John MichaelΒ "Ozzy"Β OsbourneΒ (3 December 1948 β 22 July 2025) was an English singer, songwriter and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of theΒ heavy metalΒ bandΒ Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname "Prince of Darkness".[4]
In late 1967,Β Geezer ButlerΒ formed his first band, Rare Breed, with Osbourne. The band played two shows, then broke up. Osbourne and Butler reunited in Polka Tulk Blues, along with guitaristΒ Tony IommiΒ and drummerΒ Bill Ward, whose bandΒ MythologyΒ had recently broken up. They renamed themselves Earth, but after being accidentally booked for a show instead of a different band with the same name, they decided to change their name again. They finally settled on the nameΒ Black SabbathΒ in August 1969, based onΒ the film of the same name.[9]Β The band had noticed how people enjoyed being frightened; inspired, the band decided to play a heavyΒ bluesΒ style of music laced with gloomy sounds and lyrics.[9]Β While recording their first album in a castle, Butler read an occult book and woke up to a dark figure at the end of his bed.[citation needed]Β Butler told Osbourne about it and together they wrote the lyrics to βBlack Sabbathβ, their first song in a darker vein.[10]
After leaving Black Sabbath, Osbourne was signed toΒ Don Arden'sΒ Jet Records. Arden dispatched hisΒ daughter SharonΒ toΒ Los AngelesΒ to βlook after Ozzyβs needs, whatever they wereβ, as a means of protecting his investment.[33]Β Initially, Arden was hopeful that Osbourne would return to Black Sabbath, and he later attempted to convince the singer to name his new band βSon of Sabbathβ, which Osbourne hated.[6]Β Sharon attempted to convince Osbourne to form a newΒ supergroupΒ with guitaristΒ Gary Moore.[6]Β In 1980, under the management of the Ardens, the Ozzy Osbourne Band formed again as The Blizzard of Ozz. The first line-up of the band featured drummerΒ Lee KerslakeΒ (ofΒ Uriah Heep), bassist / lyricistΒ Bob DaisleyΒ (of Rainbow and later Uriah Heep), keyboardistΒ Don Airey, and guitaristΒ Randy RhoadsΒ (ofΒ Quiet Riot). The record company would eventually title the recordBlizzard of OzzΒ credited simply under Osbourneβs name. Co-written with Daisley and Rhoads, the album brought Osbourne considerable success on his first solo effort. The album sold very well with hard rock/heavy metal fans.[9]Β Though it is generally accepted that Osbourne and Rhoads started the band, bassist Daisley later claimed that he and Osbourne formed the band in England before Rhoads officially joined.[34]Β Osbourne has maintained that his original choice for bassist wasΒ Dana Strum, and that it was Strum who arranged Rhoadsβ audition.Β Blizzard of OzzΒ is one of the very few albums amongst the 100 best selling albums of the 1980s to have achieved multi-platinum status without the benefit of a Top 40 single. As of August 1997, it achieved Quadruple Platinum status according toΒ RIAA.
