Farewell to the heavy metal legend. The “Prince of Darkness” died on July 22 at the age of 76, leaving behind his wife Sharon and his children.
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, known worldwide as the “Prince of Darkness,” has left us after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed in 2020. His last concert was just a few weeks ago, on July 5, in his beloved Birmingham. Ozzy had returned to the stage for what had been announced as his final performance.
It was a show with great symbolic value, in his hometown where the legend of Black Sabbath was born. It was a vibrant farewell in front of thousands of fans who accompanied him in a collective embrace.
MUSICAL CAREER
His solo career began in the 1980s, consolidating his image as the “Prince of Darkness,” fueled by excess, provocation, and an unmistakable style.
Ozzy Osbourne was not only a singer but also a symbol of rebellion, irony, resistance, and transformation.
Together with Tony Jommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, he founded the Polka Tolk Blues Band, which, after several name and member changes, would become Black Sabbath. With them, he would write what would become legendary pages of heavy rock with dark sounds, disturbing riffs, nightmares, and witchcraft, thus giving birth to the heavy metal genre.
A LIFE OF EXCESS
Ozzy Osbourne became the embodiment of excess, using alcohol, LSD, and cocaine, turning his life into a non-stop trip.
He even went so far as to sniff ants on the sidewalk while on tour with Mötley Crüe in one of the most toxic challenges in rock history, also famous for biting the head off a bat believing it was a puppet.
On the channel MTV Ozzy, he starred alongside his family in a TV series, the first rock reality show entitled The Osbournes.
In 1979, he was kicked out of Black Sabbath for substance abuse. Ozzy developed manic-depressive psychosis, locked himself in a hotel room in Los Angeles, and remained there for just under a year drinking and taking drugs, desperate over the end of his adventure with the band and reduced to a shadow of his former self.
After this dark period, thanks to his future wife Sharon Arden, daughter of Black Sabbath’s manager, he decided to form a solo project alongside guitarist Randy Rhoads.
His second artistic life brought him back to success.
Ozzy Osbourne diventa l’incarnazione dell’eccesso, fa uso di alcol, lsd, cocaina, rendendo la sua vita un trip continuo.
Arriva addirittura a sniffare delle formiche sul marciapiede in tour con i Motley Crue in una delle sfide più tossiche della storia del rock, celebre anche per avcer morso la testa di un pippistrello credendo fosse un pupazzo.
Sul canale MTV Ozzy sarà protagonista insieme alla sua famiglia di una serie TV, il primo rock-reality dal titolo The Osbournes.
Nel 1979 viene cacciato dai Black Sabbath per abuso di sostanze. Ozzy viene coltoda psicosi maniaco – deprressiva, si rinchiude in una stanza d’albergo a Los Angeles e rimane lì per poco meno di un anno a bere e a drogarsi, in preda alla disperazione per la fine della sua avventura con la band riducendosi all’ombra di se stesso.
Dopo questo periodo nero, grazie alla futura moglie Sharon Arden, figlia del manager dei Black Sabbath, decide di formare un progetto da solista affiancato dal chitarrista Randy Rhoads.
La seconda vita artistica lo riporta al successo.
Con la sua morte se ne va uno degli ultimi miti del rock, ma la sua voce e il suo spirito continueranno a vivere nei cuori di milioni di fan.
