Tomorrow sees the publication of Last Rites, the second autobiography of Ozzy Osbourne. Published by Grand Central Publishing, the book was finished just days before Ozzy’s passing. The book is a brutally honest, yet surprisingly life-affirming memoir which covers his final seven years.
“My father had been working on Last Rites for a very long time,” Jack Osbourne told us, “chipping away at it over the last three or four years. He always felt he needed to do a follow-up to I Am Ozzy, because so much had happened in the 20 years since that book was released.
“From life after the TV show, to the Sabbath reunion, to releasing his last two albums, and finally his health issues. It was important to him to capture all of that.”
Jack says that not many of the family members have read the book yet. “It’s been a difficult time for everyone,” he said. “For me, the last chapter is what I’ve reflected on the most. He finished it just a few days before he passed.”
In Last Rights, Ozzy reflects on his early life with the insight gained as we grow older. Were there things that changed about him and the way he experienced the world towards the end of his life?
“There’s a lot to reflect on with that question,” Jack says. “My father was always considered the wild man of rock, the Prince of Darkness, and so on, but the last seven years were the complete opposite. Because of his injuries and declining health, he slowed down.
“And sometimes with a curse comes a blessing. Slowing down gave him the space to really reflect on his journey. His successes, his failures, his joys, his sadness and ultimately, what mattered most to him. This book captures some of that.”
Jack says Ozzy was very private about the writing process and didn’t share much about what he was including. “I’d try to ask,” Jack says, “but he’d often brush it off. I’ve often said this about my father. He was the most humble egomaniac you could ever meet. He honestly didn’t think anyone would care about what he was writing in Last Rites. So when I asked him, he always downplayed it.”
In the book, Ozzy reflects on his extraordinary life and career, including his marriage to wife Sharon, alongside his reflections on what it took for him to get back onstage for the triumphant Back To The Beginning concert.
“Here’s the truth,” Jack says. “My father fought a very hard fight to get on that stage in Birmingham on 5 July 2025. He was determined to say goodbye to his fans, and that’s exactly what he did.
“He loved them deeply because they gave him the life he had. He always said he would have been nothing without their love and support. That last show was his way of giving back one final time.”
Jack Osbourne says that Ozzy would want people to smile, laugh, and feel love when they read Last Rites.
“He absolutely hated when people felt sorry for him,” Jack says. “I know some fans will get emotional. It’s hard not to. But he couldn’t stand when people cried in front of him or got sad around him. So enjoy his words. Feel his energy.
“Remember who he will always be. And never stop loving him.”
“People say to me, if you could do it all again, knowing what you know now, would you change anything? I’m like, fuck no. If I’d been clean and sober, I wouldn’t be Ozzy. If I’d done normal, sensible things, I wouldn’t be Ozzy. 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. But right now, I’m not ready to go anywhere.”
–OZZY OSBOURNE.
Ozzy Osbourne – Last Rites is out 7 October 2025 and is available from linktr.ee/LastRitesOzzyO.
