Ozzy Osbourne’s life reads like a wild ride through rock ’n’ roll history—packed with legendary moments, personal demons, and a triumphant return time and again.
From biting bats to chart-topping hits, Ozzy’s passing at 76 marks the end of an extraordinary and controversial era in music.
From Birmingham Roots to Heavy Metal Royalty
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy came from a crowded household and a tough upbringing.
School was a struggle—ADHD, dyslexia, giving teachers a hard time—but music offered an escape.
By 19, he formed his first band, Rare Breed, with Geezer Butler.
Their next act? Black Sabbath, the 1969 band that created heavy metal as we know it.
Shock, Scandal, and Superstardom
Black Sabbath didn’t shy away from the dark side—songs about doom, riffs inspired by industrial tragedy, and lyrics that even prompted the future Pope to denounce him.
Ozzy became infamous for biting a bat’s head off on stage in 1982 (he swore he thought it was fake).
He also bit a dove’s head off at a record meeting and once urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph while wearing his wife Sharon’s dress. None of it slowed his rise.
Rock and Personal Battles
Ozzy’s battles with addiction and abuse nearly destroyed him.
He was dismissed from Sabbath in 1979, then spiraled into a haze of drugs and alcoholism—admitting he did cocaine and booze “for the last party.”
In 1989, a terrifying moment saw him attempt to strangle Sharon while high.
But she refused to give up, insisting he get help. She later said without her, “I’d be dead by now.”
Reinvention Through Reality TV and Redemption
Sharon’s unwavering support helped Ozzy clean up his life.
In the early 2000s, they let cameras into their home for The Osbournes, creating a hit reality show that changed pop culture.
Meanwhile, Black Sabbath reunited in 1997, performing at big events—like Buckingham Palace in 2002.
A Comeback with Solo Hits and Farewell Tours
Ozzy’s solo career soared with hits like “Crazy Train” and albums like Blizzard of Ozz.
He rejoined Sabbath for their final album, 13, and their farewell tour.
In 2025, in his native Birmingham, he took his final bows—seated due to Parkinson’s but still delivering his signature vocals.
Health Struggles and Final Years
Ozzy weathered serious health challenges—quad-bike accident (2003), multiple spinal surgeries (2022–23), and a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020.
Even with these setbacks, he kept performing, supported by a specially equipped wing in his Buckinghamshire home and a devoted family.
Legacy of Rebellion and Reinvention
He sold more than 100 million records, pushed metal into the mainstream, and earned respect from fans and peers alike—like Rob Zombie, who said every cool riff had already been done by Sabbath.
Ozzy built a kingdom that defied expectation, scandal, and mortality itself.
Personal Reflection and Family
Behind the persona was real pain—sexual abuse as a child, suicide attempts, crime, and deep emotional scars.
He found healing in music, in Sharon, and in family.
He married Sharon on July 4, 1982 (so he’d never forget their anniversary), and together they raised five children—Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack—through triumphs and tragedies.
What Ozzy Would Want on His Tombstone
He summed up his life in one memorable epitaph:
“Ozzy Osbourne, born December 3, 1948. Died, whenever.
And he bit the head off a bat.”
With that legendary line, he leaves an unforgettable legacy—wild, real, sometimes painful, but always true to himself.
A rock icon to the end.