Farewell to the Prince of Darkness: Ozzy Osbourne’s Life in Glorious Chaos

Early Days in Aston: Forging a Future in Rock

At 76, heavy metal’s wildest icon takes his final bow, leaving behind a trailblazing musical legacy, decades of infamy and survival, and an unexpected turn as a beloved reality TV dad. We reflect on the extraordinary life of John “Ozzy” Osbourne – Black Sabbath frontman, solo superstar, and eternal Prince of Darkness.

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, Ozzy grew up in the working-class Aston area of Birmingham, England. One of six children squeezed into a tiny two-bedroom home, he endured a childhood of hardship and bullying. He left school at 15 and worked odd jobs – construction laborer, horn-tuner in a car factory, even slaughterhouse worker – before petty crime landed him in jail for six weeks after he couldn’t pay a burglary fine. These early struggles didn’t dampen his musical dreams. In fact, hearing The Beatles’ hit “She Loves You” as a teenager lit a fire in him: it was the moment he knew he “was going to be a rock star the rest of [his] life”. With that inspiration, the young “Ozzy” (a childhood nickname that stuck) set out to escape Aston’s factory grind through music.

Black Sabbath: Birth of the Heavy Metal Legend

In 1968, fate came knocking when Ozzy teamed up with local musicians Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward to form a blues-rock band initially called Polka Tulk Blues. They soon renamed themselves Black Sabbath, after a Boris Karloff horror film, and unwittingly pioneered a new, darker strain of rock. Osbourne’s eerie, wailing vocals paired with Iommi’s down-tuned guitar riffs to give voice to the anxieties of their industrial upbringing: “We didn’t want to write happy pop songs,” bassist Butler later said. “We gave that industrial feeling to it”.

Ozzy Osbourne performing with Black Sabbath in 1974, channeling the darkness and drama that defined heavy metal’s early years.

Black Sabbath’s impact was immediate. Their self-titled 1970 debut – dismissed by critics but eagerly embraced by fans – hit the UK Top Ten and is now hailed as a heavy metal cornerstone. The follow-up, Paranoid (1970), topped the UK charts and yielded enduring anthems like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs”. By 1971’s Master of Reality, Sabbath’s signature sound – cacophonous, menacing, and louder than anything before – was cemented, influencing generations of metal bands to come. As frontman, Ozzy became heavy metal’s first superstar, notorious for his wild eyes and theatrical flair. During this period he embraced the nickname “Prince of Darkness,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to the band’s sinister image and his own macabre antics.

Yet behind the band’s success lay mounting tensions. Years of hard living began to take a toll as Ozzy sank deeper into alcohol and drug abuse. By 1979, his substance use had grown so out of control that his bandmates had no choice but to fire him, ending the first chapter of Black Sabbath’s saga. “I was no good,” Ozzy later admitted of that chaotic period. Sabbath soldiered on with a new singer, but the ousted Ozzy was at a crossroads – one that would lead to an astonishing second act.

Blizzard of Ozz: A Solo Star Rises

Left adrift after Sabbath, Ozzy found salvation in the unlikely form of a small crew assembled by his future wife and manager, Sharon Arden. With Sharon’s guidance and a brilliant young guitarist named Randy Rhoads, Ozzy roared back in 1980 with Blizzard of Ozz, a solo debut that exceeded all expectations. The album went multi-platinum and produced “Crazy Train,” a song whose opening guitar riff alone would secure Ozzy’s place in rock history. Over the 1980s he released a string of hit albums – Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon, No More Tears and more – that firmly established him as a solo superstar, independent of his former band. By the mid-’80s, the onetime Birmingham street kid had become a household name in his own right, selling over 100 million records between his work with Sabbath and alone.

Ozzy’s solo career was as much about spectacle as songcraft. He became infamous for outrageous stage antics that seemed drawn from a horror-comedy. Most notorious was the night in 1982 when, in a haze of adrenaline (and perhaps substances), he bit the head off what he thought was a rubber bat thrown on stage – only to realize it was a real, dead bat. The stunt, equal parts shocking and absurd, landed him in the hospital for rabies shots and into the annals of rock legend. A year earlier, he had even chomped the heads off two doves during a record label meeting – intended as a peace gesture gone very wrong. These incidents, while condemned by many, only fed the myth of Ozzy as rock’s great anti-hero. He appeared unstoppable on the charts as well: even in the 1990s, he scored a UK No.1 hit in 2003 with “Changes,” a heartfelt duet with his daughter Kelly that revealed a surprising sentimental side.

