On July 22, the legendary Prince of Darkness, the father of heavy metal and one of the genre’s defining vocalists, Ozzy Osbourne, passed away at age 76. His health had been declining for years after a slew of back injuries, several respiratory infections and Parkinson’s disease. Despite his poor health, Osbourne still managed to put on one final concert mere weeks before his death. The concert was a massive metal bonanza in England which saw Osbourne perform nine songs – five with his solo band and four with the band that started it all: Black Sabbath.
While 1980’s “Crazy Train” is probably his most well-known song, the England-born rock star’s most influential work came with Black Sabbath. The blues-rock and Beatles-inspired band from Birmingham, England, are almost unanimously considered to be the founders of heavy metal. Guitarist Tony Iommi suffered a factory accident which mangled his fingers, forcing him to change the level of slack his guitar strings allowed him, creating the dark sound of his guitar. That signature heavy sound along with horror-inspired lyrics brought one of the greatest six-album runs in music history. Starting with 1970’s self-titled album “Black Sabbath” and ending with 1975’s “Sabotage,” Sabbath wowed the world with their innovative sound. While some give Judas Priest or even Led Zeppelin the honor of “inventing metal,” critics like BBC say that Sabbath helped invent heavy metal.
Fans fell in love with Osbourne’s unique and tortured voice. The Grammy-winner’s delivery on tracks such as “Electric Funeral” and “Black Sabbath” was haunting, and when Black Sabbath came to America in the early 70s, fans were enamored not only by his voice, but also by his magnetic persona and wild stage antics.
After being kicked out of Sabbath due to excessive drug and alcohol use, Osbourne went on a bender, admitting at one point he likely would have overdosed in a hotel room if not for Sharon Arden – who later became Sharon Osbourne – getting him into shape.
“She wouldn’t take any crap,” he told the TODAY show during a 2011 interview. “I remember one occasion when we were in New York and I’m having a bad time with [drugs] and I said to Sharon I wanted someone to cuddle me and say, ‘It’s gonna be all right.’”
“I’d go to Sharon,” he added. ‘“I think I’m dying,’ and Sharon goes, ‘Die quietly, I got an appointment at 9 o’clock.’”
From there, Osbourne launched an earth-shattering solo career. His first two solo albums hit worldwide phenomena status, with his debut “Blizzard of Ozz” going five-time platinum and his follow-up album “Diary of a Madman” going triple platinum. The New Musical Express (NME)-award-winner and late guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads made magic on the two albums, which are still considered among fans as the best in metal’s history. Hits like the “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Flying High Again” and “Over the Mountain” pushed Osbourne’s popularity to new heights.
The crazy train kept rolling even after the tragic death of Rhoads. Classic albums released one after another, and the Osbourne band stayed a well-oiled machine – even with an often-changing group of musicians.
Guitarist Zakk Wylde joined the group in 1988 and helped power perhaps Osbourne’s greatest triumph, “No More Tears” – an album born from Osbourne’s newfound sobriety. While the LP spawned rockers such as “Won’t Be Coming Home (S.I.N.)” and “Desire,” the ballads took center stage. “Road To Nowhere” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home” are incredibly touching pieces, and have both been used as tributes to the rock legend since his passing.
Osbourne’s career continued long past his first retirement which was announced in 1992. Black Sabbath reunions, new solo albums and an infamous reality show all awaited the influential artist. His reach extends far beyond metal, with those who are not a fan of the genre even knowing hits like “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” “Iron Man,” “Paranoid” and “Children of the Grave,” as well as “The Osbournes” reality show introducing a new generation to the Osbourne family.
On a personal note, Osbourne’s music has been the soundtrack to my life since I was in kindergarten, I will never forget sitting in my dad’s car with my jaw on the ground as “Iron Man” blared through the speakers. Getting to see him on his actual final tour in 2018 is a memory that I will forever cherish. His passing hit me harder than I thought it would, but the music lives on forever. On his 2020 album, he performed a piano duet with Elton John, and a line in the chorus has resonated even more since his death:
“The truth is I don’t want to die an ordinary man.”
Osbourne was incredibly flawed – notorious for his infidelity and addiction issues – but also a gentle soul who understood his pitfalls. He eventually became sober for his family, was incredibly generous to charities around the globe and was often cited as one of the kindest musicians when it came to fan interactions, especially with children.
However, beyond his personal life, Osbourne was a titan. Not only was he a founding father of one of the world’s biggest music genres, but he stayed relevant until his death, which came 55 years after Black Sabbath’s debut album. Worshipped by metalheads everywhere, the reality television star made his mark for all time. Other legendary bands have openly stated they would not exist if not for Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
“If there was no Black Sabbath, there would be no Metallica,” said drummer Lars Ulrich when inducting the band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. “If there was no Black Sabbath, hard rock and heavy metal as we know it today would look, sound and be shaped very, very differently.”
For all those reasons, Osbourne is so much more than an ordinary man, and he will be remembered as what he was: a larger-than-life human who, despite his flaws, brought joy to millions of people.
