It's hard to believe it's already been a year since the world lost Ozzy Osbourne.
The Prince of Darkness may have left this world, but there's never going to be another human being quite like him. He was terrifying... hilarious... incredibly talented... accident-prone... and somehow one of the most lovable people to ever walk onto a stage.
He wasn't just a rock star.
He was rock and roll.
But long before the platinum albums, sold-out stadiums, and reality TV fame, John Michael Osbourne was just a working-class kid growing up in Aston, Birmingham, England.
Money was tight.
Ozzy struggled with dyslexia, left school at 15, worked odd jobs—including a slaughterhouse—and even spent time in jail after trying to burglarize a clothing store. Ironically, his father refused to pay the fine, believing his son needed to learn a lesson.
That stint behind bars may have changed everything.
After getting out, Ozzy answered an ad from guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler looking for a singer. Drummer Bill Ward rounded out the lineup.
The world would soon know them as Black Sabbath.
In 1970, Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album.
The opening song featured church bells, thunder, and one of the darkest guitar riffs anyone had ever heard.
Heavy metal was born.
Albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, Vol. 4, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath didn't just influence rock—they became the blueprint for thousands of bands that followed.
Metallica.
Pantera.
Slipknot.
Alice In Chains.
Soundgarden.
Tool.
Even bands outside the metal world credit Sabbath with changing the sound of modern music forever. Keep an eye out all day today for more on Ozzy Osbourne