Ozzy Osbourne 'knew he was dying' during final Black Sabbath concert

A musician who worked with Ozzy Osbourne for his final Black Sabbath gig has claimed the legendary rocker 'knew he was dying' during his final performance.

Osbourne sadly died at the age of 76 on 22 July, with his family confirming that the Prince of Darkness had passed away 'surrounded by love'.

They wrote: “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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Osbourne died following a long battle with Parkinson's disease, but the chronic condition didn't stop him from appearing on stage once again in front of thousands of adoring fans at Villa Park.

It was the Black Sabbath frontman's final wish to return home to the UK, and his funeral procession saw thousands more line the streets of Birmingham, where Osbourne was born back in 1948. Some even suggested that he stuck around to play a prank on his daughter Kelly during her speech at his funeral.

Ozzy leaves behind his wife Sharon and his six children (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)

Although the 76-year-old wasn't quite at the high energy, bat-eating levels of his former self, he still rocked out in a throne on stage at Villa Park, proving that he was able to rock and roll until the very end.

Speaking on on Chicago’s Q101 radio show, American guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom Morello has suggested that Osbourne knew he was close to death.

Morello, who worked as musical director for Osbourne’s 'Back to the Beginning' farewell concert in England on 5 July, said: “If you have got to go — I mean, I wish Ozzy lived another 30 years — but if you’ve got to go out, it really felt like he knew."

He also was in awe of 'the fact that he lived to play and feel that love and to one more time; you know, to do Paranoid, to do Crazy Train.'

Tom Morello helped to organise Ozzy's final show (Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

Morello added: "On the day, a million things could have gone wrong, and maybe like three things did. But it felt like a spiritually great moment for all fans of rock and roll.”

The former Rage Against The Machine guitarist wanted to make the concert 'the greatest day in the history of heavy metal' and suggested that, while Osbourne's death was a tragedy, he did well to live as long as he did.

He said: “Ozzy Osbourne’s lived a pretty on-the-edge lifestyle for a long time.”

Meanwhile, a BBC documentary, which was planned to cover Osbourne's family and his final years, was mysteriously pulled from schedule at last minute.