The “Prince of Darkness” Passes Away At Age 76
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Ozzy Osbourne, front man to the legendary rock group Black Sabbath and iconic solo artist, passed away on July 22, 2025. The larger than life rocker died as a result of Parkinson’s disease.
Osbourne first rose to fame in the late 1960s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath. The band is widely credited with pioneering heavy metal music. Their 1970 self-titled debut album shocked listeners with its dark themes and doomy riffs.
Black Sabbath became one of the biggest bands in rock history. Early albums — Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), and Vol. 4 (1972) are often cited as the genesis of heavy metal. Hits like “Paranoid” made the band instantly recognizable.
Black Sabbath helped define the visual and thematic identity of heavy metal. Their lyrical themes tackled topics far removed from the mainstream pop of the time. The band’s imagery, ominous album covers, and a sense of foreboding became a blueprint for metal bands for decades.
After being kicked out the group for drug use, Osbourne went solo to massive success. Albums like “Blizzard of Ozz” and “No More Tears” further cemented his status as a Rock god. Ozzy’s onstage antics like biting the head off a bat to being banned from entire cities, cemented his legacy as a rebellious icon.
Osbourne’s career highlights includes 5 Grammy wins, and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne is one of the greatest rock acts in history with over 100 million albums sold. Bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica all credit him for inspiration. In addition to music, ventures like the “OzzFest” music festival and his reality tv show “The Osbournes” further cemented him as pop culture icon.
Thanks Ozzy!
-SV