Crucially, Ozzy and Sharon together built a business empire around his persona. In 1996 Sharon founded Ozzfest, a travelling heavy metal festival, which became a summer institution and further cemented Ozzy’s godfather status in the metal scene. By the late 1990s, the couple had amassed a fortune that placed them among Britain’s richest entertainers. The once penniless Aston kid was now rock royalty, complete with mansions, sports cars, and all the trappings – but also, as would soon be clear, a measure of domestic chaos that was uniquely Osbourne.

Demons, Darkness, and Decades of Excess

Ozzy Osbourne’s music made him a star, but his offstage exploits made him a legend. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, he careened through life in a haze of drugs and alcohol, accumulating stories that ranged from hilarious to horrifying. He was banned from San Antonio, Texas, in 1982 for urinating on a sacred war memorial (while wearing one of Sharon’s dresses, no less) – an incident that epitomized his outrageous disregard for decorum. Far darker was the night in 1989 when, in a drug-fueled blackout, Ozzy nearly killed his wife. In a shocking episode at their home, he drunkenly attacked Sharon, attempting to strangle her, until she managed to press a panic button to summon police. “I felt the calmest I had ever felt in my life,” he later recalled of the moment he realized he was choking the woman he loved – a chilling sentiment he would regret for the rest of his days. Ozzy woke up in a jail cell, stunned as an officer told him he was charged with attempted murder. The incident was a rock bottom. He entered rehab for six months, and Sharon had to decide whether to leave him for good. Ultimately, she chose to stay. “It’s not exactly one of my greatest achievements,” Ozzy deadpanned of the attack years later. The couple’s ability to overcome that harrowing chapter speaks to their extraordinary bond – and Sharon’s strength in the face of Ozzy’s demons.

Through every wild escapade, Ozzy somehow survived. He often shouldered criticism from the press and religious groups, who saw Black Sabbath’s occult imagery and Ozzy’s behavior as evidence of rock’s corrupting influence. But to fans, his outrageous persona was inseparable from his charm. “For fans, Osbourne’s public antics were part of the band’s charm,” one obituary noted, whereas detractors simply saw proof of heavy metal’s danger. Indeed, Ozzy’s “madman” reputation became both his cross to bear and his crown to wear. He was the wild man of rock – yet, improbably, outlived many peers who lived far more cautiously. As The Independent quipped, for years it felt like Ozzy “must be indestructible,” having survived “decades of hard-living” that would have felled lesser mortals. He eventually cleaned up his act in the 1990s, achieving periods of sobriety, though he admitted to relapses – including a brief binge in the mid-2010s that he swiftly owned up to, apologizing for having been “in a very dark place” and vowing to right himself. In the end, Ozzy’s toughest battle was not with any satanic specter, but with the addictions that haunted him for most of his life.

Love and Family with Sharon

At the center of Ozzy’s tumultuous world was Sharon Osbourne, the iron-willed woman who became his manager and, in July 1982, his second wife. They had first met years earlier when Sharon’s father, Don Arden, managed Black Sabbath – Ozzy was a married man at the time, wed to his first wife Thelma Riley. That first marriage (which produced two children, Jessica and Louis) crumbled under the weight of Ozzy’s rising fame and substance abuse; he later frankly called it “a terrible mistake” and confessed he couldn’t even remember the births of those children due to his addictions. After his divorce was finalized in 1982, Ozzy and Sharon married and embarked on what would prove to be one of rock’s most enduring – if unorthodox – partnerships.

Sharon was far more than a spouse. She was Ozzy’s manager, muse, and occasionally his savior. It was Sharon who took charge of his career when no one else believed in him, orchestrating his solo comeback and guiding him to even greater fame. Her savvy and determination helped turn Ozzy’s notorious image into a profitable brand, from tours and merch to the creation of Ozzfest. “Her business acumen paired with his enduring popularity helped them accrue huge wealth,” one account noted, as the couple rose to become a true power duo in entertainment. But their marriage was tested time and again by Ozzy’s wild behavior. The 1989 near-murder incident was the worst of it, but not the only strain. Infidelity also reared its head; in 2016, revelations of Ozzy’s affairs (with a hair stylist and others) led Sharon to briefly separate from him. Amazingly, they reconciled after counseling, proving that even after decades, their bond was strong enough to weather storms that might sink any other marriage.

Together, Ozzy and Sharon had three children – Aimee (born 1983), Kelly (1984), and Jack (1985) – and the chaos of the Osbourne household became legendary in its own right. By Ozzy’s own admission, he wasn’t always the model father (years of touring and partying kept him distant at times), but he clearly loved his brood. In later years, as he calmed down, the family grew closer – a journey that the whole world would soon witness firsthand.

