Metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died from a heart attack, as well as the combined effects of Parkinson’s disease and coronary artery disease, his death certificate has revealed.
The former Black Sabbath frontman was 76 years old when he died on July 22, just days after his triumphant last performance in his hometown of Birmingham. His family broke the news of his passing in a statement, revealing that he was “surrounded by love” during his final moments.
His death certificate, which was was reportedly filed at a registry in London by one of his daughters, Aimee Osbourne, lists the official cause of death as “(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes),” according to the New York Times who obtained the certificate.
A surprising note on the certificate lists his occupation as a “rock legend, songwriter and performer”, no doubt a nod to Ozzy’s legendary sense of humour.
Despite his “Prince of Darkness” reputation, many in his inner circle knew about Osbourne’s gift for comedy and close friend Sir Elton John even called him “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.”
In recent years, Osbourne faced numerous health difficulties, including a fall in 2019 which worsened a previous spinal injury and in 2020 the metal legend revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease the year prior.
However, the trailblazing front man made sure he went out with a bang for his emotional farewell gig on July 5 with his former bandmates, Black Sabbath. The one-off gig, called “Back to the Beginning”, was billed as Osbourne’s last performance. Nearly 45,000 punters attended the show that left many metal fans in tears.
Following the sad news of his passing, thousands of heavy metal fans lined the streets of Birmingham for Osbourne’s funeral procession, where his cortege was driven through his home city in central England before a private funeral. Osbourne had said he did not want his funeral to be a “mope-fest” and the celebration was mixed with sadness on the streets, with a New Orleans-style brass band leading the procession.
– with AP and PA.
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