Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76: A Dry-Humored Look at Rock’s Madman
Legendary rock singer Ozzy Osbourne passed away at 76 on Tuesday, surrounded by family, TMZ reports.
I’m Jaden Patel, and even though funerals and sob stories sell fewer records than a Black Sabbath reunion, I’m here to deliver the news with the solemnity of a dental exam.
Yes, the Prince of Darkness has finally run out of curtain calls. His family confirmed the passing in a heartfelt statement signed by Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis Osbourne, asking fans to respect their privacy during this unexpected encore of grief.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the family wrote, adding that he died Tuesday “surrounded by love.” They did not disclose a cause of death, which leaves us consulting Guinness World Records for an explanation instead.
Ozzy’s immortality was once all but guaranteed when he co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968 alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward in Birmingham, England. That quartet introduced a new sonic darkness with riffs so heavy they practically needed oxygen tanks.
Just weeks before his final bow, Osbourne reunited with his old bandmates for one last performance, cementing a legacy that includes two Grammy Awards and a 2006 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In case you’ve forgotten which tracks made moshing compulsory, let me remind you: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “Children of the Grave” and “Sweet Leaf.”
Despite this meteoric ascent, the rocker was famously dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979 because his alcohol and drug problems could not be managed by managers, rehab centers or sheer willpower. Instead of disappearing, Ozzy reinvented himself with a solo career that rolled out 13 studio albums—each of the first eight certified platinum in the United States.
His solo résumé gleams with five Grammy Awards and smash hits like “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears.” During this era, his future wife, Sharon Osbourne, switched from being his confidante to his manager, guiding him through rehab, record deals and every wild press tour imaginable after they tied the knot in 1982.
The turn of the millennium brought an entirely new gig: reality TV star. From 2002 to 2005, The Osbournes gave viewers a peek into one of rock’s most chaotic households for 52 episodes, turning Sharon, Jack, Kelly and Aimee into minor celebrities in their own right.
He leaves behind Sharon, their three children and a brood of grandchildren. If you’re looking for closure, I’m afraid there isn’t one—just the kind of ambiguity that befits a guy who once bit the head off a bat on stage.
So raise a glass, turn up the volume and remember that when you’re having a bad day, at least you’re not trying to outrun your own drug-fueled legend. Tune in next time for more tales of questionable life choices and rock ’n’ roll mayhem.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
Attribution: Scott Dudelson (Creative Commons)
