Last Rites by Ozzy Osborne

Last Rites is a poignant, raucous, and deeply human farewell from one of rock’s most enduring figures. It captures Ozzy Osbourne in his twilight years, reflecting on a lifetime of chaos, triumph, and improbable survival with the same blend of irreverence and candour that made him a legend. While it may not possess the polish of a carefully structured memoir, its unfiltered honesty is precisely what gives it heart. This is not the tidy summation of a career but the unvarnished voice of a man who never pretended to be anything other than himself.

The book’s focus on Osbourne’s final years that were undeniably marked by physical decline and hard-won self-awareness, providing an unexpectedly moving centrepiece. After decades defined by noise and notoriety, he faces frailty and still finds humour in it. His descriptions of medical setbacks, from the near-fatal infections to the battles with mobility, are both shocking and strangely uplifting. There is a certain defiance in the way he recounts these struggles, as if to remind readers that resilience, like fame, is something earned. Through it all, his trademark wit remains intact, transforming suffering into a series of sharp, self-deprecating reflections.

Osbourne paints himself not as the caricature of excess that tabloids once adored, but as a flawed, affectionate man grateful for the people who anchored him. His love for Sharon, his family, and his bandmates shines through, often with a tenderness that surprises. There is no attempt at self-glorification; instead, we find an artist who has made peace with his contradictions. Even his recollections of fellow musicians (some long gone) are generous and filled with warmth, underscoring the camaraderie that shaped a generation of performers.

Last Rites explores mortality, legacy, and the stubborn spark of creativity that refuses to fade. Osbourne’s reflections on ageing and loss are shot through with philosophical insight, albeit of the rough-edged variety only he could deliver. There is a sense of closure without defeat, a recognition that survival itself can be an act of rebellion. Readers expecting relentless hedonism will instead find a portrait of endurance and acceptance, framed by humour and gratitude.

Osbourne’s voice feels conversational, even confessional, as though the reader is sitting across from him, pint in hand, listening to stories that shift from outrageous to profoundly touching in a matter of sentences. The occasional lack of polish works to its advantage, reminding us that Osbourne has always been more spirit than symmetry. The rhythm of his storytelling mirrors his music in that it is unpredictable, unrefined, but utterly alive.

As a final statement, Last Rites stands as a testament to a life lived without compromise. It celebrates both the absurdity and beauty of survival, offering moments of laughter and melancholy in equal measure. For long-time fans, it is a fitting and heartfelt goodbye. For newcomers, it offers insight into why Ozzy Osbourne became more than a musician, explaining why he became a symbol of persistence, humour, and sheer bloody-minded vitality.

If this truly is his last word, then it is a worthy one: unfiltered, funny, and unexpectedly profound.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Sphere