Ozzy Osbourne’s Funeral Plans Revealed Before Death at 76 — Rock Legend’s Final Wishes originally appeared on Parade.
Ozzy Osbourne revealed his funeral plans before his death at 76. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on Tuesday, July 22, just weeks after taking the stage for his final show with his original bandmates.
With the news of his death, Ozzy’s past comments about his own funeral wishes have resurfaced, offering insight into how the “Prince of Darkness” wanted to be remembered.
While his funeral arrangements have not been confirmed by his family, the rock legend had been surprisingly thoughtful about his final farewell over the years.
In a candid 2011 interview with The Times, Ozzy made it clear he didn’t want his funeral to be a somber affair. Instead, he envisioned it as an opportunity for celebration.
“There’ll be no harping on the bad times,” he said. “It’s worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives, so by any measure, most of us in this country — especially rock stars like me — are very lucky.”
The Birmingham-born rocker emphasized his desire for positivity over mourning. “That’s why I don’t want my funeral to be sad, I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks’,” Ozzy explained.
He insisted he wanted it to be a celebration rather than a “mope-fest” and that he didn’t care what music was played as long as it made his loved ones happy.
True to his sense of humor, Ozzy took a lighthearted approach to the musical selection for his own send-off. “I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are the Diddymen if it makes ’em happy,” he quipped.
Known for his humor throughout his career, he joked about playing one final prank at his funeral, such as showing a video of him asking a doctor for a second opinion on his death.
However, Ozzy’s musical preferences for his farewell evolved over time. A few years after his Times interview, the metal icon had second thoughts about his funeral soundtrack. Speaking to NME in 2016, he revealed a more specific vision for his final send out.
“I really need a few more years to think this over, but probably something from ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Revolver,” he said.
His stance on his own music remained unchanged, though. “I definitely don’t want my f–king greatest hits album – I never ever play that thing, I’m f–king embarrassed about it. And I definitely don’t want a f–king happy song – I’m dead.”
The Osbourne family announced his passing in a heartfelt statement released in the early morning hours.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the statement read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Related: Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Reported Photo Before His Death Is Heartbreaking
Ozzy Osbourne’s Funeral Plans Revealed Before Death at 76 — Rock Legend’s Final Wishes first appeared on Parade on Jul 23, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
