LOS ANGELES:
The final years of Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman who passed away this year after a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease and persistent surgical pain, were marked by profound physical agony and a deep battle with depression. A new documentary reveals the extent of the mental anguish he faced, including thoughts of taking his own life in 2021.
In a candid clip from the Paramount+ documentary, Ozzy: No Escape From Now, the 76-year-old rock star is seen discussing the despair that overtook him when facing the permanent loss of his identity as a live performer. “The thought of not doing any gigs anymore — I went really into depression. I’m on antidepressants now, actually. Because I was getting ready to off myself at some point.”
Osbourne, however, admitted that he was ultimately deterred from following through by a darkly humorous self-awareness and a fear of failure. He explained the internal conflict: “I’ll go there in my head and I go, ‘What are you f****** talking about?’ Because knowing me, I’d half-do it and I’d be half-dead. I mean, I wouldn’t die, you know? That’s my luck.”
The documentary also features a poignant testimony from his wife, Sharon Osbourne, who corroborated the severe misery her husband endured. “Some days he wishes he was dead, he’s in so much pain [that] he can’t take it. He just wishes he could go,” she said, underscoring the relentless nature of his suffering.
The root of Osbourne’s debilitating health issues traces back to a serious fall in 2019, which left his neck severely fractured and necessitated complicated surgical interventions. The star instantly recognized the gravity of the injury, stating: “You instinctively know you’ve done f****** damage.” The consequences of that fall ultimately defined his final battle against both physical deterioration and the accompanying mental health crisis.
