He called himself the “Prince of Darkness” and at times lived up to that reputation, whether it was biting the head off a bat or snorting a line of ants during a party, but Ozzy Osbourne also created a legacy of love with his family and fans.
The hell-raising rock star, who was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979, turned his life around with an incredible solo career and a pioneering reality TV show that spawned a whole new generation of fans
And throughout it all, the one constant was his wife Sharon, 72, who was by his side last Tuesday when he died peacefully at their Buckinghamshire mansion in England.
“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,” Sharon and his children announced the following day. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
GOODBYE, LEGEND
He and Sharon publicly announced Ozzy was suffering a form of Parkinson’s disease on Good Morning America in 2020, but his death still came as a shock with family and friends believing they still
had months, if not years, with the rock legend.
Everyone from rock superstars to royals expressed their sadness.
“A huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend,” posted Sir Elton John. Rockers AC/DC said it was “a great loss to all who loved him”. Even Fergie, the Duchess
of York said she was “heartbroken”.
Just three weeks ago, Ozzy, 76, performed live for the last time at the Back To The Beginning concert in his hometown of Birmingham, reuniting with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005.
“You have no idea how I feel,” an emotional Ozzy told the rapturous crowd of fans.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
LASTING LEGACY
His son Jack flew in from his Idaho home to see his dad in his last-ever performance, and his two older sisters, Aimee, 41, and Kelly, 40, also returned to Britain from Los Angeles to say farewell to their father. He also has three children, Elliot, 59, Louis, 50, and Jessica, 45, with his first wife Thelma Riley.
Ozzy, who left school at 15, always credited the Beatles with inspiring him to become a musician. He went on to become one of the most- successful rock stars ever, selling over 100 million albums and being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice.
His 10-year stint with Black Sabbath and his three-decades-long solo career cemented his place in history, but Ozzy also became a huge TV star in the early 2000s when he and Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack, starred in The Osbournes, one of the first-ever reality TV shows.
Running from 2002 to 2005, it became a cultural phenomenon, with millions tuning in to see the unfiltered portrayal of one of rock’s most famous families. This, and his many musical successes, helped Ozzy build a $335m fortune.
