A journalist who had the pleasure of meeting Ozzy Osbourne has shared a comical anecdote about the legendary metalhead's views on the afterlife. The iconic rocker died at 76 on Tuesday, shortly following his final performance.

Ozzy, known as the Prince of Darkness, rose to fame with Black Sabbath in the 1970s before embarking on a solo career. But in his later life he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had emphysema.

Celia Walden, who visited Ozzy at his Los Angeles residence in 2009, recounted some memorable stories from their encounter. At that time, Ozzy resided in Hollywood Hills with his wife Sharon, though they spent his last days in their Buckinghamshire home.

In her piece for the Daily Telegraph, Celia reminisced about a particularly striking moment when she queried Ozzy about his thoughts on the afterlife, to which he humorously retorted, "Hell," adding, "Even if I do make it to heaven, you can bet your life that the toilet will stink."

She described this as just one of the many "unforgettable lines" Ozzy delivered during their chat. The conversation also touched upon Ozzy's aspirations, revealing his desire to top the charts with a number one album—a feat he accomplished in 2022 with 'Patient No 9'—and his wish for a biopic starring Johnny Depp as himself.

But Ozzy, whose existence was marred by his relentless struggle with alcohol and substance abuse, revealed there was one desire above all others. He confessed: "I'd like to go back in time and make better choices."

The rock legend's career was marked by equal measures of triumph and scandal. Following his solo record deal in 1981, he shocked executives by biting the head off a dove, resulting in his immediate ejection from the premises by security personnel.

Twelve months later, he delivered another infamous moment by decapitating a bat with his teeth before hurling it at the audience during a performance. He also notoriously consumed a line of ants through his nostrils.

Despite these antics, his musical legacy earned him dual inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - first alongside Black Sabbath in 2006, then as a solo performer in 2024.

Black Sabbath co-founder and guitarist Tony Iommi described the loss as feeling like the band had "lost our brother". Speaking on Radio 4, he reflected: "He loved what he did, he loved music, he loved playing together, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity of getting together again to do the [farewell] show."

Reminiscing about their final performance at Villa Park, he continued: "It was brilliant being with all the guys again, and the atmosphere, and it was brilliant for Ozzy because he really wanted to do that, he felt at home there and it was good for all of us."

Heavy metal titans Metallica honoured Ozzy on X, declaring: "It's impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica. Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend are a few that come to mind."