Even in planning his final farewell, Ozzy Osbourne insisted on keeping us both laughing and guessing. Before his death on July 21, 2025, the “Prince of Darkness” made it clear he did not want a somber, tear‑stained ceremony—but a celebration befitting someone who delighted in the absurd. In interviews over the years, he spoke with trademark wit about the music he’d pick for his own funeral: a Beatles medley, perhaps “A Day in the Life,” or even a tongue‑in‑cheek mash‑up of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and novelty tunes—anything to guard against what he called a “mope‑fest.”
Ozzy once suggested that the ultimate prank would be a staged knock on his coffin lid, followed by a pre‑recorded video of him demanding, “I want a second opinion!” He saw it as a last, mischievous encore—a reminder that, for him, death was just another stage to own. He told The Times in 2011 that funerals often dwell on misery, but that rock stars like himself were “very lucky,” and their send‑off should reflect gratitude, not grief.
When he revealed in a 2016 NME feature that he wanted Beatles tracks from Sgt. Pepper’s or Revolver, it wasn’t because he thought his own songs unworthy—he simply admitted he rarely played his catalog. His true soundtrack, he said, was the music he loved, and he wanted that to echo through the chapel. Then in 2020, on Good Morning Britain, when Piers Morgan asked how he wanted to be remembered, Ozzy quipped without missing a beat, “Bats taste like s—,” referencing the infamous stage incident that launched his legend.
After Ozzy’s passing, his family moved swiftly to honor those wishes. Close friends say the service will blend heartfelt eulogies with unexpected humor: rose petals will fall from the ceiling as “A Day in the Life” begins, and at one point, a hidden speaker will play Ozzy’s own banter, greeting mourners with a cheeky “Surprise—didn’t see that coming, did you?” The coffin itself will bear a custom inscription—“Still Screaming After All These Years”—a nod to his 30‑year‑old live album.
Of course, tears will flow. His sisters Jean Powell and Gillian Hemming, who last saw him at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5 in Birmingham, have spoken of their sorrow and pride in equal measure. Jean recalled his frailty but also his enduring humor—his final texts promising a return to his beloved hometown. Gillian reminded everyone that Ozzy’s on‑stage persona was no act: “John was the same behind closed doors,” she said, “always cracking jokes and finding the absurd in the everyday.”
So while the world grieves the loss of a musical pioneer, fans can be certain of one thing: Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral will be unforgettable. It won’t be a dirge but a dazzling tribute filled with laughter, pranks and the man’s unmistakable spirit. Because if there’s anything Ozzy taught us, it’s that life—and even death—is best faced with a wicked grin and a perfectly timed punchline.