Ozzy Osbourne tried to 'calmly' murder his wife Sharon but was clueless the next morning

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has sadly died at the age of 76, just days after he took to the stage to perform in his final ever gig. The Black Sabbath star was married to Sharon Osbourne for more than four decades, but there was a time when he "calmly" tried to murder his wife while under the influence of drugs.

Ozzy found himself behind bars one morning in 1989 and was apparently unaware that he had attempted to throttle his spouse. While it wasn't the first time he had been behind bars, Ozzy had to ask a police officer what had happened, to which they replied: "You’re charged with attempting to murder Mrs. Sharon Osbourne."

• Ozzy Osbourne's final wish fulfilled by Sharon in heartbreaking move before death
• Ozzy Osbourne's final days as he died with devoted wife Sharon by his side

The couple opened up about the horrifying moment their family was almost irrevocably torn apart in a documentary titled The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne. Looking back to that dreadful evening, Sharon remembered tucking up her young children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, before settling down with a book when a drug-crazed Ozzy entered the room.

READ MORE: 'I visited city named UK's worst place to live and one thing is misunderstood'

READ MORE: Pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in our online book of condolences

According to The Sun on Sunday, she said: "I had no idea who was sat across from me on the sofa but it wasn't my husband. He goes to a stage where he gets that look in his eyes, the shutters were down and I just couldn't get through to him.

"And he just said, 'We've come to a decision that you've got to die'.

"He was calm - very calm - then suddenly he lunged across at me and just dived on me and started to choke me.

"He got me down on the ground on top of me and I was feeling for stuff on the table. I felt the panic button and I just pressed it and the next thing I know, the cops were there."

The shocking incident took place when the family had been living in Buckinghamshire, England. Sharon recalled how the thought of her three young children gave her the strength to survive and hold on until the police arrived.

Echoing her account, Ozzy admitted he was clueless as to why he ended up behind bars the following morning. He remarked: "It's not exactly one of my greatest achievements.

"All I remember is waking up in Amersham jail and I asked the cop, 'Why am I here?' And he says, 'You want me to read your charge?' So he read, 'John Michael Osbourne, you have been arrested for attempted murder'."

The husband and wife were able to move on from the ordeal, and Ozzy went into rehab on numerous occasions for his addictions.

The Osbourne family, including Sharon, their daughters Kelly and Aimee, their son Jack and Ozzy's son, Louis, revealed in a statement that the Black Sabbath legend had passed away on Tuesday morning. They said: "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. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Ozzy, who was known to millions as The Prince of Darkness, had been battling ill-health in recent years, and played his final ever gig just weeks before his death.