Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne is preparing for his final live performance.
The 76-year-old, whose birth name is John Michael Osbourne, will join forces with his Black Sabbath band members at Villa Park, home of Aston Villa, for an event touted as the “ultimate heavy metal spectacle”.
The all-day Back To The Beginning concert will mark the metal group’s first performance together in two decades, featuring the original members Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terence ‘Geezer’ Butler, and Bill Ward.
This reunion signifies Osbourne’s first major performance since he called off scheduled shows across Europe and the UK in 2023, stating he was no longer “physically capable” of touring.
In addition, Osbourne disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
The performance, scheduled for July 5, is part of a career that has spanned fifty years, earning Osbourne the title of The Prince Of Darkness.
Black Sabbath in the 1970s. Pic: Everett/Shutterstock
Who is Ozzy Osbourne?
Hailing from Birmingham, Osbourne gained prominence as a founding member and frontman of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
The band came together in 1968 and released their self-titled debut album two years later, featuring tracks such as The Wizard and Evil Woman.
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath Performing Live in the mid 1980s. Pic: Busacca/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
The band’s subsequent album, Paranoid, featured some of their most iconic tracks including War Pigs, Iron Man, Fairies Wear Boots, and Paranoid.
This record achieved monumental success, topping charts in the UK and reaching number 12 in the United States.
Black Sabbath eventually rose to become one of the most successful metal bands globally, with over 75 million albums sold worldwide over the years.
Pic: Andrew Kent/Retna/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
After being expelled from the band in 1979 due to erratic behavior and substance abuse issues, Osbourne achieved success as a solo performer.
His first solo album, Blizzard Of Ozz, reached the top 10 in the UK, and in 2020, he made his highest-charting album debut with Ordinary Man, featuring collaborations with Elton John, Slash, Post Malone, and Tom Morello.
Family life and reality television
Beyond music, Osbourne’s personal life has been a significant aspect of his public persona.
In 1970, he met Sharon Levy, who later became his spouse and manager, Sharon Osbourne.
The couple welcomed three children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne.
Ozzy Osbourne, wife Sharon, and their children at the Kerrang Awards 1997 in London. Pic: PA
The family achieved new levels of fame with the reality television series The Osbournes.
The program documented their daily lives in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, including Sharon’s public struggle with colon cancer.
The Osbournes aired from 2002 to 2005 and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
Subsequently, Jack and Kelly pursued successful solo careers, both becoming hosts of various television shows, including Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie and Australia’s Got Talent.
Struggles with addiction and health issues
Osbourne has often spoken candidly about his battles with substance abuse and his experiences in rehabilitation.
In a 2021 interview with Variety, he revealed that he faced drug issues from a “very early age” and expressed feeling “fortunate” to be alive.
“There’s nothing remarkable about me. I should have died a thousand times. I’m not boasting or claiming to be invincible. It doesn’t take much to end your life,” he stated.
Both of the couple’s younger children, Kelly and Jack, have also faced challenges with addiction and have sought treatment.
