In Memoriam
Ozzy Osbourne
December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025 · aged 76
Heavy Metal
John Michael 'Ozzy' Osbourne was the undisputed 'Prince of Darkness' and the terrifying, yet deeply beloved godfather of heavy metal. Born in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Osbourne first rose to infamy as the original frontman of Black Sabbath. With his haunting, wailing vocal style, he perfectly matched the band's doom-laden, down-tuned riffs, essentially creating the heavy metal genre with albums like 'Paranoid.' After being famously fired from Sabbath in 1979 due to extreme substance abuse, he launched a monumentally successful solo career, backed by the virtuosic guitar work of Randy Rhoads. Hits like 'Crazy Train' cemented his status as a permanent fixture in rock culture. Despite decades of legendary, often unbelievable rock-and-roll excess that pushed the absolute limits of human endurance, Osbourne survived to become a reality television pioneer in the early 2000s, endearing his chaotic, loving family to millions. He passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. Heavy metal has lost its immortal soul.
Milestones
Crazy Train, Paranoid, Iron Man
Chart legacy
Also remembered in 2025
- David Johansen (1950–2025)
- Garth Hudson (1937–2025)
- Marianne Faithfull (1946–2025)
- Roberta Flack (1937–2025)