On July 7, Ozzy Osbourne walked off stage one final time after performing his last show in the town where Black Sabbath—the band he made it big with—was born. Alongside Black Sabbath, Ozzy performed the band’s greatest hits. The band Osbourne played with during his solo career was also present to perform their best hits with the legendary metal frontman in a concert that attempted to cover the bases of the rock star’s dynamic career.
Osbourne’s career began with Black Sabbath, whose heavier take on the blues—combined with intentionally distressing chords and eerie vocals—pioneered the emerging genre of metal music. Through the 70s, they dominated the airwaves with their haunting sound, which tended to be more atmospheric and gloomy than their adrenaline-based metal peers.
As the band’s frontman, Osbourne became a pop culture titan, known for his dark and occult lyrics and sinister stage presence, nicknamed the Prince of Darkness by fans. Osbourne was able to turn this star power into a successful solo career, dropping several charting singles, including “Crazy Train,” which has since been immortalized as a sports stadium staple.
While still maintaining his gothic flair, Osbourne’s public image started to shift in the 80s into that of a wild party animal, known for his eccentric personality and outrageous stunts. During “the madman era” Ozzy reached the peak of his fame.
In the following decades, Osbourne maintained relevance in several ways. On top of continuing to release music, he started Ozzfest, which remains one of the largest metal festivals in the world.
Ozzy also starred in the popular reality show The Osbournes, which followed him and his family. The show encouraged its subjects to exaggerate their interactions in entertaining ways, and Ozzy’s time there led to another shift in his image—from outrageous rockstar to goofy dad.
This version of Osbourne became a pop culture staple in its own right, leading to regular Ozzy appearances across all forms of media for the following decades. In many ways, he is like Snoop Dogg—a musician once known for his threatening demeanor who had a “second breakthrough” as an entertainer by gradually cultivating a more silly and approachable persona.
Osbourne’s final show was streamed by 4.8 million fans virtually. It was part of an all day event hosted by Jason Momoa that featured numerous other rock and metal bands such as Metallica and Guns N’ Roses.
During the show, Ozzy wore all black and sang from a bat-shaped chair, returning to his Prince of Darkness aesthetic. The show raised $190 million for Parkinson’s-related charities. Osbourne, who had been suffering from the disease for years, decided it was time to retire from the stage due to health reasons at the age of 76.
Whether remembered as the godfather of heavy metal, a reality TV icon, or simply the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy leaves behind a legacy as one of rock’s most unforgettable figures.
What's Your Reaction?
