Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 22, 2025 · Entertainment

From Bat Bites to Platinum Hits: The Ozzy Osbourne Saga

Ozzy Osbourne at his Black Sabbath farewell gig at Villa Park stadium in July 2025

The Prince of Darkness Has Fallen: Ozzy Osbourne's Wild Ride Comes to an End

In a shocking turn of events, the world has lost one of its most iconic and eccentric figures - Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and solo artist extraordinaire. The self-proclaimed "Prince of Darkness" left this mortal coil at the ripe age of 76, surrounded by his loving family.

The news of Ozzy's passing sent shockwaves around the globe, with fans and fellow musicians alike paying tribute to a life that was as wild and unpredictable as it was legendary. From biting the head off a bat on stage (or so he claimed) to urinating on a US war memorial while wearing his wife Sharon's dress, Ozzy's antics both on and off stage have become the stuff of rock 'n' roll legend.

Ozzy Osbourne, who has died aged 76, had a career that was defined by his antics both on and off-stage. Pictured: The star leaving hospital on June 16, 2022, after a major back operation

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Ozzy's life was marked by both dizzying success and fame, as well as scandal, abuse, and even prison time. Despite his tumultuous past, Ozzy managed to weather the storm and emerge a phoenix-like figure, forever changing the face of heavy metal music.

As the lead singer of Black Sabbath, Ozzy helped shape the genre, pushing boundaries with songs like "Iron Man," "War Pigs," and "Paranoid." His distinctive wail and showmanship electrified audiences worldwide, earning him a reputation as one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time.

But Ozzy's life was not without its darker moments. He battled addiction and abuse, including a notorious incident where he attempted to strangle his wife Sharon in 1989. Yet, through it all, Ozzy found redemption with his wife by his side, who helped him clean up his act and launch a successful solo career.

The singer, who sold more than 100million records, will forever be synonymous with the heavy metal band he formed in his home city of Birmingham with Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler in 1969. Above: Osbourne (far right) with Butler (left), Iommi (second from left) and Ward in the 1970s

In the late 1990s, Ozzy made headlines once more when he bit off the head of a dove on stage during a performance. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to Sharon's decision to hide Ozzy's clothes to prevent further drunken escapades. Who could forget the infamous moment when Ozzy urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph in Texas, leading to a decade-long ban from San Antonio?

Despite his antics, Ozzy remained a beloved figure, known for his quick wit and humor. In a 2005 interview with Rob Zombie, Ozzy quipped, "Every cool riff has already been written by Black Sabbath. Anything everyone else does is just basically ripping it off."

Throughout his life, Ozzy had his fair share of ups and downs. He battled addiction, survived health scares, and even faced the music industry's harsh realities. Yet, through it all, he remained true to himself and his art.

Osbourne and his wife Sharon and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, are pictured at their US home in 1987. He and Sharon married in 1982

As news of Ozzy's passing spread, fans and fellow musicians took to social media to pay tribute to a life well-lived. The world may have lost one of its most iconic figures, but Ozzy Osbourne will forever be remembered as the Prince of Darkness, a true original who left an indelible mark on the music industry.

In Memoriam: Ozzy Osbourne's Life and Legacy

Born December 3, 1948

Osbourne relaunched himself as a reality tv star in The Osbournes in the early 2000s, after getting clean from drink and drugs with the help of Sharon. It saw two of his and Sharon's children, Kelly and Jack, become stars in their own right, whilst their other daughter Aimee declined to appear. Above: Osbourne with Sharon, Jack and Kelly

Died [insert date], surrounded by love

Occupation: Musician, Songwriter, Rock Icon

Awards: countless accolades for his work with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist

Osbourne recovered from his drink and drug problems with the help of his wife Sharon. Pictured: The pair at the Grammy Awards in January 2020

Notable Achievements:

  • Formed Black Sabbath in 1969 with Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler
  • Released debut album "Black Sabbath" in 1970, which went platinum
  • Wrote iconic songs like "Iron Man," "War Pigs," and "Paranoid"
  • Began solo career in the late 1980s with hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley"
  • Starred in reality TV show "The Osbournes" (2002-2005)
  • Released 13th solo album, "Ordinary Man," in February 2020

Sources:

Ozzy Osbourne is pictured as a child

  • [insert sources]

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Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, the singer was raised by his parents Lilian and John with three older sisters and two younger brothers in a small two-bedroom home in Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne is pictured in 1970, the year after he formed Black Sabbath. The band was initially named Earth but its name was changed to Black Sabbath soon after

Osbourne is seen above on his wedding day in 1982 with Sharon, her parents Hope (far left) and Don Arden and his mother Lillian (second from right) and sister Jean

