The Four Words Ozzy Osbourne Wanted Engraved on His Tombstone

An epitaph offers a message for, about, or by someone who has passed on, offering a glimpse into the kind of person they were and what they valued—or, in the case of the four-word phrase Ozzy Osbourne wanted etched on his tombstone, what they ate. Or…bit and spit back out, technically, if we’re going to get grossly specific.

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The tongue-in-cheek request is a hilarious and bittersweet testament to the way Osbourne lived his life: not too seriously, incredibly boldly, and with an ability to poke fun at himself as much as anybody else.

Ozzy Osbourne Wanted These Words Etched On His Tombstone

During a March 2020 appearance on Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan spoke with Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, about his golden years, veganism, and regrets he’s held onto over the many decades of his time as a musician, whether as the frontman of Black Sabbath or as a solo artist. His appearance on the television program came on the heels of his announcement of his Parkinson’s diagnosis—a diagnosis he had kept private for almost 20 years.

As the conversation naturally drifted toward health and mortality, Morgan asked the Black Sabbath founding member what epitaph he would like to have for his grave. Without missing a beat, Ozzy replied, “Bats taste like s***.” The tongue-in-cheek joke didn’t seem to faze Sharon, whose facial expression indicated that she had heard countless jokes like it before. And indeed, the offhand remark is a testament to Ozzy’s razor-sharp and, at times, self-deprecating humor.

After the news of his death broke in July 2025, the comment became even more bittersweet. At the time of this writing, no epitaph is public. But we can’t help but feel like the four-word phrase would do more to encapsulate who Ozzy was as a cultural and rock icon than any other description, couplet, or otherwise ever could.

A Shocking, Enduring Moment In Rock ‘n’ Roll History

Ozzy Osbourne has certainly had his fair share of shocking moments and antics over his decades-long career. But perhaps his most memorable and career-defining moment happened on January 20, 1982, during Osbourne’s appropriately titled Diary of a Madman tour. When a bat suddenly appeared on the stage floor in front of him, Osbourne picked it up and bit off its head in a matter of seconds.

“I get a lot of weird people at my concerts. It’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Osbourne later explained to David Letterman, per Loudwire. “Somebody threw a bat onstage, and I thought it was one of these toy bats. So, I picked it up, bit the thing’s head off, and suddenly everybody is freaking out. I can assure you, the rabies shots I went through afterwards aren’t fun.”

On July 22, 2025, Osbourne’s family released a statement announcing his death. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.” It’s impossible to say at this moment what his final resting place, be it an etched tombstone or otherwise, will look like. But we’ve no doubt it will be a fitting and respectful monument to the one and only Prince of Darkness.

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