The Osbournes: Reality TV Royalty

In 2002, Ozzy found himself at the center of an unlikely pop culture phenomenon: MTV’s The Osbournes. The reality TV series invited cameras into the daily domestic insanity of the Osbourne family’s Beverly Hills home, and viewers couldn’t get enough of the foul-mouthed, funny, and surprisingly sweet clan. Ozzy – by then a shambling, middle-aged dad who mumbled incoherently at times (thanks to decades of rock ’n’ roll wear-and-tear) – emerged as an endearing star of the show. Audiences laughed as he bickered with Sharon, wrangled a house full of unruly pets, and tried to corral teenaged Kelly and Jack. The “Prince of Darkness” was suddenly America’s lovable, bumbling TV dad. The show was an explosive hit, running for four seasons and becoming one of MTV’s highest-rated programs. It even won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in its first year.

For Ozzy, the experience was bizarre. He later quipped that he was stoned for the entire three-year filming of The Osbournes, barely aware of the cameras. Indeed, amidst the comedy, the show occasionally revealed the cracks in Ozzy’s health and sobriety – he was often filmed shuffling and glassy-eyed, recovering from an ATV accident and popping pain pills, which explained his sometimes unintelligible speech. Eldest daughter Aimee notably refused to participate, preferring a private life, but the rest of the family became global celebrities. Sharon’s sharp wit on camera led her to a career as a TV host and talent judge; Kelly and Jack each parlayed their fame into media ventures of their own. The show’s success marked a turning point: Ozzy Osbourne was no longer just a rock star – he was a mainstream celebrity, known to suburban moms and young kids who might not have heard a single Black Sabbath song. Remarkably, he managed to broaden his fan base without sacrificing the eccentric persona that defined him. If anything, The Osbournes only enhanced his legend, showing that even the godfather of metal had to deal with barking dogs and teen drama. It was a cultural milestone, one that proved Ozzy’s adaptability and enduring appeal.

Health Crises and the Long Road to Goodbye

Behind the scenes of career triumphs and TV fame, time was catching up with Ozzy Osbourne. Decades of physically demanding performances and the residual damage of past injuries began to exact a price. In December 2003, shortly after The Osbournes fame peaked, Ozzy had a catastrophic quad bike accident on his English estate. He broke his neck, collarbone, and ribs in the crash and almost lost his life – Sharon recalled he even stopped breathing for over a minute after being pulled from the wreckage. Surgeons repaired him with metal rods, but the trauma left lasting effects, including nerve damage. Not long after, doctors diagnosed him with Parkin syndrome, a Parkinson’s-like disorder that causes tremors. Though Ozzy heroically returned to performing after recovery, it was clear his body would never be quite the same.

In the 2010s, a string of ailments and injuries beset the prince of darkness. He endured multiple back and neck surgeries. A 2019 fall at home dislodged the rods in his spine from the quad bike crash, forcing more major surgery. That year he was also diagnosed outright with Parkinson’s disease – news he shared publicly in early 2020 – and suffered a serious bout of pneumonia and even Covid-19. “It just seems that since October, everything I touch has turned to s**t,” he lamented in 2019 after health woes piled up. By early 2023, Ozzy faced the painful realization that he could no longer tour as he used to. With characteristic candor, he told fans that after “three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and... groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) treatment” to try to regain his strength, his touring days had to end. It was a heartbreaking admission for a man who lived to be on stage. “Being at home for so long has been so foreign to him,” Sharon observed of his forced retirement from the road.

Still, the show was not quite over. Even as he battled depression and pain, Ozzy held onto one final dream: to give his fans a proper farewell. “I never got the chance to say goodbye or thank you,” he said, frustrated that ill health had cut short previous tours. What he wanted was one last show – a grand finale to cap off his career on his terms. “If I can’t continue doing shows on a regular basis,” Ozzy told Rolling Stone, “I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’… And if I drop down dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man”. That opportunity came on July 5, 2025, in his hometown of Birmingham. Dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” the concert was organized by Sharon as Ozzy’s final bow – a chance to repay that “lifetime’s debt of gratitude” to the fans.

And what a finale it was. Forty thousand devotees packed Villa Park Stadium on that warm summer night to witness Ozzy’s last stand. Despite fragile health, he rose to the occasion – quite literally, appearing on stage seated upon a gothic throne adorned with bats and skulls. “You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” the 76-year-old shouted to the crowd, his voice cracking with emotion. Then, ever the showman, he roared his famous rallying cry: “Let the madness begin!”. Ozzy delivered a powerhouse mini-set of solo hits (from “Mr. Crowley” to the ubiquitous “Crazy Train”), before reuniting with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first Black Sabbath performance in 20 years. Together they blasted through Sabbath classics “Iron Man” and “Paranoid” – with Ozzy gleefully conducting the audience to sing along “louder, louder” and “go f***ing crazy” one more time. The night was as much celebration as farewell. A parade of hard-rock luminaries took the stage to pay tribute: members of Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, and other bands Ozzy had influenced played blistering guest sets. “You know, there’s not another guy as respected in metal as Ozzy Osbourne,” said former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar during the festivities. Metallica’s James Hetfield agreed, telling the crowd, “Without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica” – a testament to the profound impact Ozzy and his band had on rock history. Even celebrities outside the metal world – from actor Jason Momoa (who hosted the event) to country icon Dolly Parton and comedian Ricky Gervais – sent messages or appeared, underscoring how far-reaching Ozzy’s cultural footprint had become. As confetti rained down and Ozzy led one final singalong of “Paranoid,” the moment was triumphant. The madman had cheated fate and delivered the goodbye of his dreams. “I am Iron Man!” he bellowed at one point, defiant to the end. Indeed, watching his vitality on stage that night, it was easy to believe the Iron Man would go on forever.

