Ozzy Osbourne Tickets

Ozzy Osbourne – Heavy Metal Music Legend

As the undisputed Godfather of Heavy Metal and pioneer of the genre, Ozzy Osbourne has cast a long and powerful shadow on the global rock and metal scene. Born in Birmingham, England in 1948, Ozzy rose to fame in the wild days of the early 70's with his legendary band, Black Sabbath.

Early Life

John Michael Osbourne was born the youngest of six children, growing up in the humble setting of a working-class housing estate. His parents, Jack and Lillian, ran a nearby pub, but far from enjoying the traditional life of his local peers, Ozzy was a wild child and by his mid-teens had found himself on the wrong side of the law. After several run-ins with the police, Ozzy found escape and freedom in music.

Black Sabbath

In 1968, Ozzy Osbourne joined Black Sabbath, and it wasn't long before the band were pioneers of the now-infamous metal-genre. Expansion from the underground began with their first album, which achieved moderate success and the subsequent releases of seminal works like “Paranoid” and “Master of Reality,” established Black Sabbath as one of the defining bands of the era.

Band Members Chronology

Over the next decade, there was a constant rotation of band members. In response to this, Ozzy Osbourne became the centerpiece of Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi as the only remaining founding member. Other personnel included Bill Ward on drums, Geezer Butler on bass, and Ronnie James Dio on vocals.

Ozzy's Solo Career

By 1979, with the emergence of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Ozzy took Black Sabbath to a new level of success with his release of “Blizzard of Ozz.” The album, which charted at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, solidifying Ozzy's place as a mainstream metal star and a true rock god. Subsequent releases such as “Tribute”, ”Diary of a Madman”, and “No Rest for the Wicked”, firmly cemented Ozzy’s popularity among metalheads worldwide.

Influences

While Ozzy has been influenced by the early metal acts of Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest, the influence of Black Sabbath extends to several modern acts. These include Metallica, Slipknot, and Avenged Sevenfold, who have all cited Sabbath’s influence as an integral part of their sound.

Famous Songs

Ozzy's popularity is due in part to his contributions to anthemic metal songs such as “Crazy Train”, ”Iron Man”, ”Paranoid”, and “War Pigs”. Each of these songs have been highly successful, with some even being considered metal classics by both critics and fans alike.

Conclusion

Ozzy’s influence on the metal scene is undeniable, and it will certainly linger for decades to come. With timeless hits, unparalleled influence on metal acts, and ongoing legacy, Ozzy Osbourne is deservedly one of metal’s most recognizable and respected figures. Whether you’re a metalhead or not, you’ve certainly heard the name Ozzy Osbourne and understand the importance of his legendary music.