birth name.
Gillian echoed Jean’s sentiments, saying that what the public saw in Ozzy was no act—that wild, funny, and deeply passionate man was exactly who he was offstage too. Even as his health declined, his presence and timing remained sharp. From the over-the-top stunts of his youth to his final concerts performed while seated, Ozzy’s dedication to entertaining never faded. Though the exact details of his funeral have been kept private, fans around the world can be confident that Ozzy orchestrated a send-off worthy of his wild spirit. He never shied away from the absurd, and he certainly wasn’t going to start with his own memorial. Whether it included Beatles melodies or a well-timed joke from beyond the grave, Ozzy’s farewell was undoubtedly unforgettable. His legacy as a musician, entertainer, and unapologetically unique soul will live on—not just through his music but in the way he reminded the world to laugh in the face of life’s darkest moments.
