Who Was Ozzy Osbourne? All About Black Sabbath Rock Legend and Prince of Darkness as He Passes Away at 76

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The legendary heavy metal musician, often called the ‘Lord of Darkness’, Ozzy Osbourne, has tragically passed away at 76 years old. The Osbourne family shared their heartbreaking news, stating that he passed surrounded by love from his family. They ask for privacy during this difficult time.

Over the past few years, Osbourne faced numerous health challenges, such as Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries. At this time, no specific reason for his passing has been disclosed.

The rise of a rock legend from Birmingham

Originating from Aston, Birmingham in 1948 as John Michael Osbourne, Ozzy spent his upbringing in a working-class family. His childhood was marked by hardships such as poverty, mistreatment, and brief stints in prison. Reflecting on his brief foray into burglary, he once commented, “I wasn’t cut out for that. Completely worthless.”

In the year 1948, John Michael Osbourne was born in Aston, Birmingham and grew up in a working-class family environment. His childhood was fraught with difficulties including poverty, mistreatment, and jail time. He also had a brief stint as a burglar, which he described as something he wasn’t suited for, calling it “completely worthless.

The ambiance influenced the unique sound that Black Sabbath, a band he co-created with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, produced. Their first self-titled album, launched in 1970, along with hits like Paranoid and Master of Reality, served as templates for the development of heavy metal music.

Following his dismissal from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to drug issues, Ozzy kick-started a thriving solo venture with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. Since then, he has put out 13 studio albums as a solo artist, the most recent one being Patient Number 9, which came out in 2022.

Known for startling performances such as biting the head of a bat during a 1982 concert and removing two doves’ heads at a record company gathering, this individual made headlines frequently. His spouse, Sharon Osbourne, oversaw his career, and they jointly introduced Ozzfest in 1996, an influential metal festival that continued for many years.

Here’s what you may not know about his personal struggles

In the year 1982, Ozzy tied the knot with Sharon, and together they welcomed three offspring – Kelly, Jack, and Aimee. However, before Sharon, he was married to Thelma and had two other children, Jessica and Louis, from that union.

In 1989, he was detained for trying to choke Sharon while under the influence of alcohol. He remembered the incident in 2007 as waking up in a small solitary cell and being informed that he was being accused of attempting to murder Sharon Osbourne. The couple eventually reconciled.

Besides enduring a quad bike mishap back in 2003 and battling various health hurdles such as Parkinson’s, which he disclosed in 2020, he stated to The Guardian in May 2025 that “every morning you wake up only to discover another problem has arisen.

Approximately four weeks prior to his passing, Ozzy Osbourne reconnected with Black Sabbath at their farewell concert titled “Back to the Beginning”, held on July 5th, 2025, in Birmingham. Seated upon a stage adorned with bat imagery, he exhorted the ecstatic audience, “I am Iron Man: let loose and go wild!

As an ardent fan, let me share my experience of an extraordinary event that had me on cloud nine – it brought together Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and none other than the legendary Elton John! The highlight of the night was when Elton paid a heartfelt tribute to someone dear to us all. He spoke about this incredible individual as a cherished friend and an innovative trailblazer, one who could make even the most stoic among us laugh out loud. His words echoed the deep sense of loss we feel; he will be deeply missed.

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2025-07-23 08:22