Ozzy Osbourne, famously known as the Prince of Darkness and an icon of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. He was the legendary singer of Black Sabbath, a band that revolutionized the world of rock music.
Just weeks before his passing, he wowed 40,000 fans in England with his farewell concert, performing while seated on a majestic black throne. His battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he first revealed in 2020, cast a shadow over his final years. The news of his death was confirmed by the Associated Press on Tuesday following a family statement.
Osbourne’s journey with Black Sabbath began in 1968 when the band was formed, and he remained with them until 1979 when he was dismissed. He then embarked on a successful solo career, amassing over 100 million album sales, as noted by Billboard. Additionally, he gained fame for his reality TV show, The Osbournes, which showcased his quirky family life.
Ozzy’s career was marked by notorious antics fueled by substance abuse. Notably, in January 1982, he infamously bit the head off a bat during a performance in Des Moines, Iowa, a moment that shocked audiences everywhere. A month later, he was arrested for urinating on a statue in San Antonio, gaining more notoriety.
Reflecting on his turbulent life, he told Soundcheck magazine in 1986, “I never thought I’d last this long… I’ve been nearly dead a few times due to all my drinking and drugs. I’m aiming to clean up, though it hasn’t been easy, but at least I’ve enjoyed myself and hope I’ve created some great music along the way.”
One of his controversial songs, Suicide Solution, led to a lawsuit from the parents of a young man who tragically took his own life. Osbourne stood his ground in court, asserting that the song was actually a dire warning about alcohol abuse. “That was never my intention. I wanted to convey that alcohol can be deadly,” he clarified.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy faced many challenges. Struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia, he floundered in various jobs before finding his place in rock music with Black Sabbath, launching a career that came with the price of substance issues and marital strife.
Despite setbacks like being fired from Black Sabbath, Osbourne’s tenacity shined through, courtesy of his manager and eventual wife Sharon Arden. Together, in the ’90s, they initiated Ozzfest, a beloved heavy metal concert series.
The singer participated in several Black Sabbath reunions post-1997, culminating in their last studio album, 13, in 2013, followed by a farewell tour wrapping in 2014.
Simultaneously, he transformed into a reality TV figure, as The Osbournes aired from 2002 to 2005 on MTV, featuring his family, including wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly, with their eldest daughter Aimee opting out.
Discussing the bat incident in his autobiography, I Am Ozzy, released in 2009, he thought a fan had thrown a toy. His shocking response led to a taste of blood, an “aftertaste you could never forget,” he described, especially unsettling after discovering the bat was real.
His notorious antics didn’t slow down; the bat incident prompted rabies shots, protests from animal rights activists, and wild media frenzy, which intensified when he was arrested for the infamous Alamo incident while wearing Sharon’s dress.
Before his illustrious career, Ozzy was married to Thelma in 1971, and they had two children together, Jessica and Louis, before their divorce in 1982.
