10 facts about Ozzy Osbourne you probably didn’t know
Music Stars Contribute To Disaster Relief Single "Tears In Heaven" LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne pose for a portrait to promote the Tsunami relief charity single, a cover of the Sir Eric Clapton ballad "Tears In Heaven" , at a Los Angeles studio on January 22, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Other stars contributing to the single include Sir Elton John, Velvet Revolver, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Pink, Ozzie and Kelly Osbourne, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Robert Downey Jr., Phil Collins, Josh Groban and Aerosmith's Steve Tyler. The single is an initiative of Sharon Osbourne, and proceeds will go to benefit aid organization Save the Children's operations in tsunami-affected regions. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
ByJay Edwards
Just 17 days after his farewell performance, the “Prince of Darkness” has passed away at the age of 76. Whether you were his biggest fan or only knew the words to a few of his songs, you definitely knew the name Ozzy.
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Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years Here are some memorable photos of Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne through the years. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1973: Photo of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, from back left, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward (front) and Osbourne. (GAB Archive/Redferns via Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1978: Ozzy Osbourne, singer with the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, is seen here at home with his children, Jessica and Louis, on Aug. 19, 1978. (Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1981: Rock musician Ozzy Osbourne embraces his fiancee, Sharon Arden, in Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 1981. (AP Photo/Douglas Pizac)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1985: British heavy metal rock star Ozzy Osbourne performs at Rock in Rio, billed as the biggest rock music festival ever, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 20,1985. The 10-day event drew more than 1 million people. (AP Photo/Miro Nunes)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1985: Ozzy Osbourne, left, and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath perform during the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1986: Singer Ozzy Osbourne appears at news conference to tell reporters that his song "Suicide Solution" was misinterpreted and is anti-suicide in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 1986. (AP Photo/Lacy Atkins)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1989: Britain's Ozzy Osbourne and Jon Bon Jovi of U.S. band Bon Jovi arrive at Stansted airport, England, Aug. 9, 1989, en route to Moscow for a peace festival. (AP Photo/Tony White)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 1997: In this June 15, 1997, file photo, Ozzy Osbourne performs with Black Sabbath during the Ozzfest concert at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, file)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2001: Ozzy Osbourne at "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles on October 12, 2001. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2002: The Osbournes, Ozzy (left), Sharon, Jack and Kelly, are shown in this undated photo. MTV officials said March 4, 2002, that Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal rock star, and his family are the subject of a new MTV series, "The Osbournes." (Michael Yarish/MTV/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2003: Musicians Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne speak at the MTV Networks Upfront 2003 presentation to advertisers at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2003, in New York City. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2004: Musician Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne pose in the press room during the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 on November 18, 2004, at Tor di Valle in Rome, Italy. (Gareth Davies/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2005: Musical artist Ozzy Osbourne poses for a portrait to promote the Tsunami relief charity single, a cover of the Sir Eric Clapton ballad "Tears in Heaven," at a Los Angeles studio on January 22, 2005, in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2006: Musician Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, attend a press conference where they will unveil Hard Rock Cafe's latest T-shirt design, which was designed by Ozzy and all the proceeds will go to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation, on July 28, 2006, in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2007: Musicians Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Zakk Wylde perform onstage during Spike TV's Scream 2007 held at The Greek Theatre on October 19, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2008: Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne onstage during Spike TV's 2008 Scream awards held at the Greek Theater on October 18, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2009: Ozzy Osbourne performs during the Sunset Strip Music Festival at Sunset Boulevard on September 12, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2010: Musician Ozzy Osbourne receives the Outstanding Literary Achievement Award onstage during Spike TV's fourth annual Guys Choice Awards held at Sony Studios on June 5, 2010, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2011: Pop/R&B sensation Justin Bieber and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne pose on the set of Best Buy's inaugural Big Game commercial, in which they both star, on January 17, 2011, in Los Angeles. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Best Buy)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2012: Musician Ozzy Osbourne (left) and TV personality Sharon Osbourne arrive at the premiere of CBS Films' "Seven Psychopaths" at Mann Bruin Theatre on October 1, 2012, in Westwood, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2013: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath win the Event of the Year, Album of the Year 2013 and Living Legends Awards the Classic Rock Roll of Honour at the Roundhouse on November 14, 2013, in London. (Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2014: Recording artists Tony Iommi (left), Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath pose in the press room during the 56th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2015: TV Personality Sharon Osbourne and musician Ozzie Osbourne attend the 23rd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 22, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2016: Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs at Ozzfest 2016 at San Manuel Amphitheater on September 24, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for ABA)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2017: Singer Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Sharon Osbourne attend the Showtime, WME IME and Mayweather Promotions VIP Pre-Fight party for Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Showtime)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2018: Ozzy Osbourne announces "No More Tours 2" Final World Tour at his Los Angeles home on February 6, 2018. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2019: Ozzy Osbourne performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years 2020: Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Kelly Osbourne attend the 62nd annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years Musician Ozzy Osbourne performs during half-time of the 2022 NFL season opening game between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 08, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Photos: Ozzy Osbourne through the years FILE PHOTO: Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony streaming on Disney+ at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for The Rock and Ro)
In honor of his legacy and his amazing rock n’ roll career, here are 10 things about Ozzy that you might knot know:
1. John Michael Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, England, the 4th of six children to parents Jack and Lilian.
2. In his early childhood, Ozzy struggled with dyslexia which resulted in him dropping out of school at the age of 15 and he took a job working in a factory. Soon after, he joined back up with his friend from school, Geezer Butler, to play in several bands before finally forming what would become Black Sabbath in 1968.
3. After their tour in the Summer of 1978, Black Sabbath was coming off two albums that weren’t received as well as hoped, plus a tour that that had Van Halen stealing the show and this didn’t sit well with Ozzy. So, he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the rejection. On April 27, 1979, Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath. According to Loudwire, guitarist Tony Iommi said “We just couldn’t continue with Ozzy. As much as everyone wanted us to, we just couldn’t do it. Nothing was happening and it would have meant the end of the band. We didn’t want to fire him but we had to if we wanted to continue.”
4. Ronnie James Dio became the new frontman of Black Sabbath, after a recommendation from a woman named Sharon Arden, who was the manager of Black Sabbath’s daughter. That same Sharon Arden later on became Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife of 40+ years. Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath several times, lending his vocals to their final studio album titled “13.”
5. Ozzy’s debut solo album took his career to a whole new level with the release of “Blizzard of Ozz,” which included his mega hit “Crazy Train,” and “Mr. Crowley.” While “Crazy Train” is probably Ozzy’s most widely known song, it wasn’t his highest chart topper. That was was actually “Close My Eyes Forever,” the duet with Lita Ford that peaked at #8.
6. During his career, he has sold more than 100 million records worldwide as a member of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. During that time, Ozzy has accumulated 5 GRAMMY awards, 2 with Black Sabbath and 3 as a solo artist.
7. Ozzy is one of only 28 rockers that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and then again just recently in 2024 as a solo artist.
8. Back in 2003, we nearly lost Ozzy due a bad crash while riding an ATV at his estate in Birmingham. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Ozzy broke his collarbone, as well as eight fractured ribs that were pinching his blood vessels which put him into emergency surgery.
9. In March of 2022, Ozzy and his family turned on the cameras and put their entire life on MTV for the whole world to see, it was the birth of “The Osbournes.” While it only ran for 4 seasons over a 3 year span, it changed the world of reality TV and even won them an Emmy. It was the highest-rated series MTV ever had in their 20-year history.
10. On July 5, 2025, Ozzy took to the stage one last time for his farewell performance, “Back to the Beginning.” It was the first time Ozzy and original members of Black Sabbath performed together in two decades, as well as a solo set from Ozzy. That concert set a new record for the most money ever raised for charity at a single show. Ozzy helped raised nearly $200 million for three charities of his choice:
RIP Ozzy, your incredible music career and the legacy you have left behind will never be forgotten.
Jay Edwards
Jay Edwards is an Orlando native and proud to call Central Florida his home! He has lived in Seminole County since the age of 2 and attended school at Lake Brantley High School, Seminole Community College, and then graduated with a Radio/TV degree from UCF.
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