Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now — A Heartbreaking, Courageous Farewell
I’ve just watched No Escape From Now, the new Ozzy Osbourne documentary currently streaming on Paramount, and I wanted to share some thoughts.
After seeing the BBC documentary, both Sue and I were already deeply moved — we were in tears, in fact. But this film… this is something else entirely. It’s raw, revealing, and absolutely heartbreaking.
The Pain Behind the Legend
We all knew Ozzy wasn’t well. We knew about the Parkinson’s, the back trouble, the surgeries. But I don’t think any of us realised just how much pain he was truly living with — until now.
The film shows the endless medical challenges: multiple spinal surgeries, collapsed vertebrae, infections, sepsis, pneumonia, blood clots — and yet through it all, Ozzy is still determined to perform one last time in Birmingham.
It’s unbelievable that he did it at all. Watching it, you can’t help but think: how did he even stand on that stage?
And then there’s the heartbreaking part about the botched surgery that changed everything. You can see the anger and sadness in his children’s eyes — Jack, Kelly, Amy — as they talk about how one operation altered the course of his life forever.
A Family That Loves Fiercely
The documentary also captures something incredibly beautiful: the love that surrounds Ozzy.
Sharon, his kids, his grandkids — they’re all there for him, through the pain, the frustration, the fear. You see this so-called “dysfunctional family” functioning in the most human, loving way imaginable.
People often criticised Sharon, especially around the Birmingham gig, suggesting she was pushing him too hard. But this film makes it clear — this wasn’t Sharon pushing Ozzy. This was Ozzy pushing himself. He loved his fans. He lived for them. All he wanted was the chance to say goodbye.
The Healing Power of Music
One of the most moving moments comes when he visits Billy Morrison to record a track. Ozzy arrives defeated, in pain, convinced he can’t sing. But as the session goes on, something magical happens — he comes alive.
It’s as if the act of singing takes him away from the pain. You can see it in his eyes — music is literally healing him.
He says he can’t concentrate, can’t sleep, can’t live with the constant pain. But when he’s surrounded by music, the pain fades.
It reminded me of what I always say:
“Music is the healer — and I’m the doctor.”
For Ozzy, that wasn’t a metaphor. It was life itself.
Facing Mortality With Courage
From 2018 to now, we see Ozzy’s decline almost in real time. It’s tough to watch.
He wants to tour again, to keep going — but his body simply won’t allow it. Yet every time he’s near music, there’s a spark. The same happens during his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rehearsal. He’s sitting there, frail, quiet — and then he suddenly starts to sing, and everyone in the room stops. His voice still cuts through, full of emotion and life.
Even near the end, you can see that glint in his eye. He’s still Ozzy. Still the Prince of Darkness. Still the man who lived for the music.
The Final Goodbye
The ending is abrupt — he walks offstage in Birmingham, and then we see the funeral cortege. Some viewers have criticised that, but I’m not sure there was any other way to end it.
That performance was his goodbye.
It’s devastating and yet uplifting. Because what shines through the sadness is his courage, his humour, his love for his family, and his connection to every single one of us who ever bought a Sabbath record or sang along to “Crazy Train.”
Heavy metal — and Ozzy himself — are about community, resilience, and never giving up. Watching those scenes of fans in Birmingham, from teenagers to lifelong followers, you realise that Ozzy’s music transcends generations.
He didn’t want to die an ordinary man.
And he didn’t.
No Escape From Now is hard to watch — especially so soon after losing Ozzy. But it’s also deeply moving, full of truth, love, and the healing power of music.
It reminds us why we cared so much, why he mattered, and why we’ll never see another like him.
Thank you, Ozzy, for everything.
And thank you all for being here — because as always, music is the healer.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
