Sharon Osbourne has shared an emotional reflection on Ozzy Osbourne’s final wishes for his fans, speaking publicly as Birmingham marked the first official ‘Ozzy Day’ one year after the music icon’s death.
During an appearance on BBC Radio WM on Wednesday, Sharon spoke about the outpouring of love that has followed Ozzy’s passing and the continuing grief felt by those closest to him, as well as by admirers across the world.
Ozzy died on 22 July 2025 at the age of 76, after years of health problems. In 2019, he had revealed that he was living with Parkinson’s disease.
His passing came just weeks after Black Sabbath’s farewell Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park, a major hometown event that brought together names such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and other heavy metal giants, with proceeds shared between Cure Parkinson’s, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
As Birmingham marked the anniversary with live music, art, exhibitions and fan tributes across the city, Sharon said she hopes people will remember him not only as a groundbreaking performer, but as someone who was honest, funny, and completely himself.
“He was authentic,” Sharon remembered while reflecting on her decades-long marriage to the star. “He never tried to be anything other than what he was, and he would tell you the truth about everything and that was him, you knew where you were with him. He was just genuine, so genuine and funny.”
“I mean we could have the worst arguments in the world, but we would end up laughing because he would say something so ridiculous that we would just crack up.”
Asked how Ozzy himself would want to be remembered, Sharon said his message to fans was characteristically simple.
“As Ozzy would say, ‘when you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang,'” she revealed.
She also said the fundraising and charitable work connected to Black Sabbath’s final Birmingham performance will carry on in his memory. The concert raised millions for causes including Cure Parkinson’s, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Sharon explained that Birmingham Children’s Hospital had long meant something special to Ozzy. When he was growing up in Aston, he was treated there after suffering with whooping cough for six weeks as a child.
“We will continue that until we find a cure for Parkinson’s, because people don’t realise it’s more and more prevalent,” she added, praising the city he loved so deeply. “This is the home of metal. It’s Ozzy’s home, it’s where he was born, what he loved and [Ozzy Day] wouldn’t work anywhere else. He was just a real bloke, a really good bloke with a big heart and he wanted to give back.”
As part of the anniversary, Birmingham staged a free citywide programme of tributes including performances around the city centre, the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham New Street Station, Bullring and Martineau Place. The museum’s Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero exhibition also continued to draw fans, with Ozzy’s throne among the displays honouring his career and legacy.