Reading Time: 2 minutesOzzy Osbourne lived a life of nonstop rock ‘n’ roll chaos through his screaming guitars and his outrageous decisions which made him a figure of defiance that filled arenas. At the age of 76 the “Prince of Darkness” ended his life on Tuesday while leaving behind a legacy that mirrored his historic bat-biting incident which actually occurred.
The family verified his death but they chose to keep all other details private because Ozzy always maintained unpredictable behavior. Parkinsonism became more severe because of his years of substance abuse although his family did not specify this directly. Only Ozzy could survive such an intense amount of chaos which ultimately proved fatal through natural means.
For multiple years Ozzy has announced retirement with “No More Tours” tours which never ended up being his actual final performances—first in 1992 and then in 2018?—his last concert in Birmingham remained true to its finality. Ozzy occupied his black throne at home as fans likely requested “One more tour!”
Throughout his career with Black Sabbath and his solo work Ozzy composed the definitive music for teenage angst. The bedroom door slams of every teenage rebel echoed with his signature songs ”Paranoid” and “Iron Man”. MTV’s The Osbournes made the “Prince of Darkness” look like a comical suburban father who handled his pets and children and remote control. Truly iconic.
“All that devil-worship stuff? It’s just a job,” Ozzy shared his views about devil-worship with The New York Times back in 1992. “I’m not the Antichrist. I’m a family man.” Ozzy proved his status as a family man through his practice of throwing raw meat at audiences while he snorted ants because cocaine was unavailable. I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne functions as a life manual but functions better as a book containing warnings against specific behaviors.
John Michael Osbourne emerged from his 1948 Birmingham birthplace in a tight urban district where he shared a small house with six siblings and no access to plumbing. His life in jail following a burglary attempt led him to spiritual contemplation and he became Ozzy through the help of his father who bought him a PA system.
Black Sabbath formed as a band that generated such intense negativity from critics and radio stations they became the object of their disdain. But misfit youths loved them, and platinum albums don’t lie. Through their music they became the rebels whom no one recognized as such. After heavy metal revolution Ozzy transitioned into reality television fame. The Osbournes resembles a TV sitcom version of the Addams Family with Ozzy stumbling through his home wearing leopard-print clothing. Chaos, but make it entertaining.
Ozzy’s life contained more than just his humorous moments. Ozzy made headlines by eating animals’ heads while at the same time he suffered a near-fatal ATV accident and experienced a devastating loss when his guitarist Randy Rhoads died in a tragic event. Through every circumstance Ozzy seemed to follow one word: unpredictable.
Ozzy’s existence became a source of inspiration for many musicians while he performed at festivals and received two nominations for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His singing voice created the fundamental energetic spirit that defined heavy metal music.
To the public Ozzy presented himself as a soft-spoken person. Ozzy loved staying home and making scrambled eggs but avoided drama unless he was touring because he founded Ozzfest which attracted numerous fans to the festival. Between his career as a provocative rock star and his comedic TV appearances he presented two completely different personas to the world. The Osbourne family members were astonished by how Ozzy combined his wild nature with his winning personality according to daughter Kelly who noted their family was “the most famous family in America.”
Ozzy frequently stated that his future legacy would include the following details: “Born in 1948. Died whenever. Bit the head off a bat,” that barely scratches the surface. He transcended being a mere news headline because he combined rebelliousness with universal recognition.
Rest in peace, Prince of Darkness. Knowing you, the afterlife just got its first mosh pit. And we wouldn’t have it any other way!