After having daughter Aimee, now 38, in 1983, Osbourne and Sharon went on to have Kelly, 37, in 1984, and Jack, 36, in 1985. Above: The family are pictured shortly after the birth of Jack

A portrait of Ozzy Osbourne, dressed as a 1950s housewife, ironing his daughter Aimee in 1983. Aimee is now less high-profile than her siblings Jack and Kelly, after refusing to appear in reality TV hit The Osbournes

Osbourne is pictured with his then newborn son Jack in 1985, six years after he had been thrown out of Black Sabbath due to his antics

Osbourne is pictured with daughter Aimee on holiday in France in 1984 - five years after he had been thrown out of Black Sabbath

Osbourne has two older children from his marriage to first wife Thelma Riley. Above: Osbourne with son Louis in 2009

Prior to his union with Sharon, Osbourne had been married to first wife Thelma Riley for 11 years, from 1971 until 1982. The pair had children Jessica and Louis together, whilst Osbourne also adopted Thelma's son Eliot (pictured right)

Osbourne later said that his first marriage had been a mistake because of his constant touring and drug abuse. He also admitted to being 'abusive' to Thelma (pictured above with the singer in the 1970s

Osbourne is seen with his children from his first marriage, Jessica and Louis. The pair have largely remained out of the spotlight despite their father's fame

Osbourne with daughters Kelly and Aimee, wife Sharon and son Jack in 2002 - the year that the family's show The Osbournes began

Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne attend the Pride of Britain awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on September 28, 2015 in London

Ozzy Osbourne, debating the merits of Black Sabbath's new album 'Sabotage' at Bronze Records offices, 1975

Osbourne with Butler (left) and Iommi in the 1970s. Black Sabbath revolutionised the heavy metal genre, making themselves popular with millions of fans

Black Sabbath's first album was given the same name as the band. It was released in 1970 reached number eight on the UK Albums Charts and number 23 on the US Billboard 200

The band's third album, Master of Reality, came in 1971. It included tracks such as Sweet Leaf and Children of the Grave

Osbourne (centre) is pictured with Black Sabbath bandmates Bill Ward (left), Tony Iommi (second from right) and Geezer Butler in 1975

Osbourne with Black Sabbath bandmates Iommi, Butler and Ward in 1976, the year that the band released album Technical Ecstasy

Osbourne posing for a publicity photo with his Black Sabbath bandmates in 1970, the year after they changed their name from Earth

Osbourne infamously bit the head off a bat during a performance in Iowa in 1982

Osbourne is pictured showing off a tattoo in 1990. The singer had by then been out of Black Sabbath for more than a decade

Osbourne during solo performances in 1985

A Daily Mail article from 1984 delved into the singer's antics at the time, including how he had been banned from six American cities

Osbourne's troubles with alcohol and drugs reached crisis point in 1989, when Osbourne attempted to strangle Sharon and he was arrested

Sharon came up with the idea for the fly-on-the-wall documentary about her family that was filmed at their Beverly Hills home. It proved a major hit for US network MTV, running between 2002 and 2005. Aimee however refused to take part and criticised her parents for their antics, despite the fact that the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Programme

The show covered the aftermath of Osbourne's quad bike crash at his UK home in 2003. His heart stopped beating and he also broke his collar bone, eight ribs and neck vertebra

Ozzy Osbourne riding a quad bike on his estate in Buckinghamshire in the 1980s. The hellraiser pushed his thrill seeking to the limits

The Daily Mail's original reporting of Osbourne's quad bike crash, which was witnessed by his children, noted how he nearly lost his arm

Along with Iommi, Osbourne performed Paranoid – Black Sabbath's most famous song – at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002

Ozzy and Sharon are seen putting their love for each other on display at the Pride of Britain awards in 2017

Osbourne and Sharon turned themselves and their children into TV stars with their documentary The Osbournes. Above: The singer with Sharon and Kelly in 2020

Sharon is seen with her husband and daughter Kelly in Los Angeles in 2020. The singer was by then suffering from Parkinson's disease

Black Sabbath's solo tour - The End - saw them perform in locations across the world. Above: Osbourne with Butler, Iommi and Tommy Clufetos, who filled in for original drummer Ward

The band's farewell tour – titled The End – was brought to a close with a performance in Birmingham in 2017. Above: The cover of the band's last album, 13

After Black Sabbath carried out their final tour, Osbourne continued performing as a solo act, with his most recent album release, Ordinary Man, coming in February 2020. Above: The singer on stage in 2019

Osbourne is pictured eating an ice cream in hospital after his June 2022 operation, which his wife Sharon would  'determine the rest of his life'

The frail star is pictured in May 2022 shortly before he went into hospital for his major back operation