In remembrance of Ozzy Osbourne.

Ozzy Osbourne @ Arena Anhembi courtesy of Openverse

John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne: December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, heavy metal rocker “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne) passed away–merely weeks following his farewell performance and approximately five years after revealing his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (2019). Ozzy Osbourne, despite his diagnosis, remained actively engaged in the music industry until his passing. His unexpected passing occurs just over two weeks following his last performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in England on July 5, 2025. His family issued a statement confirming his death at the age of 76, stating that he was “with his family and surrounded by love”. Nevertheless, certain sources close to the family suggest that his last days were tranquil in his home in England.

Over the course of his career being all of a singer, songwriter, and media personality, Ozzy has sold more than 100 million albums, which includes both his solo projects and releases with Black Sabbath. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. Additionally, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath in 2005. He has been honored with stars on the Birmingham Walk of Stars in the U.K., andon the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 (featured below), both acknowledging his significant contributions to the music industry Ozzy also received the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, and also was awarded the Global Icon Award. In 2015, he received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

John Michael Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948, in Marston Green, growing up in Birmingham, U.K. His mother was a non-observant Catholic working in a factory, while his father was a toolmaker. He had three sisters and two brothers and lived in a small home. As a child, he struggled with dyslexia and was bullied, experiencing trauma that led to suicide attempts in his teens. He found inspiration in music after hearing the Beatles at 14, which motivated him to pursue a music career. Osbourne left school at 15, held various jobs including becoming a plumber, and was convicted of robbery at 17, leading to six weeks in prison, and in the day struggled with problems with alcohol. He had been sober since at least the year 2014 according to an interview with Variety’s Marc Malkin.

In late 1967, Geezer Butler formed a band called Rare Breed and invited Osbourne to be the singer. After only two shows, the band broke up. Osbourne and Butler later formed another band, Polka Tulk Blues, with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. In August 1969, they formed a tentative name Black Sabbath, named after there 1963 horror film Black Sabbath, starring Boris Karloff–inspired by a film. Black Sabbath’s music combined heavy blues with dark themes, and influenced by Butler’s occult readings.. They renamed the band Earth, but after a booking mix-up, changed it again to Black Sabbath.  Their debut album, Black Sabbath, and the second album, Paranoid, became successful despite modest label support. At that time, Osbourne met his future wife, Sharon Arden, while considering her father as their manager, although the Osbourne relationship began as purely professional.

Ozzy Osbourne was a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1968, serving as lead vocalist from their first album Black Sabbath album in 1970 to the Never Say Die! album in 1978. The band was key in shaping heavy metal with notable albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Osbourne was fired in 1979 due to substance issues and started a solo career with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980, releasing a total of 13 studio albums. He reunited with Black Sabbath multiple times, including that last show 2 weeks ago.

On September 24, 1991, Ozzy released the VHS tape Don’t Blame Me: The Tales of Ozzy Osbourne, a video that I rate with the full 5-stars. It is must see video, everyone needs to see this video at least once. It was re-released as DVD in 2000, and there are several short videos over the internet, but if you really want to see the whole video, you will have to order it either on DVD or a by-to-own streaming. The best things ion life are never free!

BUY IT NOW: Don’t Blame Me: The Tales of Ozzy Osbourne (Video) on Amazon

In the early 2000s, Osbourne rose to fame as a reality television star by featuring in the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which included his wife and manager Sharon, along with two of their children, Kelly and Jack. He also co-starred with Jack and Kelly in the television program Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour, as well as in The Osbournes Want to Believe, alongside his wife Sharon and son Jack.

His wife Sharon is among the greatest people I have ever seen. being the honest, open-minded and loyal women I have seen over the course of her life, as I have seen on newsprint, video and TV. She loved Ozzy so much, and will truly go down in my history book of being the true women in the rock industry. Sharon was also on the U.S. TV show The Talk.

Ozzy was also the leader of the famous concert series “Ozzfest,” a yearly festival of music acts that featured various artist line-ups over various venues in the United States and the U.K. from the year 1996 to 2018. Ozzfest was originally envisioned following the reported rejection of Ozzy by the event Lollapalooza, which deemed Ozzy unsuitable for their event. I had seen Ozzy Osbourne an before the Ozzfest existed, featuring Zakk Wylde and Randy Castillo (passed 2002). What a great concert it was!

Ozzy Osbourne will be missed by many, and my prayers go to Sharon and his family, his friends then and now, and for all the people who he has ever touched.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Star courtesy of Openverse

Remembering Ozzy Osbourne – 1948-2025