Ozzy Osbourne has announced his final memoir titled “Last Rites.” The book will focus on his recent health struggles and career reflections, as reported by Rolling Stone.
The memoir will detail Osbourne’s perspective on his life choices and recent health challenges. These challenges forced him to abandon his farewell tour.
“People say to me, if you could do it all again, knowing what you know now, would you change anything? I’m like, f*** no,” Osbourne said. “If I’d been clean and sober, I wouldn’t be Ozzy. If I’d done normal, sensible things, I wouldn’t be Ozzy.”
The rock legend reflected on his current situation and career legacy.
“Look, if it ends tomorrow, I can’t complain. I’ve been all around the world. Seen a lot of things. I’ve done good… and I’ve done bad,” he continued. “But right now, I’m not ready to go anywhere.”
The official announcement describes the book as “the final, fearlessly raw memoir from rock’n’roll hellraiser Ozzy Osbourne.” It chronicles how Osbourne went from performing sold-out farewell tour shows to facing near-total paralysis from the neck down within just a few weeks.
The memoir will also include reflections on his marriage to Sharon. It will cover encounters with fellow musicians including Slash, Bon Scott, John Bonham and Keith Moon, and his final moments with Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. The book promises to be “unflinching and surprisingly life-affirming” while covering his final Black Sabbath reunion performance.
Osbourne’s health struggles that will be detailed in the memoir have been ongoing for several years. This marks a dramatic turn from his decades-long career as one of metal’s most enduring performers.
People revealed that Osbourne suffered a major spinal injury four years ago. The injury required three operations, stem cell treatments, and groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) therapy. Despite these extensive medical interventions, the treatments left him physically weakened and unable to continue the demanding schedule of touring that had defined much of his career.
The severity of his condition became clear when Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Osbourne realized he was “not physically capable” of coping with the travel demands required for his UK and European tour dates. This admission marked the end of his touring career. The decision came after years of attempting to maintain his performance schedule despite mounting health challenges.
Ultimate Classic Rock noted that the impact of these health issues extends beyond just physical limitations. The combination of his spinal injury and subsequent treatments fundamentally changed his ability to perform at the level his fans expected. The memoir promises to provide an intimate look at how these medical challenges affected not only his career but his personal outlook on life and legacy.
These health struggles represent a stark contrast to Osbourne’s reputation as an indestructible rock icon. This makes his upcoming memoir particularly significant as it will offer his most candid account of vulnerability and mortality after decades of seemingly surviving everything the rock and roll lifestyle could throw at him.
