Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (3 December 1948 – 22 July 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. Dubbed the "Prince of Darkness", he achieved international prominence as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, as well as through a successful solo career. Across his career, Osbourne sold more than 100 million albums combining his solo releases and work with Black Sabbath.

Osbourne was born in Marston Green, Warwickshire, and grew up in the Aston area of Birmingham alongside five siblings. He dealt with dyslexia during his school years and worked various jobs after leaving school at age 15, including as a construction site labourer, trainee plumber, and slaughterhouse worker. At age 14, hearing the Beatles inspired him to become a musician. After spending six weeks in prison at age 17 following a robbery conviction, he began singing in local musical groups.

In 1968, Osbourne co-founded the group that was renamed Black Sabbath in August 1969 alongside Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward. Widely credited as a pioneer of heavy metal music, the band developed a dark, heavy style. Osbourne sang on the band's first eight studio albums, including Black Sabbath and Paranoid (both 1970), Master of Reality (1971), Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Technical Ecstasy (1976), and Never Say Die! (1978). In 1979, he was sacked from the band due to substance abuse issues.

Following his dismissal, Osbourne launched a solo career after signing with Jet Records. Managed by Sharon Arden, whom he later married, he formed a solo group featuring guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Bob Daisley. His debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), was followed by Diary of a Madman (1981). Over his career, Osbourne released thirteen solo studio albums, with his first seven achieving multi-platinum certification in the United States.

Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath on multiple occasions, rejoining from 1997 to 2005 and again in 2012. During the second reunion, he sang on the band's final studio album, 13 (2013), before their farewell tour concluded in 2017. Outside music, Osbourne became a reality television star on the MTV show The Osbournes (2002–2005) alongside his family, and later co-starred in Ozzy & Jack's World Detour and The Osbournes Want to Believe. His wife Sharon also founded the annual heavy metal festival Ozzfest, held from 1996 to 2010.

Osbourne received numerous honours, including inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. He was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham Walk of Stars, and earned an Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2015. On 5 July 2025, Osbourne gave his final performance at the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, dying 17 days later on 22 July 2025.