Ozzy Osbourne

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OzzyChangingHands02-20-2010

Ozzy Osbourne
Birth name	John Michael Osbourne
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 Aston, Birmingham, England
Genres	Heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, television personality
Years active	1967–present

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname "Prince of Darkness".

Early life

Osbourne was born in Aston, Birmingham, England. He grew up in a working-class family and left school at the age of 15. He had a series of menial jobs before turning to music.

Career

Black Sabbath

In 1968, Osbourne joined Black Sabbath, a band formed by guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1970, which is often credited as the first heavy metal album. Osbourne's unique voice and the band's dark, heavy sound made them pioneers of the genre.

Solo career

After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne began a successful solo career, releasing his debut album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. The album featured the hit single "Crazy Train" and established Osbourne as a solo artist. He has since released multiple albums, including Diary of a Madman (1981), No More Tears (1991), and Ordinary Man (2020).

Television and other ventures

In the early 2000s, Osbourne gained further fame as a reality television star with the show The Osbournes, which aired on MTV. The show featured Osbourne, his wife Sharon, and two of their children, Kelly and Jack.

Personal life

Osbourne has been married twice and has six children. He has struggled with substance abuse for much of his life but has been sober for several years. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019.

Legacy

Osbourne is often referred to as the "Godfather of Heavy Metal" and has been a major influence on the genre. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and has received numerous other awards and accolades.

Discography

Studio albums

• Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
• Diary of a Madman (1981)
• Bark at the Moon (1983)
• The Ultimate Sin (1986)
• No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
• No More Tears (1991)
• Ozzmosis (1995)
• Down to Earth (2001)
• Black Rain (2007)
• Scream (2010)
• Ordinary Man (2020)
• Patient Number 9 (2022)

See also

• List of heavy metal musicians
• List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees