Legendary frontman of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne has died this morning. He had just turned 76 years old. Osbourne was born in Birmingham, U.K. With a desire to scare and scare audiences, in 1968, he joined guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward to form Black Sabbath. That band more than any other has defined the heavy metal genre. Their classic songs such as “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “War Pigs” are basically anthems at this point.
Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his career, including a tumultuous departure from Black Sabbath due to substance abuse issues, Osbourne successfully launched a solo career that saw him collaborate with renowned guitarist Randy Rhoads. His solo work gave us iconic hits like “Crazy Train,” “Shot in the Dark,” and “Bark at the Moon.” These tracks cement his status as a modern-day rock music mainstay.
Osbourne’s life was just as vibrant as his music. He married Sharon Osbourne in 1982, and together they had three children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. During the marriage, he had two children, Jessica and Louis with his first wife, Thelma Riley. Later, he adopted Sharon’s son, Elliot, from her first marriage.
Besides an impressive solo catalog, in 2006 Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside his Black Sabbath comrades. The band continued to gain accolades, scoring two Grammy Awards, as well as a 2019 lifetime achievement award. As a solo artist, he won five Grammy Awards and went on to make some of the best received music of his long career. His 13th studio album, Patient Number 9, came out in September 2022. In particular, it was nominated for album of the year by the Grammys, eventually winning Best Rock Album.
Osbourne’s celebrity blossomed well off the stage. Between 2002-2005, he had audiences around the reality television series “The Osbournes” on MTV, detailing his home life and proving that he was not only a music icon, but a cultural icon.
In recent years, Osbourne has had major health challenges, including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, spoke about the condition, stating, “There’s so many different types of Parkinson’s. It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. It’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.”
Even with these hurdles, Ozzy was desperate to get back on stage. In an interview, he expressed his motivation: “My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage.” He later revealed the toll these health issues took on him: “My singing voice is fine. I’ve had three surgeries and many stem cell therapies. Despite many access physical therapy treatment and the newest Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body still gets weak.
In August 2022, he made a memorable appearance closing the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham alongside Tony Iommi, reflecting on his remarkable journey: “If someone had said to me when I was 14 standing outside those school gates, ‘You’ll be closin’ the Commonwealth Games,’ it was just — my life’s been incredible.”
“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.” They requested privacy during their time of mourning: “We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Fans across the globe are mourning. Through this loss, many are celebrating the life of an icon that completely redefined the music landscape and ultimately forever changed the fabric of popular culture. Memorials from fans and fellow musicians are flooding in. Whatever the future holds, his legacy as the Prince of Darkness will live forever.
