The darkness he knew well came on time, but John Michael Osbourne, aka Ozzy Osbourne, was expecting it and passed away peacefully. The king of heavy metal died at the age of 76—a life over the edge, drugs, alcohol, prison, a damned soul consumed and fragile. In 2020, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and he died prematurely. Breaking the news was the family in a painful statement: his wife, Sharon, along with their children, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, all stood by Ozzy until the end.

Black Sabbath and Solo Career

With Ozzy Osbourne goes a piece of heavy music history. Controversial and damned personality on and off the stage. He earned a reputation as “the prince of darkness.” He is considered the godfather of heavy metal, a title he shares with guitarist Tony Iommi, co-founder of Black Sabbath. The historic heavy metal band with bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. A poker of greats together from 1968 until 1979, when Ozzy was fired. A decade of hard rock turned legend. Osbourne then began a solo career, but the bond with his band has never been severed.

Two weeks ago, in Birmingham at Villa Park, the stadium of Aston Villa, the soccer team for which Ozzy was madly passionate, the same as Prince William, there was a farewell concert for the king of heavy metal. At the reunion with Black Sabbath, the entire metal world was there: the most prominent names who came to pay tribute to the godfather who, unequivocally, in his own way, made history.

The maestro surprised the thousands of fans with a masterful entrance: seated on a sombre black throne. The 190 million dollar proceeds were donated to charity: part went to Parkinson’s associations and part to the children’s ward of Birmingham Hospital.

Fifty million records sold with Black Sabbath, officially disbanded in 2017, as many as with his solo projects. In 2024, he was also named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The link and tribute to the Beatles

“Imagine you go to bed today and the world is in black and white, then you wake up and everything is in color.” With these words, Osbourne described the effect it had on him to hear a great Beatles hit for the first time. The Fab Four’s music had managed to bring color into the black-and-white life of the Lord of Darkness. So, listening to She Loves You, the then 14-year-old Ozzy understood that music was what he was meant to do. “I don’t know what happened, that’s how ‘Bang’ came. It was amazing,” Osbourne recounts.

Despite quarrels with his family, especially his father, who believed the Beatles were a bad influence on younger people, young John Michael chose the music route. So strong was the desire to do what John Lennon did that, at the age of 14, Osbourne started playing music. Then you know full well how it went.

The Legend of the Bat

He called it his epitaph. “I will always be remembered for being the one who bit the head off a bat,” Ozzy Osbourne had said after he truly realized what had happened on stage in Iowa in the United States. During a concert on his tour in late January 1982 Ozzy bit off the head of a bat. At the time there were no social media or even cell phones. Radio stations were chronicling the scene that marked the Prince of Darkness’ bloody career.

The artist had tried to explain that the bite gave him convinced that the bat was a stuffed animal. “I started banging it because I thought it was a toy, it was a shock to me too when from too much force the head came off.” The gesture with much controversy from animal rights activists has become legendary.

How Ozzy Osbourne Influenced Music

It is for music that Osbourne is remembered with affection and esteem by colleagues. The list is long, and it includes some of the biggest names in world music who pay tribute to him and point out how this dark art has somehow influenced different musical worlds as well.

Brian May historical guitarist of Queen always by Freddy Mercury’s side on Ozzy said, “I met him in Birmingham for his tribute. The world will miss his unique presence and fearless talent.” Heartfelt and moving also remembered Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine: “Dear Ozzy I will miss you. Thank you for all you have done for us.”

Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue tells a personal anecdote outside of music. But also the help the artist received professionally: “He helped give a small band that wanted to make music a chance.” And then there is Aerosmith’s condolences: “A voice that changed music forever. He redefined what it means to be heavy. He did it with the heart that wild spirit that only he possessed.“

The unanimous chorus of artists subscribes to the sympathy of the Black Sabbath frontman. For many, his music was the beginning of a new adventure that influenced lyrics, vocals, and guitar sounds. For Elton John, his friend Ozzy is a deity: “Rest in peace in the pantheon of Rock.”