The Legacy of a Rock ’n’ Roll Survivor

Less than three weeks after that glorious final show, on July 22, 2025, the news broke that Ozzy Osbourne had died “surrounded by love” at home with his family. No cause of death was immediately given, but it was no secret that Ozzy’s body had been through decades of wear and recent years of illness. Tributes poured in from around the world as fans and fellow musicians grappled with the loss of the man who had been the beating heart of heavy metal for over half a century. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away,” his family said in a statement, asking for privacy while confirming the tragic news. For so many, it felt like the end of an era. After all, if Ozzy could go, then truly the golden age of rock was fading.

Yet, what an astounding legacy he leaves behind. Ozzy Osbourne’s life was the very definition of a full life – full of music, mischief, madness, and ultimately love. Musically, he will forever be remembered as one of the founding fathers of heavy metal, the voice of Black Sabbath’s genre-defining early works and the architect of a hugely successful solo catalog. He earned induction into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the U.S. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – twice each, as a member of Sabbath and as a solo artist. He won Grammy Awards (three competitively and two lifetime achievement honors) and countless other accolades. His album sales topped 100 million. Generations of artists cite him as an inspiration – from Metallica to Motley Crüe, Soundgarden to Slipknot. “We’re not here to say goodbye; we’re here to say thank you,” Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian said at Ozzy’s farewell, capturing how countless musicians feel about his influence. Even in the pop culture realm, Ozzy’s impact was singular: he proved that even the most fearsome rockers could find a second act in the mainstream, paving the way for other music stars to show their human side on reality TV. His persona – the shambling, muttering, lovable “Prince of Darkness” – is now the stuff of folklore, a character beloved as much for his flaws and humor as for his onstage fury.

Ozzy’s story is ultimately one of survival and gratitude. He pushed every limit and defied every odd, outliving peers and even his own expectations. “For many years, fans felt that Osbourne must be indestructible,” one obituary noted, given all he endured. In his later years, the rebellious hellraiser mellowed into a reflective elder statesman of rock. He spoke openly about his health struggles, expressing deep thanks to those who stood by him. When he finally got to thank his fans in person at that last concert, it was the culmination of a lifetime of mutual love between performer and audience. Ozzy often said that his fans were “my extended family... they give us the lifestyle we have”, and he never forgot it.

He also never lost his irreverent sense of humor or his resilience. Even as illness weighed on him, he joked about his predicament. Before a surprise cameo performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony – where he shocked everyone by appearing despite frailty – he quipped to his wife, “I can’t even fing stand up!” But then he shrugged off the fear: “I’ve only got to stand there with a fing microphone… If I fall over, they’ll think it’s part of the act anyway – they’ll just think I was drunk!”. That spirit – defiant, self-deprecating, and determined to the end – is how Ozzy Osbourne will be remembered by those who knew and loved him.

He leaves behind his wife of 43 years, Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, as well as Jessica and Louis from his first marriage, and multiple grandchildren. He also leaves an irreplaceable void in the rock community. Fellow Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi mourned “one of my dearest and closest friends” and said the bond they forged back in Birmingham in 1968 “will never be broken” (a sentiment surely echoed by Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, the other brothers of Sabbath). Fans around the globe lit candles, blasted Black Sabbath’s Paranoid on repeat, and flooded social media with tributes – from famous rockers to everyday listeners who felt like they’d lost a family member.

Ozzy Osbourne’s life was a wild, unorthodox, and ultimately triumphant ride. He was the rogue who became a legend, the addict who somehow endured, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness who in truth had a huge heart full of light. As the Guardian eulogized, he was “one of the most notorious figures in rock: an innovator… a showman… an addict… and latterly, a reality TV star much loved for his bemusement at family life”. In short, he was Ozzy – singular and unforgettable. Now, as we bid farewell, we can almost hear that cheeky Brummie voice echoing one last time: “Let the madness begin!” The madness may be over, but the music and memories will play on, louder than ever.

Rest in peace, Ozzy – and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything.