OZZY Osbourne's sisters have paid tribute to their "loving and funny" brother after his death aged 76.
The Black Sabbath star's death came just weeks after he took to the stage one final time with his band mates at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Ozzy died surrounded by his family on Tuesday morning, after bravely battling against Parkinson's disease.
Jean Powell, 85, and Gillian Hemming, 80, were left devastated when they learned about the rock icon's death.
The sisters received the heartbreaking news about Ozzy's death in a phone call yesterday.
They described Ozzy as "loving and funny" as they reminisced on his legacy as a brother and celebrity.
Jean told the Mirror: "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.
"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."
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.
Only three weeks ago, the Prince of Darkness who brought light into so many lives gave us one last hurrah when heavy metal royalty descended on Villa Park, Birmingham, to pay their respects.
The Back to the Beginning gig ended with him – seated on a giant black throne because he could not stand – joining his Black Sabbath muckers on the songs that took him to the world stage.
Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease back in 2019 and went public with his diagnosis the following year.
As well as mobility issues, the condition caused him to suffer nerve pain, depression and blood clots.
He revealed the sad news in an emotional joint interview with wife Sharon.
The singer told Good Morning America that he couldn't hide his health struggles any longer.
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.
Ozzy died at home in his stunning mansion in Welders, Buckinghamshire "surrounded by love".
Sharon, his wife of 43 years and mum to their children Aimee, Jack and Kelly, was by his side.
A statement from his family said on Tuesday evening: "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.
"He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.
"Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
Ozzy became known as the "Prince of Darkness" in his six-decade career thanks to his on-stage antics that attracted a legion of heavy rock fans.
He last graced the stage earlier this month when he reunited with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward and played a five-song set in a farewell to music.
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.
The icon vowed, however, that it would be his final performance due to his deteriorating health, having opened up about his battle with Parkinson's in 2020.
After the show he watched on as his daughter Kelly was proposed to by her boyfriend Sid Wilson.
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