Though He’s Stepped Away from the Stage, Ozzy Osbourne Isn’t Done Telling His Story: New Memoir Last Rites Coming October 7
Though he may no longer roam the stage in a flurry of black leather and metal madness, Ozzy Osbourne isn’t done making noise. The Prince of Darkness has one more chapter to share, and it’s not coming through speakers — it’s arriving on bookshelves. Titled Last Rites, Ozzy’s brand-new memoir will be released on October 7, promising fans a brutally honest, no-holds-barred journey through the chaos, triumph, heartbreak, and redemption that has defined his legendary life.
For more than five decades, Ozzy has been the living embodiment of rock and roll rebellion. As the frontman of Black Sabbath, he helped birth the heavy metal genre. As a solo artist, he became a global icon. As a cultural figure — from reality TV to festival headliner — he’s continued to defy every expectation and every odd. Now, with Last Rites, Osbourne is taking the time to reflect on the whirlwind that brought him from the streets of Birmingham to global superstardom.
Described by publishers as “raw, revelatory, and deeply human,” Last Rites will explore the full scope of Ozzy’s life — and this time, it’s personal. The memoir goes beyond the music, beyond the headlines, diving deep into the emotional and physical battles he’s faced, especially in recent years. From his ongoing health struggles to his reflections on aging, loss, faith, and forgiveness, Ozzy opens up like never before.
“This isn’t just about rock and roll,” Osbourne shared in a statement announcing the book. “It’s about survival. It’s about love. It’s about the stuff I never thought I’d live long enough to say out loud.”
Co-written with his longtime collaborator, journalist Billy Morrison, the memoir is said to include never-before-seen photos, handwritten notes, and raw recollections from Ozzy himself — many dictated during moments of clarity between hospital visits and recovery periods. Last Rites doesn’t shy away from the darker moments, from the near-death experiences to his battles with addiction, Parkinson’s disease, and the toll that fame took on his body and mind.
But fans can also expect plenty of classic Ozzy storytelling — wild tour tales, absurd backstage antics, and the irreverent humor that has made him so beloved. From biting the head off a bat (yes, he still gets asked about it) to heartfelt memories of Randy Rhoads and Lemmy Kilmister, Last Rites balances legend with vulnerability.
What sets this memoir apart from his previous autobiography, I Am Ozzy (2010), is its tone. While I Am Ozzy was a riotous, outrageous look at his rise to fame, Last Rites is said to be more reflective — the voice of a man who’s seen the end more than once and come back to tell the tale. It’s Ozzy’s version of closure, though he’s made it clear: “I’m not dying anytime soon — but I wanted to write this while I still could. While it’s still mine to tell.”
Sharon Osbourne, his wife and partner through decades of ups and downs, has praised the memoir, calling it “the most honest I’ve ever seen him.” Their relationship, which has endured everything from near-collapse to total devotion, plays a central role in the book, as does his relationship with his children and his complicated faith.
Fans have already begun flooding social media with excitement. Preorders for Last Rites surged just hours after the announcement, with many calling it “the most anticipated rock memoir of the decade.”
Whether you’ve followed Ozzy from the Sabbath days or discovered him through reality TV or his solo ballads, Last Rites promises to be a must-read. It’s not just the story of a musician — it’s the life of a survivor, a father, a husband, and a man who has nothing left to prove.
Ozzy may have left the stage, but with Last Rites, his voice will ring louder than ever.
