On this day, 22 July 2025, Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of Black Sabbath, died aged 76.
In memory of his extraordinary life, here are some facts about him.
Facts about Ozzy Osborne
The Prince of Darkness
His nickname wasn’t just for show, he had an eccentric performance style and even bit the head off a live bat on stage in 1982. He later said that he thought the bat was made of rubber, but it wasn’t.
Yet another musician influenced by The Beatles
Ozzy struggled with dyslexia and was expelled from school multiple times. He later found solace in music, especially The Beatles, whose song “She Loves You” inspired him to become a musician.
Early villain arc
Before fame, he was arrested for burglary and spent time in prison. His father refused to pay the fine, saying Ozzy needed to learn a lesson. Tough
TV Fame
In the 2000s, Ozzy starred in The Osbournes, a reality TV show that brought heavy metal into the living rooms of unsuspecting suburbanites. His mumbling, befuddled manner became iconic.
Hall of Fame
Ozzy is one of the few artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—once with Black Sabbath (2006) and once as a solo artist (2023).
Facts about Black Sabbath
Founding Fathers of Metal
Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Black Sabbath is widely considered the first heavy metal band. Their sound fused blues rock with horror-themed lyrics and dark imagery—revolutionary at the time.
The Name Game
They were originally called Earth—but changed it after realising another band had the same name. Inspired by a Boris Karloff horror film showing across the street, they renamed themselves Black Sabbath.
Tony Lommi’s Fingers
Guitarist Tony Iommi lost the tips of two fingers in an industrial accident. Rather than give up, he fashioned homemade thimbles and tuned his guitar lower, which gave Sabbath their signature dark sound.
Final Bows
Black Sabbath officially ended their reign in 2025, on 5th July at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. Titled Back to the Beginning, this monumental event marked the band’s last concert and was streamed worldwide, with a live audience of 40,000 and an online viewing of almost 6 million!
Despite the sombre occasion for these facts, we hope they’ve helped you to remember Ozzy Osbourne as the musical legend he deserves to be!
Share any other facts you know in the comments.
