One of Ozzy Osbourne’s closest friends has recalled a hair-raising adventure in a Ferrari - and a mutual obsession with English chocolate, as he remembers him a year on from the rocker’s death.The Black Sabbath frontman died last July 22, aged 76, 17 days after his final farewell concert in Villa Park, Birmingham. Now, Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison, who knew the metal legend for almost three decades and co-wrote some of his tracks, tells us his death still doesn’t feel real.“I honestly can’t believe it’s been a year. I still reach for my phone to text him about something funny that happened, or to send him a stupid meme. I miss him every single day.” The last time Morrison spoke to him was just days before he passed away. “He was in his house in the British countryside and I was in LA - he was telling me how he had been working out like a dog, because he didn’t want to get fat and old (but in language I can’t repeat here!!).‌“I saw him right before he flew back to the UK for the Back To The Beginning show, and we sat in the kitchen in his house, laughed together, ate some English chocolate… and I had no idea that would be the last time I gave the guy a hug.”Morrison is marking the anniversary of Ozzy’s death today in his own special way. “ I’ll be playing his music, and watching a few of the outtakes from the Madhouse Chronicles, a podcast that we’d been filming before he left for the UK.“Moments captured on film show the love we had for each other. I want to mark today with smiles and laughter, because that’s what he gave me when he was here.”Ozzy’s public persona was often as a madcap, risk–taking rock maverick - but Morrison remembers a different side to him behind closed doors.‌“ Ozzy was one of the most gentle, caring people I’ve ever met. My relationship with him wasn’t built around music, but out of a mutual love of English chocolate and the childlike sense of humour we shared.“He was my biggest supporter and accepted me for me, warts and all. Behind the crazy rock Icon persona and the insane talent was a man that knew how to be a friend. I’ll never forget him.” Morrison, who co-hosted the SiriusXM talk show Ozzy Speaks, says the late star also taught him a lot over the years.“Despite pretending not to know things, or care about things, the guy was sharp as a tack, kept his ears open, and understood way more than most people gave him credit for - he taught me about what it takes to make it in the music business, and what (and who) to watch out for, both on the way up and on the way down!‌“He had a unique perspective on life as well. I could always count on him to make me see any given situation in a different way.” Asked which memories with Ozzy stand out, Morrison admits there are too many to count.“The emergency trip to the UK to actually go and find him (because he’d gone missing) will always stand out as a story most people would not have! And many inappropriate laughing fits in posh restaurants, the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame or pretty much any place you shouldn’t be belly-laughing in.”But one highlight towers above the rest. “It has to be the day he took delivery of his brand new Ferrari - when he didn’t even drive!”, says Morrison. “He called me up and told me to come take it for a spin. I show up, he tosses me the keys and says 'Let’s go!'.‌“In typical Ozzy fashion, he’s telling me to put my foot down, and at 80mph on the 101 Freeway in LA, decides to show me it’s a convertible and unlatches the roof. The wind catches the top, whips it back, and I have to dive across five lanes of traffic with the roof bent back.“The story ends with us parked in a gas station, screaming at each other and arguing about who’s gonna call Sharon and tell her we broke his brand new supercar!”Morrison’s new solo album Hollow, featuring the likes of Chuck D and Marilyn Manson, drops on August 7. He says, “The collaborations are fantastic, and I just know Ozzy would have been proud of me with this record.”Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .