Latest news with #music legend
Screen Geek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Screen Geek
Ozzy Osbourne Dead At Age 76
Ozzy Osbourne has sadly been confirmed dead at age 76. The heavy metal legend had just finished a final farewell concert for fans, and now his family has issued a statement to confirm his passing just several weeks later. Osbourne passed away on the morning of July 22, following several years of ongoing health battles including a diagnosis of Parkinson's he revealed in 2020. Here's what his family had to say regarding his death: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.' The 76-year-old heavy metal star, who helped pioneer the aforementioned genre of music with his band Black Sabbath, recently had a final concert titled ' Back to the Beginning ' on July 5. Sadly, it occurred only a few weeks ago, and in a location at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England, which is near where the band first originated in 1968. The concert was notable even prior to Osbourne's death, especially for being what was said to be his final show, one which he performed while seated at a throne due to his poor health. The event was a massive success, however, and the event sported a large audience both in person and online via pay per view. It's certainly a devastating time in the history of music for Ozzy Osbourne to be dead, especially with the artist having spent so much of his life pioneering new styles of music and iconic songs. Fortunately, he was always adamant about wanting to give a final show prior to his death, and it seems as though he got his wish. Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, as well as their children, Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and his two older children, Jessica and Louis, who were form his previous marriage with Thelma Riley.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
How did the ‘Prince of Darkness' impact the music industry?
Watch Music commentator Eric Alper says the 'world is a lot more boring' following the death of heavy metal legend and Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne.
Geek Vibes Nation
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Ozzy Osbourne: A Legacy of Music, Reality TV, And Film
The Prince of Darkness Dies at 76 world said goodbye to John Michael 'Ozzy' Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath. He was 76. His family confirmed the news, sharing that Ozzy passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. His death follows a long battle with Parkinson's and chronic health issues, closing the final chapter on a career that reshaped music, television, and pop culture. From heavy metal icon to reality TV pioneer, Ozzy's influence is unmatched — loud, unpredictable, and unforgettable. Today, the, the legendary frontman of. He was 76. His family confirmed the news, sharing that Ozzy passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. His death follows a long battle with Parkinson's and chronic health issues, closing the final chapter on a career that reshaped music, television, and pop culture. From heavy metal icon to reality TV pioneer, Ozzy's influence is unmatched — loud, unpredictable, and unforgettable. Forging the Sound of Heavy Metal Born in Birmingham, England on December 3, 1948, Osbourne's early life gave little clue of the legacy he'd build. That all changed in 1968 when he co-founded Black Sabbath with Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Tony Iommi. Named after a Boris Karloff horror film, the band developed a slow, ominous sound that laid the groundwork for heavy metal. Albums like Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) introduced a new kind of sonic darkness — and Ozzy's ghostly vocals made it unforgettable. Dubbed the 'Prince of Darkness' for his theatrical stage presence and wild reputation, Ozzy was just as beloved for his offstage sincerity. After parting ways with Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, he launched a solo career that began with Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and never let up. He also created Ozzfest, a festival that grossed over $100 million and helped put countless hard rock and metal bands on the map. His final live performance — a Black Sabbath reunion on July 5, 2025, in his hometown — saw him seated on a throne, offering a heartfelt farewell to a crowd of 40,000. Changing TV Forever with The Osbournes In 2002, Ozzy once again broke new ground — this time in reality TV. MTV's The Osbournes, which ran until 2005, gave viewers a fly-on-the-wall look at his eccentric family life with wife Sharon and kids Jack and Kelly. The show was loud, messy, and deeply relatable, turning Ozzy into a baffled-yet-lovable dad figure and launching a new era of celebrity reality shows. Unlike many of its successors, The Osbournes felt real — sometimes painfully so. The series didn't shy away from Sharon's cancer battle or Ozzy's near-fatal ATV crash. The show quickly became MTV's most-watched program and even won a 2002 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program. In a 2023 interview with Spin, Ozzy recalled: 'What you saw was what really went on. It wasn't contrived.' That raw honesty helped the series pave the way for shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but it also set a standard few have matched. Ozzy later appeared in Osbournes Reloaded (2009), a variety show, and Ozzy & Jack's World Detour (2016–2018), a travel documentary series with his son. A planned BBC docuseries, Home to Roost, was announced in 2022 but remains unreleased due to his declining health. From Soundtracks to Cameos: A Pop Culture Fixture Ozzy's voice wasn't just made for records — it helped shape movie soundtracks and gave life to a number of film roles. His music enhanced iconic moments in films like *Iron Man*, *School of Rock*, and *Almost Famous*, while his quirky and sometimes eerie persona lent itself perfectly to the screen. Here are some of his standout appearances: Trick or Treat (1986): Played a reverend in his feature film debut, poking fun at his own 'satanic' image. Played a reverend in his feature film debut, poking fun at his own 'satanic' image. The Jerky Boys (1995): Took on the role of a rock band manager. Took on the role of a rock band manager. Private Parts (1997): Brief but memorable cameo in the Howard Stern biopic. Brief but memorable cameo in the Howard Stern biopic. Little Nicky (2000): Appeared as himself in a scene with flying bats — naturally. Appeared as himself in a scene with flying bats — naturally. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002): Joined the family in a cheeky send-up of their reality TV fame. Joined the family in a cheeky send-up of their reality TV fame. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) and Sherlock Gnomes (2018): Voiced the character Fawn, proving he could be kid-friendly, too. Voiced the character Fawn, proving he could be kid-friendly, too. Ghostbusters (2016): Popped up in a fun cameo. Popped up in a fun cameo. Trolls World Tour (2020): Voiced King Thrash, the hard-rock villain. Voiced King Thrash, the hard-rock villain. We Need to Do Something (2021): Voiced 'Good Boy' in a dark, surreal horror film. See also Arrow Video's July Releases Include A Sylvester Stallone Classic, Nordic Noir, Cult Favorite Body Horror & More Ozzy also appeared in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013) and was the subject of the intimate 2011 documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, produced by his son Jack. A biopic based on his memoir I Am Ozzy is in development at Sony, with Ozzy hoping the lead role goes to a talented unknown British actor. He made guest appearances on shows ranging from The Talk to Sesame Street, showing off the full range of his personality. Fans online continue to hail The Osbournes as one of the greatest reality shows ever and praise Ozzy for transcending generations. Leaving a Legacy That Won't Be Forgotten Ozzy Osbourne's influence can't be overstated. He didn't just help create heavy metal — he became its face. Artists like Billy Corgan and John Darnielle credit him as a major influence, and his honesty and vulnerability on reality TV helped change public perceptions of rock stars. He leaves behind his wife Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and a growing number of grandchildren — not to mention millions of devoted fans around the world. His final concert film, Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow, is set to be released in 2026. It promises to celebrate both his life and the enduring power of Black Sabbath. Though the Prince of Darkness has taken his final bow, his music, his image, and his voice will live on. Forever loud. Sources: The New York Times, Wikipedia, Ozzy Osbourne Official Site, The Mirror US, IndieWire, People, Hollywood Reporter, IMDb, TV Guide, EBSCO, American Songwriter, Yahoo Share your favorite Ozzy memory — whether from the stage, the screen, or the small screen — in the comments below. Let's honor a legend together.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Frontman and Heavy Metal Legend, Dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, a founding father of British heavy metal, a latter-day solo star and a new-millennium reality TV luminary, died Tuesday after a yearslong struggle with Parkinson's disease. He was 76. Osbourne's death was confirmed by the BBC. He had performed just two weeks ago at what was billed as Black Sabbath's last concert, a festival titled 'Back to the Beginning,' in his and the band's hometown of Birmingham, England, that amounted to a massive tribute to the legendary band, including from such legendary spiritual offspring as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice in Chains and more. A statement from his family reads: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' In January 2020, following two years of escalating health problems, Osbourne announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In February 2023, he issued a statement saying that he was retiring from touring, citing spinal injuries he had sustained in a 2018 accident. He said, '[I]n all good conscience, I have now come to the realization that I'm not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/U.K. tour dates, as I know I couldn't deal with the travel required. Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really FUCKS ME UP, more than you will ever know. 'Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way.' From 1969-79, Osbourne was the head-banging front man for the Birmingham, England-based Black Sabbath, which codified the bottom-heavy, churning sound and lyrical demonology that would course through dozens of metal bands to come. Though the group's history was a chaotic one characterized by monumental substance abuse and tumultuous in-fighting, its early albums survive as classics of the genre. On the occasion of Black Sabbath's 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, critic Deborah Frost wrote, 'Black Sabbath simply oozed upon us, unfestooned by any pretense of art, peace, love, understanding, or mushroom embroidery, and immediately defined heavy metal.' Fired from Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a solo career of his own that surpassed the success of his former band. His groups launched Zakk Wylde and the late Randy Rhoads as metal guitar stars. His popularity among metal fans was so immense that his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne built a touring festival, Ozzfest, around him; it became one of the biggest box office attractions of the '90s and attracted a glittering lineup of support acts. Osbourne garnered additional fame early in the new millennium as the addled paterfamilias of 'The Osbournes,' an MTV reality series that focused its lens on the rock star's home life. New York Times TV critic Caryn James wrote of the show's second-season bow in 2002, 'The Osbournes remain a wacky, harmlessly outrageous variation on Everyfamily, as full of warmth as they are of weirdness: Ozzy the trembling Goth-looking Dad, Sharon the expletive-spouting Mum, [daughter] Kelly the pudgy would-be singer and [son] Jack the unformed belligerent adolescent.' Plagued by lifelong battles with drug addiction and alcohol, and sometimes blatantly out of it on stage, the unpredictable Osbourne was a magnet for trouble and a lightning rod for controversy. His late tenure with Black Sabbath was marked by a concert no-show that turned into a riot. Most infamously, he stunned CBS record execs at a 1981 meeting, held at the company's L.A. headquarters to promote his debut solo album, by drunkenly biting off the head of a live dove. A similar episode involving a live bat transpired at a 1982 show in Des Moines, Iowa, necessitating a rabies shot. Seemingly intent on living his musical fantasies of violence and horror off-stage, he had an especially tumultuous relationship with second wife Sharon. They became a tabloid staple for their oft-violent domestic quarrels; after one altercation in 1989, Osbourne was arrested for attempted murder. But the couple would always reconcile. He was born James Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on Dec. 3, 1948. One of six children in a working-class family, he performed in secondary-school operettas and was later an early fan of the Beatles. After dropping out of school at 15, he was a manual laborer and turned briefly to petty crime, drawing a six-week jail sentence for burglary. At the age of 19, he partnered with bassist Terence 'Geezer' Butler as the vocalist in an unsuccessful local band; they were soon joined by two former members of Mythology, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. Originally known as Earth, the quartet was forced to change its handle after they learned of a like-named group; the musicians selected Black Sabbath, after director Mario Bava's 1963 horror anthology. Signed to Philips Records in the U.K. (and subsequently to Warner Bros. Records in the U.S.), Black Sabbath issued its debut album in 1970 – fittingly, on Friday the 13th. Though the murky, morbid LP was widely reviled by the press, it became a top-10 hit in Britain and climbed to No. 23 in the U.S. A swiftly recorded and released follow-up, 'Paranoid,' put the band firmly on the map on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the English charts and reaching No. 12 stateside. It contained several heavy-riffing numbers, with lyrics penned by Butler and yowled convincingly by Osbourne, which helped define the metal sound: 'War Pigs,' 'Paranoid,' 'Hand of Doom' and what ultimately became the group's best-known signature, 'Iron Man.' The original lineup issued its highest-charting release, 'Master of Reality,' in 1971; the set, which climbed to No. 8 in America, included 'Sweet Leaf,' a crowd-pleasing ode to pot smoking. The band diversified its sound on 'Vol. 4' (No. 13, 1972), which featured a surprising Osbourne ballad vocal, 'Changes,' and the widely admired 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' (No. 11, 1973), distinguished by a more thrashing attack and a couple of purely instrumental tracks. By the mid-'70s, Osbourne and his band mates were at loose ends. The singer's heavy consumption of drugs and alcohol had led to the collapse of his first marriage (during which he fathered daughter Jessica and son Louis), and the other Sabbath members all were indulging their own vices heavily. The group's problems led to a marked drop-off in musical quality and record sales. 'Sabotage' (1975) peaked at No. 28 in the U.S., while its successor 'Technical Ecstasy' (1976), recorded amid distractions in Miami, managed a weak No. 51. In the wake of making the troublesome latter album, Osbourne bolted the group in 1977 and embarked on a solo project, Blizzard of Ozz, and was replaced by singer Dave Walker of Savoy Brown. However, he swiftly changed his mind and returned to the Sabbath fold for a dismal collection ironically titled 'Never Say Die!' Released amid the game-changing punk revolt in 1978, the decidedly old-fangled album topped out at No. 69. It was followed by a disastrous Sabbath tour of Europe and the U.S., opened by the young Pasadena band Van Halen. A melee erupted at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium after Osbourne overslept and failed to make the show. Enraged by Osbourne's disinterest and lack of discipline, the other members of Black Sabbath fired their vocalist in early 1979, replacing him with Ronnie James Dio. The recruitment of Dio was suggested by Sharon Arden, daughter of Sabbath's manager, Don Arden. She had met Osbourne as a teenager, and, not long after the singer's dismissal from the band, the two began dating. She was instrumental in assembling Osbourne's solo band, and soon took over as his personal manager. (She would marry the musician in 1982.) His Epic Records solo bow 'Blizzard of Ozz' (1980) restored Osbourne's commercial fortunes and introduced the dynamic lead guitarist Randy Rhoads. The album peaked at No. 21 domestically and ultimately went quadruple-platinum, and contained one of Osbourne's latter-day signatures, 'Crazy Train.' Another of the album's tracks, 'Suicide Solution' prompted a lawsuit by the parents of an American teen who said the song prompted their son to kill himself in 1984; the case – which preceded a similar accusation later leveled against U.K. metal band Judas Priest — was ultimately dismissed. The sophomore solo release 'Diary of a Madman' (1981) bested its predecessor on the charts, rising to No. 16, and shifted 3 million copies. However, Osbourne suffered a serious blow when Rhoads was killed in 1982 when the private plane carrying him crashed in Florida. A half-hearted live album of Sabbath covers, 'Speak of the Devil' (No. 21, 1982), was hurriedly released after a subsequent tour with a temporary replacement for Rhoads. ('Tribute,' a live Osbourne album featuring the late guitarist, reached No. 6 in 1987.) Following his first post-Rhoads releases 'Bark at the Moon' (No. 24, 1983) and 'The Ultimate Sin' (No. 6, 1986), Osbourne scored his only hit single: 'Close My Eyes Forever,' a duet with former Runaways guitarist Lita Ford, which reached No. 6 in 1988. On his own, he found a winning combination after Zakk Wylde, a former member of the New Jersey metal unit Stonehenge, took the guitar chair. His creative playing powered 'No Rest For the Wicked' (No. 13, 1988), 'No More Tears' (No. 7, 1991), the 1993 concert set 'Live & Loud' (which included Osbourne's only solo Grammy winner, 'I Don't Want to Change the World') and 'Ozzmosis' (No. 4, 1995). Osbourne staged a 'retirement' tour following the latter album, but re-emerged quicker than Frank Sinatra. In 1996, after Osbourne's services were declined by the Lollapalooza Festival, Sharon Osbourne hit on the idea of mounting a metal fest centered around Ozzy's participation. Mounted for just two days in Arizona and California, Ozzfest was a smashing success, and became a top-grossing U.S. and U.K. touring event that attracted most of the top names in metal (including, in later years, a regrouped Black Sabbath). Osbourne made a brief return to the Sabbath fold in 1998, after a couple of one-off on-stage reunions, for the live set 'Reunion.' The two-disc release, which featured all four original members, included two new bonus studio recordings. It peaked at No. 11 nationally, and captured a best metal performance Grammy for its concert rendition of 'Iron Man.' In 2001, Osbourne's first studio recording in six years, 'Down to Earth,' shot to No. 4; its personnel included bassist Robert Trujillo, who exited the group to join Metallica, one of the many younger bands taking a page from the Ozzy playbook. Osbourne split his activities during the first half of the '00s between touring and work on 'The Osbournes.' The reality skein, which collected a 2002 Emmy Award, featured Ozzy, Sharon and two of their three children. (Daughter Aimee declined to participate in the series.) The metal equivalent of 'Ozzie and Harriet,' the comedic look at rock 'n' roll domesticity became MTV's highest rated reality show. 'Under Cover,' 2005's rendering of songs by the Beatles, Mountain, Mott the Hoople and Cream, among others, found no favor with Osbourne fans, climbing no higher than No. 134. But the all-original sets 'Black Rain' (2007) and 'Scream' (2010), restored the singer to chart primacy, peaking at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Predictably, plans for a plotted album and tour by the four original Black Sabbath members did not run smoothly. Announced with a flourish at a Whisky a Go Go press conference in late 2011, the reunion was postponed after Tony Iommi – the only constant in the band's lineup – was diagnosed with lymphoma. Recording sessions were moved to the guitarist's home in England, but then drummer Ward, disgruntled by financial terms of the contract, backed out. Produced by Rick Rubin, with Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine sitting in for Ward, 2012's 'Black Sabbath' shot to No. 1 simultaneously on the U.K. and U.S. album charts, a first in the band's 44-year history. Its track 'God is Dead?' collected the best metal performance Grammy. It was succeeded by two years of dates in the Europe, America, Japan, Latin America, and the U.S. An album and tour, featuring the same lineup and both titled 'The End,' marked the last run for the band in 2016-17. Osbourne and Black Sabbath called it quits with a Feb. 4, 2017, date in their hometown of Birmingham. Osbourne issued two popular late-career solo albums, 'Ordinary Man' (No. 3 in the U.S., 2020) and 'Patient Number 9' (No. 2, 2022). A new reality show starring the Osbourne family, 'Home to Roost,' documenting their return to the U.K. after 25 years in the U.S., was announced by the BBC in late 2022. He is survived by his wife and five children.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Ozzy Osbourne is dead: Black Sabbath singer dies 'surrounded by love' aged 76
has died 'surrounded by love' at the age of 76, a statement from his family said. Whether it was biting the head off both a bat and a dove, snorting a line of ants or urinating on a US war memorial whilst wearing one of his wife Sharon's dresses, Osbourne was defined by his antics both on and off stage. The Black Sabbath frontman was a titan of music who somehow survived controversies that would end the careers of many others, and weathered health problems that would leave most of us on our backs. But even the Prince of Darkness could not resist mortality forever. The death of the man who invented headbanging ends the final chapter of a life that was marked by both dizzying success and fame but also scandal, abuse and even prison time. The singer, who sold more than 100 million records, will forever be synonymous with the heavy metal band he formed in his home city of Birmingham with Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler in 1969. With hits that included Iron Man, War Pigs and Paranoid, Black Sabbath's pushing of occult themes proved both hugely popular and controversial, with a future pope even condemning Osbourne for his 'subliminal satanic influence'. Osbourne's most infamous moment came when he bit the head off a bat that had been thrown on stage during a solo performance. He later claimed he thought it was made of rubber. After being thrown out of the band in 1979 due to his drug-fuelled antics, Osbourne forged a hugely successful solo career, with hits that included Crazy Train and Hellraiser. But his hellraising off stage continued. In 1989 he attempted to kill Sharon while high on drugs, and seven years before that he urinated on the treasured Alamo Cenotaph in Texas, an act that saw him banned from San Antonio for a decade. He was also injured in a quad bike crash at his UK home in 2003, an episode that had a serious impact on his fragile health. Yet there was also redemption for the troubled singer, who relaunched himself as a reality tv star in The Osbournes in the early 2000s, after getting clean from drink and drugs with the help of Sharon. It saw two of his and Sharon's children, Kelly and Jack, become stars in their own right, whilst their other daughter Aimee declined to appear. There was a return too to Black Sabbath in 1997, when the original line-up got back together. Five years later, he and Iommi were an unlikely part of the star-studded lineup at the Queen's Golden Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, where they performed Paranoid. Osbourne's final performance with Black Sabbath came in 2025, when he reunited with his bandmates for a final gig at Aston Villa's Villa Park stadium in Birmingham. Having then suffered from Parkinson's disease for more than five years, he was seated for much of the farewell performance. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, the singer was raised by his parents Lilian and John with three older sisters and two younger brothers in a small two-bedroom home in Birmingham. The family of eight grew up poor and Ozzy said it was difficult because his parents were always fighting about money. Their strained marriage meant Ozzy did not speak to his parents after he was repeatedly sexually abused, aged 11, by two bullies. He said in a later interview: 'I was afraid to tell my father or mother and it completely f***ed me up. Dirty little secrets fester and that is one of the first things I said to my kids.' Aged 14, Osbourne tried to hang himself and was only saved by his father. He was a persistent truant from school and suffered from both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, whilst his violent streak made an early appearance when he once attacked a teacher with an iron bar. The only subject that caught his attention at school was music and he performed in several productions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Osbourne left education at 15 and found work as a labourer and abattoir worker. He admitted later that he 'loved killing animals'. However, Osbourne then turned to petty crime. After stealing a television and baby clothes just before his 18th birthday, he was arrested and spent six weeks behind bars because his father refused to pay his £40 fine. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, the singer was raised by his parents Lilian and John with three older sisters and two younger brothers in a small two-bedroom home in Birmingham Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne attend the Pride of Britain awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on September 28, 2015 in London It was while in prison that Osbourne gave himself his first tattoo: 'OZZY' in capital letters on the knuckles of his left hand. He formed his first band, Rare Breed, at 19 with bassist Geezer Butler. When the pair fell out with their bandmates, they joined Iommi and Ward to set up Black Sabbath in 1968, which was first named Earth. They renamed the band in 1969 in tribute to their favourite horror film. The move set Osbourne, Iommi and Ward on the path to heavy metal royalty. The group quickly established a reputation for dabbling with satanic and occult themes. One early critic wrote: 'His baroque prophesies of doom were uttered against a background of a uniquely heavy guitar sound.' Their first album, which was simply called Black Sabbath, opened with the sound of a tolling church bell and featured the lyrics: 'Leave the Earth to Satan and his slaves'. It was this dark theme that prompted the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – who went on to become the Pope – to condemn the self-styled Prince of Darkness for his 'subliminal satanic influence' and urge him to stop performing 'satanic rituals' at concerts because they could 'bring harm' to audiences. Black Sabbath's second album, Paranoid, featured some of their biggest commercial hits, including Iron Man, War Pigs and the title track. The band continued their success with five consecutive platinum-selling albums in the US in three years. Black Sabbath's impact on music itself was enormous. They brought a heavy metal genre that had been in its infancy when they began to the attention of millions of fans. Their influence was so wide-ranging that critics have even argued that individual songs – such as 1970's Electric Funeral and 1971 hit Children of the Grave – helped to form sub-genres of metal. This was despite the fact that guitarist Iommi had – years before Black Sabbath was formed – lost two of his fingertips in an accident at the sheet metal factory where he worked. It meant that he had to compensate by wearing plastic fingertips and slackening the strings of his instrument. But Iommi turned that trauma to his advantage by producing a distinctive sound that ran through the band's songs. Speaking in a 2005 interview, fellow heavy metal musician Rob Zombie outlined the band's impact. 'Every cool riff has already been written by Black Sabbath. Anything everyone else does is just basically ripping it off. Either you're playing it slightly different or fast or slow, but... they did everything already,' he said. Black Sabbath signed Don Arden as their manager after the unexpected success of Paranoid. The decision was a life changing one for Ozzy who who would go on to marry Sharon, Arden's daughter, on July 4, 1982. He deliberately chose the US's Independence Day so he would never forget the anniversary. After having daughter Aimee, now 38, in 1983, the couple went on to have Kelly, 37, in 1984, and Jack, 36, in 1985. Prior to his union with Sharon, Osbourne had been married to first wife Thelma Riley for 11 years, from 1971 until 1982. The pair had children Jessica and Louis together, whilst Osbourne also adopted Thelma's son Elliot. Osbourne later said that his first marriage had been a mistake because of his constant touring and drug abuse. He also admitted to being 'abusive' to Thelma. He said later: 'I was totally abusive to my first wife. Physical abuse, mental abuse – you name it, I did it. 'I hit her big time and I was a complete idiot.' As Black Sabbath became more popular, Ozzy's drug problem became increasingly disruptive. He was fired in 1979 after the band decided his addiction made him too unreliable. After being sacked Ozzy was devastated and spiralled out of control. He said: 'I'd got £96,000 for my share of the name, so I'd just locked myself away and spent three months doing coke and booze. 'My thinking was, 'This is my last party, because after this I'm going back to Birmingham and the dole'.' But Ozzy was offered a solo deal by his former manager, who tasked Sharon with looking after him. His first album, Blizzard of Ozz, was a commercial hit and included the single Crazy Train. Ozzy wanted to release doves into the sky as a sign of peace after signing the deal. But, in typical Ozzy style, he was high at the meeting with record executives and instead bit a dove's head off. A year later, he was in the headlines for the wrong reasons again. In an effort to stop him going on drunken walks, Sharon decided to hide Ozzy's clothes but he was undeterred and wore her dress to go out. Ozzy eventually needed the toilet and urinated on the Cenotaph at the Alamo, the sight of a historic battle in Texas. He was quickly arrested and banned from San Antonio for a decade. The infamous biting off the head of a bat came at the beginning of 1982, during a performance in Des Moines, Iowa. How Sharon Osbourne transformed her husband from violent pariah to reality TV star Sharon Osbourne helped to turn her husband's life around after his troubles with drink and drugs culminated in an attempt to kill her in 1989. Osbourne later said that Sharon would not just 'sit down and take' his physical abuse, but would 'return it knock for knock'. She agreed not to press charges after the strangling episode and the singer was released on the understanding that he entered rehabilitation for his addiction problems. Sharon forgave her husband's violent episodes and helped transform him from a pariah to a music legend. This was despite his admissions to having cheated on her with Black Sabbath groupies. One testament to her efforts was the creation of the annual Ozzfest festival in the 1990s, which proved hugely lucrative. Sharon too came up with the idea for the fly-on-the-wall documentary about her family that was filmed at their Beverly Hills home. It proved a major hit for US network MTV, running between 2002 and 2005. Osbourne said later: 'If it wasn't for Sharon I'd be dead by now, without a doubt. 'Career-wise, I would definitely be dead – and I would almost certainly have been physically dead as well. 'She was the first person in my life who ever came along and gave me any encouragement.' He added: 'She made me grow up, and I just fell in love with her because she's great. She sorted out all the business because, with business, I like to do as little as possible.' A fan had thrown the dead creature on stage and Osbourne, believing it was fake, bit into it. He had to be treated with a series of painful rabies shots. His troubles with alcohol and drugs reached crisis point in 1989, when Osbourne attempted to strangle Sharon. He later said that Sharon would not just 'sit down and take' his physical abuse, but would 'return it knock for knock'. She agreed not to press charges after the strangling episode and the singer was released on the understanding that he entered rehabilitation for his addiction problems. But it was from this dark episode that a turning point came in Osbourne's chaotic life. Sharon forgave her husband's violent episodes and helped transform him from a pariah to a music legend. This was despite his admissions to having cheated on her with Black Sabbath groupies. One testament to her efforts was the creation of the annual Ozzfest festival in the 1990s, which proved hugely lucrative. Sharon too came up with the idea for the fly-on-the-wall documentary about her family that was filmed at their Beverly Hills home. It proved a major hit for US network MTV, running between 2002 and 2005. Aimee however refused to take part and criticised her parents for their antics, despite the fact that the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Programme. It covered major events including Sharon's 2002 colon cancer diagnosis and Osbourne's quad bike crash in 2003. Sharon survived the cancer battle despite a poor prognosis. Osbourne admitted that he 'fell apart' during his wife's treatment, whilst Jack tried to take his own life due to the impact of his mother's condition on his mental health. The quad bike crash happened at his UK home in Buckinghamshire. The star's heart stopped beating and he also broke his collar bone, eight ribs and neck vertebra. The sign of Sharon's crucial influence came when Osbourne said later: 'If it wasn't for Sharon I'd be dead by now, without a doubt. 'Career-wise, I would definitely be dead – and I would almost certainly have been physically dead as well. 'She was the first person in my life who ever came along and gave me any encouragement.' He added: 'She made me grow up, and I just fell in love with her because she's great. She sorted out all the business because, with business, I like to do as little as possible.' Along with Iommi, Osbourne performed Paranoid – Black Sabbath's most famous song – at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Osbourne was shocked by the invitation to appear. 'I hardly think of myself as royal material,' he said. 'My wife told me, and I thought 'You're pulling my leg.'' Above: The star meeting The Queen during the event Ozzy and Sharon are seen putting their love for each other on display at the Pride of Britain awards in 2017. The singer repeatedly said how his lifestyle would have killed him if it wasn't for his wife's help Osbourne and Sharon turned themselves and their children into TV stars with their documentary The Osbournes. Above: The singer with Sharon and Kelly in 2020 Sharon has forged her own career as a TV star, most famously as a judge on hit talent show the X Factor. She now hosts chat show The Talk on Talk TV. Osbourne rejoined Black Sabbath in 1997 after he and the band's other members had performed together at Ozzfest that year. Along with Iommi, Osbourne performed Paranoid – Black Sabbath's most famous song – at the Queen's Golden Jubliee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Osbourne was shocked by the invitation to appear. 'I hardly think of myself as royal material,' he said. 'My wife told me, and I thought 'You're pulling my leg.'' In 2013, he helped to record the group's final studio album, 13, which was released in 2013, after the band's original line-up had gotten back together in 2011. Their farewell tour – titled The End – was brought to a close with a performance in Birmingham in 2017. Afterwards, Osbourne continued performing as a solo act, with his most recent album release, Ordinary Man, coming in February 2020. However, his health problems continued to haunt him. He had to cancel shows in 2019 after a fall left him needing surgery on his neck. Sharon is seen with her husband and daughter Kelly in Los Angeles in 2020. The singer was by then suffering from Parkinson's disease Black Sabbath's solo tour - The End - saw them perform in locations across the world. Above: Osbourne with Butler, Iommi and Tommy Clufetos, who filled in for original drummer Ward The band's farewell tour – titled The End – was brought to a close with a performance in Birmingham in 2017. Above: The cover of the band's last album, 13 After Black Sabbath carried out their final tour, Osbourne continued performing as a solo act, with his most recent album release, Ordinary Man, coming in February 2020. Above: The singer on stage at the American Music Awards in 2019 Osbourne is pictured eating an ice cream in hospital after his June 2022 operation, which his wife Sharon would 'determine the rest of his life' The frail star is pictured in May 2022 shortly before he went into hospital for his major back operation He began to experience numbness which he thought was connected to his accident but in January 2020 Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. His son Jack, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, was one of the first to realise something was wrong. The star underwent major spinal surgery in June 2022, which Sharon later said had been a success. In an update on Instagram, she said: 'Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy 's surgery!' 'Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery! Your love means the world to him.' To help him recover, the family lodged plans for a rehab wing at their Buckinghamshire mansion. The extension was to feature a self-contained nurse's flat as well as 'discreet grab rails and aids' and 'an abundance of stopping and sitting spaces'. The plans also included a 'health and exercise studio' as well as a 'pool house orangery' and 'garden room'. In September 2023, he had yet another operation, this time on his neck once again. He said afterwards that it was his 'last procedure'. Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he added: 'I can't believe I've come to the end of it. The main thing is over now, I'm done with the surgery.' The conversation reflected an enduring interest in one of Britain's most famous music stars. Speaking in 1996 about what his epitaph might be, Osbourne summed up his life in just a few words. 'The thing is, whatever else I do, my epitaph will be 'Ozzy Osbourne, born December 3, 1948. Died, whenever. And he bit the head off a bat'.'
