Mourning Ozzy Osbourne
The former frontman of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath died on Tuesday at the age of 76.
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of the English band Black Sabbath, singer-songwriter, and TV personality, died on Tuesday at the age of 76. A pioneer of heavy metal music, Osbourne leaves behind a musical legacy spanning more than five decades. BMG manages the classic Black Sabbath song catalog outside North America.
Born in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne rose to fame in 1970 as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, a band whose dark, thunderous sound helped shape the emerging genre of heavy metal. With iconic tracks like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” the band’s early albums became classics for generations of rock fans. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1970, reached the Top 10 in the U.K. and No. 23 in the U.S. “Master of Reality” (1971), their most successful U.S. release, peaked at No. 8, followed by “Vol. 4” (1972) at No. 13 and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (1973) at No. 11.
Successful solo career from 1980
After parting ways with Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a successful solo career beginning with “Blizzard of Ozz” in 1980 and its hit single “Crazy Train,” ultimately selling more than 55 million albums worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, and again as a solo artist in 2024. Known for his distinctive vocal style and wild stage presence, Osbourne earned the nickname “Prince of Darkness” and inspired generations of musicians.
In the 2000s, the singer won over a whole new audience as the unexpected star of MTV’s “The Osbournes,” a hit reality show that offered an honest and often humorous look into his chaotic family life. Beyond music and television, Osbourne also left his mark on the live music scene by launching Ozzfest in 1996 – a touring festival that promoted heavy rock and metal bands for over two decades. Osbourne gave his final concert on July 5 of this year. The benefit event “Back To The Beginning” marked a powerful reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup in his hometown of Birmingham.
