John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, hailed as “The Godfather of Heavy Metal,” died Tuesday morning at the age of 76. Osbourne’s cause of death is unknown, but it has been reported that in the past, the Black Sabbath singer was being treated for a rare genetic condition called Parkinsonism. Aside from his stage name, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne was also known as the music world's "Prince of Darkness." Here's how he got the nickname. Ozzy Osbourne is a famous vocalist and songwriter. This biography of Chris Ozzy Osbourne provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline. How Did Ozzy Osbourne Die? When his family announced the news on that fateful July day, they said he “passed away peacefully, surrounded by love.” It was a bittersweet moment for his devoted wife Sharon, their kids, and millions of fans everywhere. Ozzy’s death was the culmination of years of serious health struggles—most notably Parkinson’s disease. He revealed his diagnosis back in How did Ozzy Osbourne get his nickname? Loudwire reports that the term Prince of Darkness goes way back. The Latin “princeps tenebrarum” appears in religious texts from as early as the 4th Ozzy Osbourne's real name was John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne. The late Black Sabbath singer was also referred to by different nicknames throughout his music career. One of his most famous nicknames was "Prince of Darkness." He gained the nickname after leading Black Sabbath, whose music genre is described as heavy metal. Ozzy Osbourne dies just weeks after farewell show The heavy metal star reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates on stage at Villa Park earlier in July. So yeah, it’s pretty heavy stuff—and the name has been tied to evil and darkness for centuries. How Ozzy Got the Nickname The origin of Ozzy’s dark title goes all the way back to his early Black Sabbath days. In a 2016 interview with NME, he pointed to the band’s haunting 1970 song “Black Sabbath” as the beginning of it all. This included Ozzy Osbourne attempting to strangle her and his affair with hairstylist Michelle Pugh. The latter nearly drove Sharon to suicide, and the pair briefly separated before reuniting. John Michael " Ozzy " Osbourne (3 December 1948 – 22 July 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname " Prince of Darkness ". [4] Osbourne became a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1968, providing lead vocals from their Ozzy Osbourne earned the nickname 'Prince of Darkness' during the early years of Black Sabbath. He died at 76. The title was linked to the bands dark themes and stage presence. Though Osbourne saw it as a joke, the name became part of his lasting public identity in heavy metal. John Michael Osbourne, better known as "Ozzy" to you and I, first earned his nickname in primary school. The name was initially meant as a taunt by other students, but the future Black Sabbath As the lead singer of Black Sabbath, he helped invent heavy metal. On “The Osbournes,” he presented a comedic counterpoint to his rock ’n’ roll infamy. Ozzy Osbourne in 2016 performing at Ozzy Osbourne was a legend in the heavy metal world, but he was also a father of six and a dedicated family man. The Black Sabbath singer died at 76 years old on July 22, 2025, his family Ozzy has secured himself as a household name across the world. There's only one problem: The metal behemoth known as "Ozzy Osbourne" isn't actually named "Ozzy." It's his stage name, a name he's been called for so long that people forget it's not the real thing. After striking gold with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne's career flourished. While he would get kicked out of the band in the '80s, the singer came out on top. He went solo, released one of the most popular songs of the decade, and continued to find success in music, according to Express. By that point, Osbourne was a household name. His fame continued into the 2000s with a reality show that Ozzy Osbourne's sister has revealed the heartbreaking text message he sent prior to his death at the age of 76. On Tuesday (July 22), Ozzy's family announced that he had sadly died, 'surrounded by love' at the age of 76. Following Ozzy's death, the family shared a statement. Ozzy Osbourne is known for a lot of things, but he's affectionately known by most of the world as The Prince of Darkness. But where did this name come from, and how did it end up becoming his Ozzy Osbourne made waves as the vocalist of Black Sabbath but he also changed the music world when he struck out on his own. A third episode within two months — and by far the darkest — occurred when Mr. Osbourne was asleep in a parked tour bus in Leesburg, Fla. His lead guitarist, Randy Rhoads, 25, went for a
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