Published: 23rd July ‘2025 | The English Chronicle Online
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the most recognisable and chaotic figures in rock history, has passed away at the age of 76. His death marks the end of an era that shaped and defined heavy metal, both in sound and spirit.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy’s childhood was far from promising. He left school at 15, struggled with dyslexia and ADHD, and even dabbled in petty crime before music — and the Beatles — changed his life. That unlikely inspiration propelled him into the formation of Black Sabbath, alongside Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler. The band’s 1970 debut, Black Sabbath, introduced a haunting new sound that would become the blueprint for heavy metal.
With hits like Paranoid, Iron Man, and War Pigs, Black Sabbath became pioneers. But success came at a cost. Ozzy’s unpredictable behaviour and deepening drug addiction led to his dismissal from the band in 1979. He famously quipped that he was singled out, even though, in his own words, “we were all as bad as each other.”
His solo comeback, however, was nothing short of meteoric. Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman cemented him as a force on his own terms. Sharon Arden, daughter of his manager and later his wife, played a crucial role in guiding both his career and attempts at sobriety. Together, they had three children, including Jack and Kelly, who would become public figures themselves.
Ozzy’s antics — biting off a bat’s head on stage, being arrested at the Alamo, or blacking out during drug binges — added to his myth, but masked deep struggles with addiction and mental health. Yet, his resilience was unmatched. Even after a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003 and a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019, he continued to perform and record, earning renewed acclaim.
In 2002, his career took another surreal turn with The Osbourne’s, the MTV reality show that turned him into an unlikely TV dad and cultural icon. His profanity-laced, bumbling-yet-lovable presence introduced him to a new generation far removed from his Sabbath years.
Despite his physical decline, Ozzy’s passion never waned. Just weeks ago, he appeared at a farewell concert in Birmingham’s Villa Park, a final tribute just blocks from where it all began. Flanked by legends like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, the seated but spirited Osbourne performed for one last time, proving that even with frailty, the fire never dimmed.
Ozzy Osbourne’s life was as wild as it was influential. He was chaos and charisma wrapped in leather and eyeliner — a man whose legacy will echo through amplifiers for generations. From prison cells to platinum records, from demonic wails to reality TV stardom, Ozzy’s story is one of music’s most unlikely and enduring triumphs.
As the tributes pour in from around the globe, one truth rings clear: there will never be another Ozzy.
The English Chronicle Online
