OZZY Osbourne's sisters have opened up on the heartbreaking final texts they received from the late singer shortly before his death.
Jean Powell, 85, and Gillian Hemming, 80, revealed how "our John" messaged them, saying he "couldn't wait to come back" to Birmingham, following his iconic final gig in the city earlier this month.
The rock legend passed away this week at the age of 76, surrounded by his family after bravely battling against Parkinson's disease.
After learning of his death through a phone call, the sisters said they stayed up all night reminiscing about the "loving and funny" Black Sabbath star.
Speaking to the Mirror, Jean explained how they had last seen their brother at his final concert at Villa Park.
She said they got texts from him as he drove down Lodge Road – a street where they used to live close to the stadium.
Jean said Ozzy "couldn't believe" the sheer volume of crowds who were walking down their old road to watch him perform.
She said: "He was blown away. We had an executive box in the stadium, and when I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John I just broke down.
"We didn't really get a chance to chat much because it was such a chaotic visit. But in his last text to me he said he would be coming to Birmingham again.
"He said 'I can't wait to come back'. We were hoping to see him this week."
Jean said that although Ozzy was ill, the news of his death "still came as a shock".
She added: "He still had plans and things he wanted to do. We don't know the details of his death, it's still too early.
"It's just so sad. I'm just thankful he died in England."
Over the years the sisters have travelled to see Ozzy in Los Angeles, Malibu and Las Vegas.
In 2019, Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, going public with his diagnosis the following year.
As well as mobility issues, the condition caused him to suffer nerve pain, depression and blood clots.
Jean continued: "We saw him in Birmingham the other week when he and the rest of the band were given the freedom of the city.
"It was upsetting because he could not stand up straight, but he was still our John, still cracking the jokes.
Ozzy Osbourne's career
The singer first pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963, aged 15.
After appearing in a handful of school plays, Ozzy joined Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler in their first group Rare Breed in 1967.
When that band split, the pair reunited in Polka Tulk Blues alongside Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward.
The group later became known as Black Sabbath and went onto shatter the music world with their whining guitar solos, Occult-based lyrics and Ozzy's screeching vocals.
In 1970, the group gained a cult following in both the US and UK after releasing their eponymous first album.
Black Sabbath saw incredible success with hit tracks such as Paranoid but discord in the group saw most of the original line-up leave.
Ozzy himself quit the band in 1978, with a spiral into drug abuse leading to a divorce from first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with.
It was then he first met a young Sharon Arden, who Ozzy at first wrote off as he believed she would think he was a "lunatic".
But the singer could not be more wrong and the pair married in Hawaii in July 1982 before going on to have three children together, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.
With Sharon's encouragement and help from her music manager dad Don, he began to carve out a successful solo career.
His seminal first album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 became a multi-platinum success thanks to Ozzy's howling vocals and macabre laugh on hit Crazy Train.
Coupled with the Prince of Darkness' insane tour that saw him bite the head off a live bat, a string of successful tracks followed – cementing Ozzy as a rock legend around the world.
In 1992, the singer announced his retirement but four years later created the beloved annual music festival Ozzfest with Sharon.
Ozzy returned to Black Sabbath in 1999, with the band winning a Grammy for best metal performance for the song Iron Man.
They later earned the same award in 2013 after releasing single God Is Dead? from album 13.
"To us he was our brother, not a celebrity, so it's crazy to see the outpouring of love since his death was announced.
"He had an amazing life and wonderful family in Sharon and the lovely kids."
Ozzy went public with his diagnosis in an emotional joint interview with wife Sharon back in 2020.
The singer told Good Morning America that he couldn't hide his health struggles any longer.
As his health struggles limited his ability to perform, the music legend committed to one last gig in Birmingham to celebrate his career.
His final performance at Villa Park saw him on stage alongside his old bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward on July 5.
The reunited Black Sabbath lineup played a touching five-song set in a farewell to Ozzy, with the rock icon seated on a giant black throne – as he was unable to stand.
The gig was touted as "the greatest heavy metal show ever," with Ozzy grinning to chanting fans as he thanked them for all they had done for him.
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