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

Ozzy Osbourne: The Icon Who Sang His Last Goodbye

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

OZZY OSBOURNE DIES AT 76: ROCK LEGEND'S WILD RIDE COMES TO AN END

The world of rock 'n' roll is in mourning today as legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at the age of 76. The Prince of Darkness, known for his outrageous antics and iconic songs like "Crazy Train" and "Paranoid," left this mortal coil surrounded by his loved ones.

A LIFE OF EXCESS

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

Ozzy's life was a never-ending rollercoaster of excess, debauchery, and rock 'n' roll royalty. From biting the head off a bat on stage to urinating on the Alamo Cenotaph in Texas (while wearing his wife Sharon's dress, no less!), Ozzy's hellraising antics made him an international celebrity.

But beneath the bravado and bluster lay a complex individual struggling with addiction, abuse, and personal demons. Ozzy's marriage to Sharon was marked by periods of violence and infidelity, but it was also a partnership that helped him find redemption and stability.

A ROCK 'N' ROLL LEGACY

Osbourne at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989 at Luzhniki Stadium

As the lead singer of Black Sabbath, Ozzy played a crucial role in shaping heavy metal as we know it today. The band's iconic riffs and dark lyrics captured the imaginations of fans worldwide, paving the way for future generations of rock musicians.

With hits like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs," Black Sabbath became one of the most influential bands of all time, inspiring everyone from Metallica to Rob Zombie. Ozzy's signature vocals, meanwhile, remain unmistakable – a blend of snarling intensity and operatic grandeur that has left an indelible mark on rock music.

A PERSONAL LIFE FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS

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

Ozzy's personal life was marked by its share of dramatic turns. He was once fired from Black Sabbath due to his addiction problems, but found redemption with the help of Sharon, who became his manager and wife.

Together, they faced numerous challenges – including Ozzy's 1989 attempt to strangle Sharon (which she miraculously survived) – but ultimately weathered the storms to build a life filled with love, music, and philanthropy.

A FAREWELL TOUR LIKE NO OTHER

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

In recent years, Ozzy's health has been in decline. He underwent major spinal surgery in 2022 and suffered a series of setbacks that forced him to cancel shows and tours. His final performance took place in September 2023 – a fitting farewell to an era marked by his larger-than-life personality and unbridled energy.

As the music world mourns the passing of this rock legend, we can't help but reflect on Ozzy's enduring impact on popular culture. From his outrageous antics to his soulful singing voice, he left us with a legacy that will forever be etched in our collective consciousness.

OZZY OSBOURNE'S EPIGRAPH

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

In a 1996 interview, Ozzy himself joked about what his epitaph might read: "Ozzy Osbourne, born December 3, 1948. Died, whenever. And he bit the head off a bat." It's a fitting reminder of his wild and reckless spirit – a spirit that will never truly die.

READ MORE ON OZZY OSBOURNE'S LIFE AND CAREER AT THE SCHOLARLY NOTE.COM

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

Ozzy Osbourne is pictured as a child

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