Ozzy Osbourne was an English singer, songwriter, and media personality whose work with Black Sabbath helped establish heavy metal as a major form of rock music. Born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham, on December 3, 1948, he became known professionally as Ozzy, as well as by the nicknames "Prince of Darkness" and "Godfather of Metal." He died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76.MusicBrainz artist record; Associated Press, July 22, 2025.
Osbourne came from Birmingham's working-class industrial environment and left school at 15. He initially pursued music with Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward. After performing under earlier names including Earth, the group became Black Sabbath in 1969. Their debut album, Black Sabbath (1970), introduced a darker and heavier approach built around Iommi's massive guitar riffs, Butler's ominous lyrics, Ward's forceful drumming, and Osbourne's distinctive, plaintive howl. The follow-up, Paranoid (1970), turned the band into international stars through songs such as "War Pigs," "Iron Man," and "Paranoid."
During the 1970s, Osbourne remained Black Sabbath's defining frontman as the group released influential albums including Master of Reality, Vol. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, and Technical Ecstasy. His vocal style was less conventionally polished than that of many later metal singers, but its combination of vulnerability, menace, and unusual phrasing became one of the genre's most recognizable sounds. Internal tensions and substance-abuse problems led to his dismissal from Black Sabbath in 1979, apparently ending his career at a moment when the band's commercial fortunes were declining.Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, "Ozzy Osbourne"; GRAMMY.com, "Remembering Ozzy Osbourne."
Osbourne's return began with Blizzard of Ozz (1980), a solo album shaped in large part by guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake. The record combined heavy riffs with strong melodies and established "Crazy Train" as Osbourne's signature song. Diary of a Madman (1981) continued the partnership with Rhoads, whose death in a 1982 plane crash was a major loss for Osbourne and for heavy metal. Osbourne subsequently worked with guitarists including Brad Gillis, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde, developing a solo catalog that included Bark at the Moon, The Ultimate Sin, No Rest for the Wicked, No More Tears, and Ozzmosis.
His later releases reflected both changing production styles and his continuing ability to work with younger musicians. Down to Earth (2001), Black Rain (2007), and Scream (2010) preceded Ordinary Man (2020), which featured appearances by Elton John and Post Malone. His final studio album, Patient Number 9 (2022), won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, while "Degradation Rules," featuring Tony Iommi, won Best Metal Performance. Osbourne received five Grammy Awards from 12 nominations and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2024, following Black Sabbath's induction in 2006.GRAMMY.com, "Ozzy Osbourne"; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, "Ozzy Osbourne."
Osbourne also broadened his public identity through The Osbournes, the MTV reality series that premiered in 2002 and presented his family life in a chaotic, heavily edited comic format. With Sharon Osbourne, he founded Ozzfest in 1996, creating a major touring platform for established and emerging metal acts.
Health problems eventually curtailed his touring career, but Osbourne returned to the stage for "Back to the Beginning" at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5, 2025. The event reunited the original Black Sabbath lineup for a final performance. It served as a fitting conclusion to a career that transformed Osbourne from a Birmingham singer into one of the central figures in the history of heavy metal.Black Sabbath official website, "Back to the Beginning"; GRAMMY.com, July 23, 2025.