Ozzy Osbourne Contemplated Suicide in 2021 Following Failed Neck Surgery
Ozzy Osbourne faced numerous health challenges before his passing in July, to the extent that he even contemplated ending his own suffering.
“The idea of no longer performing — it plunged me into a deep depression,” the legendary rocker shared in the new Paramount+ documentary Ozzy: No Escape From Now. “Currently, I’m on antidepressants because I found myself considering suicide at one point.”
Reflecting on the time following a 2021 procedure to fix complications from a previous surgery, Osbourne humorously noted that his suicidal thoughts were somewhat mitigated by a fear of failing at it.
“I’ll go down that path in my thoughts and think, ‘What the hell are you on about?’ Because knowing me, I’d only half-attempt it and end up half-alive,” the former Black Sabbath frontman told the camera. “I mean, I wouldn’t die, you know? That’s just my luck.”
Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife, confirmed that her husband was indeed suffering greatly, stating, “Some days he wishes he were dead due to the overwhelming pain he can’t bear. He just wants to escape it.”
In 2019, Ozzy endured a severe fall that resulted in a broken neck. “You instinctively know you’ve really messed things up,” he recounted in the documentary.
He subsequently underwent surgery to repair the injuries, but his troubles only escalated from there.
“After the surgery, he was in far worse condition than before,” recalled Jack, Ozzy and Sharon’s son, who is now 39.
Kelly, Jack’s sister, added, “I watched my dad go from sitting up to — I’m sorry to say this, but I can’t think of a better reference — resembling Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.”
Sharon, 72, revealed that the surgery involved inserting screws and metal plates into Ozzy’s body, but they began to loosen, causing his bones to grind against each other. Additionally, he developed blood clots while hospitalized for recovery.
“After three months, we brought him home, but the pain was constant and unbearable,” Sharon reflected. “I know Ozzy tends to dramatize things — he’ll do anything for a pain pill — but this was real. You can see it in someone’s eyes.”
Ozzy added, “It’s a pain that just doesn’t go away. When you’re in a lot of pain, it alters your thought patterns. You can’t enjoy anything.”
He endured that pain for two years before consulting another surgeon who confirmed that the original doctor had been “overly aggressive” with his treatment. The new surgeon recommended another operation to rectify the initial one.
Following this last surgery, Ozzy fell into such a profound depression that he contemplated suicide after having to call off his farewell tour.
“I’ve probably had more surgeries than I ever thought I would in my life,” he recounted in the film. “You manage to rise, climb back up that mountain, only to get knocked down again. It really shakes your self-confidence, you know.”
Despite remaining in pain post-corrective surgery in 2021, Ozzy managed to return to the studio to record his 13th and final solo album, Patient Number 9. He also performed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and participated in the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a solo artist.
Ozzy passed away in July at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack. Just weeks before his death, he performed what would be his final concert in Birmingham, his hometown.
“It’s my last hurrah, so it’s going to be pretty emotional for me up there,” Ozzy mentioned in the documentary. “I just hope I don’t think of Sharon while I’m up there, because then the tears will start flowing. We’ve traveled a long road together, me and my old girl. This is it. The final chapter. And I’ve come to terms with it.”
Ozzy: No Escape From Now debuts on Paramount+ on Tuesday, October 7.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
