On Tuesday, the Black Sabbath frontman’s family shared the sad news that he had passed away in Birmingham, England. Just over two weeks ago, Ozzy had performed on stage with fellow original Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward one last time.

Now, an interview Ozzy did with Australian music guru Billy Pinnell has resurfaced. In the 1991 chat, Ozzy paid tribute to his wife and manager Sharon for her unwavering dedication and support, both personally and professionally.

“They say behind every great man, there’s a great woman and I think that’s true in this case – in my wife,” he said during the interview, which was filmed at a takeaway shop in Melbourne, Australia. “Truly, without my wife at my side, I wouldn’t be here – without any doubt,” he added.

After Billy pressed Ozzy to share more details on his comment, the singer said, “I wouldn’t be alive, I wouldn’t be singing. She saved my life every day.” He also expressed regret on the effect his alcohol and drug abuse had on his wife – including the 1989 incident in which he attempted to strangle her while he was high.

But in the following decades, Ozzy got clean from drink and drugs, thanks to Sharon’s help. He said during the interview, “The crap that I put her through when I was abusing myself – I’d disappear for weeks on end and I’d smack her in the eye and do all these horrible things, and she stuck by me and she got me through all kinds of stuff.”

He added, “She’s still there – we’ve got three beautiful children – and I’m coming through it, you know?” Ozzy then went on to offer some advice to couples, saying, “The thing about a relationship is, it’s a rocky road – every one has its ups and downs. Don’t give up because we’re now getting closer after all we’ve been through. We’re really happy now. I love her.”

Ozzy and Sharon were married for more than four decades. She was his second wife. He was previously married to Thelma Riley from 1971 to 1982. The pair were first introduced in 1970 when Sharon’s father, Don Arden, was managing Black Sabbath – but sparks didn’t fly between them until a few years later.

Nearly a decade later, after Ozzy was kicked out of Black Sabbath due to substance abuse, Sharon stepped in and helped him recover while also taking over as his manager. It is around this time that they started dating. They got married in Hawaii on July 4, 1982, just months after Ozzy finalized his divorce from his first wife.

The pair welcomed their first child, Aimée, in London on September 2, 1983. The following year, their second child, Kelly, was born on October 27, 1984. They welcomed their third child, Jack, on November 8, 1985. Despite having a tumultuous relationship, Sharon stayed by her husband’s side – even after uncovering exposing Ozzy’s infidelity with celebrity stylist Michelle Pugh spanning 2012 to 2016.

Sharon disclosed that she attempted suicide through an overdose in a devastating confession, and said the revelation led to a temporary separation. The couple’s representative confirmed they had “mutually agreed” that Ozzy would leave their family residence. Sharon revealed that having an affair with someone she knew was by far the most devastating betrayal he had inflicted upon her.

She shared, “He always, always had groupies and I was so used to that. But when he knows the name of the person, where they live and where they work… it is a whole different thing as you are emotionally invested. I took, I don’t know how many pills.” During her UK tour alongside friend and Loose Women star Jane Moore, Sharon went on to share, “I just thought, ‘My kids are older, they are fine and can take care of themselves. So, I took an overdose and locked myself in the bedroom. The maid tried to come in to clean the room and saw me.”

She also announced the couple’s separation during a 2016 appearance on US talk show The Talk. “I’m 63 years of age, and I can’t keep living like this,” she declared. “I’ve been avoiding looking at any pictures or reading anything. I know what’s going on. I don’t need to read about or see about it. It’s like putting salt in a wound. I don’t need to… He’s back, and now I’m out of the house.

“I felt like a fool. It was as though everyone else had known about it and that everybody was laughing at me. I felt very humiliated and belittled.” Sharon revealed that people were anticipating a permanent break-up, but she ultimately returned after taking a short hiatus to recover from the shock.

Explaining her motivations, she stated, “I’m not just his wife, I’m his manager. When he hit rock bottom I didn’t walk away I pulled him through the mud and put him back on stage.”