Ozzy Osbourne’s journey to becoming one of the most famous figures in rock music did not start easily. When he was 14 years old, Ozzy heard The Beatles’ song “She Loves You” for the first time. That moment changed everything for him. He later said that hearing the song made him realize that he wanted to be a rock star for the rest of his life. Music gave him hope and direction at a time when his life felt confusing and difficult.
Ozzy grew up in Birmingham, England, in a working-class family. School was not a good experience for him, and he dropped out early. As a teenager, he struggled to find his place in the world and worked several hard jobs. During this time, he also got involved in small crimes, which led to him spending six weeks in prison. While this period could have ruined his future, it actually pushed him toward music. Ozzy realized he needed to change his life, and forming a band became his escape and purpose.
Along with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Ozzy formed a band that would later be known as Black Sabbath. Before settling on that name, the band went through several different names while trying to define their sound. Eventually, they chose Black Sabbath, a name that matched their dark, heavy style of music.
In 1970, Black Sabbath released their first album, Black Sabbath. At the time, many critics did not like it, but the album would later be seen as extremely important. Today, it is often called the first heavy metal album, and its title track is considered the first doom metal song. This album helped create an entirely new genre of music.
Their second album, Paranoid, was even more successful. Songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs” became classics and are still popular today. These tracks made Black Sabbath one of the most important bands of their era and turned Ozzy into a music icon.
Along with fame came controversy. Ozzy became known for his shocking behavior, including famous incidents like biting the head off a bat on stage. His wild lifestyle caused problems within the band, and in 1979, he was fired from Black Sabbath. Many people thought his career was over — but they were wrong.
Ozzy went on to have a very successful solo career, releasing albums that introduced legendary songs like “Crazy Train.” Years later, he also became a television star through the reality show The Osbournes, which showed his family life with his wife Sharon and their children. This made him popular with a whole new generation.
Despite being known for heavy metal, Ozzy’s musical taste was surprisingly broad. He has always loved The Beatles, and even more surprisingly, his favorite song of all time is “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum. He has said that the song’s beautiful organ melody deeply moves him, showing that his inspiration came from many different styles of music.
Ozzy Osbourne’s life has been full of ups and downs, mistakes and success. From a troubled teenager to a global rock legend, his story proves that music can change lives — and sometimes, even create history.