10 Ozzy Osbourne Moments

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were breaking down the life and times of the Prince of Darkness himself: Ozzy Osbourne.

Joining Black Sabbath (1969)

In 1968, a 20-year-old John Ozzy Osbourne joined forces with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward to form Earth, the blues-rock band that would soon rebrand as Black Sabbath. Osbourne, fresh out of prison for petty theft and working odd jobs in Birmingham, brought a distinctive, haunted wail that perfectly matched the groups brooding, downtuned sound. With songs steeped in occult imagery and real-world dread, the band tapped into the countercultural undercurrent of late-60s Britain. Their self-titled 1970 debut, recorded in a single day, is widely considered the birth of heavy metal. For Osbourne, it was the beginning of a long, twisted, and above all legendary career.

Being Fired from Black Sabbath (1979)

By 1979, Ozzys substance use disorder had become impossible for Black Sabbath to ignore even by their own decadent standards. After years of internal tension, missed rehearsals, and erratic behavior, the band made the brutal decision to fire their frontman. While Ozzy claimed that substance use ran rampant in the band, he was nevertheless ousted and encouraged to pursue a solo career by his manager, Don Arden. It marked the end of an era: the voice that had defined Sabbaths groundbreaking run was gone. But it also forced a turning point. All alone at rock bottom, Ozzy would soon be rescued, both personally and professionally, by Dons daughter Sharon, setting the stage for one of rocks most improbable and iconic solo comebacks.

Embarking on His Solo Career with Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

After being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy was adrift until Sharon Arden pushed him back into the studio. Teaming up with virtuoso guitarist Randy Rhoads, Osbourne recorded Blizzard of Ozz, released in 1980. It was a seismic statement: not simply a comeback, but a reinvention. Blending heavy metal theatrics with polished songwriting and Rhoads neoclassical flair, the album spawned signature songs like Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley. Blizzard went multi-platinum and reestablished Osbourne as a solo force to be reckoned with. It proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his success hadnt been a byproduct of Sabbath, but a reflection of his own star power: unhinged, unapologetic, and perfectly in tune with a new generation of metalheads.

The Death of Randy Rhoads (1982)

As youll soon see, 1982 was an intensely consequential year for Ozzy. On March 19, tragedy struck when Randy Rhoads was killed in a freak plane crash while on tour in Florida. Just 25, Rhoads had already cemented himself as one of metals most important guitarists, and his loss was both a personal and professional devastation for Ozzy. Shaken and reportedly considering taking his own life, Osbourne nearly quit music altogether. Rhoads wasnt only his creative partner: he was arguably the anchor of Ozzys post-Sabbath resurrection. Though the solo project continued, something fundamental had shifted. For all of Ozzys darkness, Rhoads had been a rare source of light, and losing him left a scar that never fully healed.

Bat Biting Incident (1982)

On January 20, 1982, during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off what he thought was a rubber bat only to realize, too late, that it was real. The stunt wasnt planned: a fan had thrown the dazed bat onstage, and Ozzy, already infamous for his onstage theatrics, acted on impulse. He was rushed to the hospital for rabies shots, but the damage (at least, culturally speaking) was done. The moment was instantly canonized as rock mythology, cementing Ozzys image as the wild-eyed Prince of Darkness. Though hes since called it one of his dumbest decisions, the bat incident remains the defining spectacle of a career built on pushing boundariesand freaking people out.

Marriage to Sharon Arden (1982)

As we alluded to a little earlier, Osbourne met Sharon Arden in the late 1970s while she was working for her father, music mogul Don, who at one point managed Black Sabbath. After Ozzy was fired from the band in 1979, Sharon took over his management, and quickly became far more than a business partner. Their volatile, co-dependent relationship was marked by equal parts chaos and loyalty, fueled by substance use, ambition, and a shared instinct for survival. Despite constant turmoil, the pair got engaged and married in 1982. Sharon wasnt just Ozzys wife: she was his lifeline, orchestrating his solo comeback and keeping his career afloat through sheer force of will. Their union was messy, but undeniably formative for both.

The Osbournes (2002-05)

Ozzy Osbourne inadvertently changed television in 2002 with The Osbournes, MTVs fly-on-the-wall reality series that pulled back the curtain on his profanity-laden domestic life. Far from the satanic caricature of his stage persona, Ozzy appeared as a well-meaning if bewildered dad, navigating a chaotic household led by the sharp-tongued Sharon and their eccentric children. The show was an instant sensation, shattering ratings records and reshaping how society conceived of the notion of celebrity. The Osbournes paved the way for reality TV as we know it, from Keeping Up with the Kardashians to countless others. Once again, Ozzy stood at the center of a cultural shift this time, without even meaning to.

Creating Ozzfest (1996)

After being snubbed by mainstream festivals like Lollapalooza, Ozzy and Sharon launched Ozzfest, a defiant alternative that quickly became a juggernaut. Founded with the intention of spotlighting heavy metal and hard rock acts, the touring festival featured legends and newcomers alike, from Slayer and Pantera to Slipknot and System of a Down. For Ozzy, it was a savvy business move that helped revitalize the metal scene in the late '90s and early 2000s. Ozzfest proved that the genres outsider status was its greatest asset, and solidified the Osbournes as unlikely but undeniable power players in music entrepreneurship.

Health Scares & Parkinsons Diagnosis (2020)

Ozzy Osbournes body long bore the weight of his excesses from decades of substance abuse to countless stage injuries but in recent years, his health battles intensified. Multiple surgeries, a serious staph infection, and a traumatic fall in 2019 forced him to cancel tours and confront the physical toll of his lifestyle. In 2020, Ozzy publicly revealed hed been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, a progressive neurological disorder hed quietly been managing since 2003. The admission marked a rare moment of vulnerability from the so-called Prince of Darkness. Nevertheless, Ozzy continued recording and engaging with fans, defying expectations with the same stubborn, unkillable energy that defined his entire career.

Reuniting with Black Sabbath One Last Time (2025)

On July 5, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne took the stage in Birmingham, England for Back to the Beginning, a charity concert that reunited him with the OG Black Sabbath lineup. Billed as his final live performance, the show was a raw, emotional farewell. Ozzy delivered Sabbath staples like Paranoid and Iron Man with a steely resolve. The event raised tens of millions of pounds for local health charities, but more than that, it served as a living tribute to a hometown legend. Just over two weeks later, on July 22, Ozzy passed away at 76. That night in Birmingham became not just his last concert but his chance to tell Mama he was coming home.

Whats your favorite Ozzy Osbourne song? Are there any Ozzy moments we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.