Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne on Dec. 3, 1948, has spent decades in the spotlight since he rose to prominence in the 1970s as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. After being fired from the band because of drug and alcohol problems, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ went on to have a successful solo career. Ozzy earned many accolades throughout his musical tenure, including an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the UK Music Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Global Icon Award, the title ‘Godfather of Metal,’ and many more. Look back at his storied life and career.
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performing on stage in 1970.
Ozzy Osbourne photographed during a photo shoot in 1970.
Ozzy Osbourne photographed during a photo shoot in 1970.
Ozzy Osbourne performing in 1970.
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath photographed in 1970.
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler photographed in 1971.
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath photographed in the U.K. in 1973.
English singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs on stage at the Lewisham Odeon, in London on May 27, 1978.
Rock musician Ozzy Osbourne embraces his fiancee, Sharon Arden, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 21, 1981.
Ozzy Osbourne poses in Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 21, 1981. Osbourne was the lead singer with the Black Sabbath band from 1969-1978. His first solo album, “Blizzard of Ozz,” sold over a million copies.
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne performs at Rock in Rio, billed as the biggest rock music festival ever, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 20,1985. The 10-day event drew more than one million people.
British rock star Ozzy Osbourne performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Brazil on Jan. 17, 1985
Heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, right, tells a news conference in Los Angeles January 21,1986, that his songs of suicide and paranoia were grossly misinterepreted by the parents of a teen-ager who killed himself after listening to Osbourne’s “Suicide Solution.”
Britain’s Ozzy Osbourne and Jon Bon Jovi of U.S. band Bon Jovi arrive at Stansted airport, England, Aug. 9, 1989, en route to Moscow for a peace festival.
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne poses at the Peninsula Hotel in New York, on July 27, 2000. Osbourne launched Ozzfest, heavy metal’s answer to Lollapalooza, in 1996.
Singer Ozzy Osbourne appears at news conference to tell reporters that his song “Suicide Solution” was misinterpreted and is anti-suicide, in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 1986.
British musician Ozzy Osbourne, left, and American guitarist Slash are served High Tea before the Classic Rock awards in central London, on Nov. 3, 2008.
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne poses for a photograph with Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt prior to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on June 15, 2003.
Ozzy Osbourne poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1980.
Ozzy Osbourne performs during the VH1 Rock Honors concert at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 12, 2007.
Members of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath on Oct. 16, 1998 in New York. Seated is Ozzy Osbourne. Standing from left are; Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.
Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne, right, and Geezer Butler, left, accept the award after the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during ceremonies on March 13, 2006 in New York.
Britain’s Prince Charles, right, shares a joke with Ozzy Osbourne, left, and British Pop Idol contestant Chico, center, at a reception at Clarence House in London on May 18, 2006 for those lending their support to Saturday’s star-studded concert celebrating the 30th birthday of the Prince’s Trust charity.
Ozzy Osbourne with wrestler Triple H during a press conference to announce the Ozzfest 2002 line-up in Times Square in New York on March 21, 2002.
Singer Ozzy Osbourne spreads his legs as he is held by MTV executive producer Julian Goldberg, left, and MTV VJ J.J. Jackson in 1982. Osbourne announced that he would establish a scholarship fund in the name of guitarist Randy Rhoads.
The Osbournes, Ozzy, left, Sharon, Jack, and Kelly are shown in this 2002 photo. MTV announced that Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal rock star and his family are the subject of a new MTV series, “The Osbournes,” which premiered on March 5, 2002.
Dick Clark, center, producer of the “American Music Awards,” shares a laugh with show hosts the Osbourne Family from left, rocker Ozzy Osbourne; son Jack; Clark; daughter Kelly and wife Sharon before rehearsals for the show on Jan. 11, 2003, in Los Angeles.
Ozzy Osbourne photographed in 1983.
Ozzy Osbourne performing in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1983.
Ozzy Osbourne at “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” at the NBC Studios in Los Angeles, Calif. on October 12, 2001.
Ozzy Osbourne in 1980.
Singer Ozzy Osbourne, left, and his wife Sharon pose for pictures as they arrive for the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland on November 9, 2014.
Ozzy Osbourne performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Ozzy Osbourne announces “No More Tours 2” final world tour at press conference at his Los Angeles home on February 6, 2018.
Ozzy Osbourne, left, and Sharon Osbourne speak onstage during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Singer Ozzy Osbourne, right, and musician Geezer Butler of the rock band Black Sabbath pose for a portrait on June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles.
