Ozzy Osbourne's sisters break silence on death as they reveal details of final call

Ozzy Osbourne’s sisters paid tribute to“Our John” today and revealed he had hoped to make a return trip to Birmingham. Jean Powell, 85, and Gillian Hemming, 80, were left devastated when they learned about the Black Sabbath star’s death.

They stayed up all night reminiscing about the heavy metal legend- who they described as “loving and funny”.

Gillian invited the Mirror into her home this morning as the two sisters told how proud they were of their “crazy” brother. Jean said: “We saw him in Birmingham the other week when he and the rest of the band were given the freedom of the city.

“It was upsetting because he could not stand up straight, but he was still our John, still cracking the jokes. To us he was our brother, not a celebrity, so it’s crazy to see the outpouring of love since his death was announced.

We just can’t believe he is gone and we won’t be getting another phone call or text from him. Every week without fail he would get in touch, either by phone or text, to ask how we were all doing and what was going on.

“Of the six siblings there’s only three of us left now - me, Gillian and our brother Paul.”

The sisters received the devastating news about Ozzy’s death in a phone call yesterday.

READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne dead UPDATES: Sharon Osbourne breaks silence as home honoured with tributes

“He was frail but it still came as a shock,” said Jean. “He still had plans and things he wanted to do. We don’t know the details of his death, it’s still too early. It’s just so sad. I’m just thankful he died in England.

“We last saw him at the concert at Villa Park. I got a text off him as he drove down Lodge Road, where we used to live near the stadium.

“He said he couldn’t believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform. He was blown away.

“We had an executive box in the stadium, and when I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John I just broke down.

“We didn’t really get a chance to chat much because it was such a chaotic visit. But in his last text to me he said he would be coming to Birmingham again.

He said ‘I can’t wait to come back’. We were hoping to see him this week.”

Gillian, from Redditch, Worcs, said: “We were proud as punch about him and everything he achieved. But it never went to his head. What the public saw of John was exactly what he was like in real life. It wasn’t an act.”

Jean, from Aldridge, added: “He was just our John. He used to make us laugh all the time. That’s what I’ll always remember.”

Over the years the sisters went to see Ozzy in Los Angeles, Malibu and Las Vegas. “He had an amazing life and wonderful family in Sharon and the lovely kids,” said Jean

Asked to describe her brother in one sentence, Gillian said: “He was loving and funny. He was just great.”

The sisters giggled as they remember Ozzy ‘minding’ supporters’ cars outside Villa Park when he was a schoolboy.

“He would wait until the final whistle went and then stood outside, pretending he had minded them the whole match,” said Jean.