Kelly Osbourne on how loss of life of Black Sabbath legend Ozzy killed ‘particular person she was’
Kelly Osbourne has opened up on how the family will spend their first Christmas without Ozzy, as she recounted tales of her dad ‘hiding drugs’ in the oven and being tripped over while dressed as Santa
Kelly Osbourne has said Christmas will “never be the same” for her again, following the passing of her “magical” father Ozzy. She said there was “no one like” the Black Sabbath legend, adding that she would be forever changed by his death earlier this year.
Kelly, 41, revealed that the family including mum Sharon are preparing to commemorate the rock legend on Christmas Day. She said the day always brought fond memories, not least because Ozzy “tried to ruin Xmas every year because he was Scrooge”.
Ozzy passed away on July 22, aged 76, just weeks after a homecoming charity gig with his band Black Sabbath at Villa Park, a stone’s throw from his childhood home in Aston, Birmingham.
The rock icon had been battling Parkinson’s alongside multiple health complications stemming from a life-threatening quad bike crash in 2003 which left him with a broken neck.
Discussing the family’s first Christmas without Ozzy at the launch of Juliet Sear’s new signature bakeware range at Fortnum and Mason in London, Kelly revealed: ‘Christmas will never be the same… I will never be the same. The person I was before he died does not exist any more. It changes you. He (Ozzy) was magical. There is no one like him.”
Kelly will mark Christmas day at her mum’s home in England, accompanied by her brother Louis and his family, plus cousins, though sister Aimee and younger brother Jack will remain in LA.
Discussing their arrangements, the TV star mentioned she’ll be handing over her chef’s apron and wooden spoon to her brother Louis, who’s taking charge of the cooking duties.
“He’s head chef because he’s the best at cooking,” Kelly says. “We’re having a big turkey, and then the day after, we are going to a fancy restaurant somewhere, I’m not saying where! Somewhere lovely and have even more celebrations.”
She said Ozzy had handed down his cooking talents to his eldest son, Louis: “I think it came from my dad because my dad used to cook all the time.” reports the Mirror.
“Shepherds Pie! And chips. The best chips you’ve ever eaten in your life.
“But Louis is a fantastic cook and I’m like through all of this, me and him, he’s been my pillar and he’s just the best human in the world. I have the best brothers in the world.”
Kelly explained that whilst her father could rustle up meals, he refused to take on Christmas Day duties. “Well, there was a reason why my dad used to hide the drugs in the oven because no one would ever look there,” she chuckles. “He used to hide his paraphernalia in the oven.”
Reminiscing about joyful Christmas moments with Ozzy, Kelly revealed he’d don a Father Christmas costume, though things didn’t always run smoothly.
“We used to set booby traps because we weren’t sure (it was Santa). We put fishing wire across the room and one time we heard my dad come clattering down and we almost did not get our presents that year, put it that way. We got in so much trouble!”
On Christmas Day, the family will gather to reminisce about their favourite Ozzy moments. An emotional Kelly shared, “I never ever want my son to forget his Pappa,” and added, “Just how special he was, or is, because I don’t believe he’s truly gone.
“Yesterday Santa came to the house and my son was so over the moon. He couldn’t believe it, and he was dancing and singing with him and it’s one of the most special things ever to create memories like that, and it made all of us so happy.”
This month, Ozzy was posthumously honoured with the Birmingham Lord Mayor’s Award on what would have been his 77th birthday. Both Kelly and Sharon accepted the award on his behalf.
Sharon is taking life “one day at a time”, according to Kelly. “She’s doing really well. She really is, considering.”
However, now that Ozzy has been laid to rest in the UK, Sharon has no plans to leave. Kelly explained, “I stay where my mum is, and I can’t leave my dad, so. My son goes to school here now.
“Home will always be Britain. This is where we are from. I split my time between here and my farm in Iowa in the Midwest. Never thought I’d become a Midwestern girl. I’m heading back just after Christmas for New Year. I miss my cows and my chickens and my ducks. That will be healing for me.”
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