Parkinson's disease charities praise Ozzy Osbourne's openness about condition
The proceeds of the Black Sabbath reunion earlier this month went to Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorns Children's Hospice.
In 2020, Osbourne revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and he paused touring in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery.
He had a fall at home in 2019 which aggravated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003.
Parkinson's UK chief executive Caroline Rassell said: 'News of Ozzy Osbourne's death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to so many.
'By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson's, Ozzy and all his family helped so many families in the same situation.
'They normalised tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that's on the rise and affecting more people every day.
'All of our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends and fans worldwide. His memory and the impact he left on the world will live on in all of them.'
Helen Matthews, chief executive of Cure Parkinson's, said: 'We are devastated to hear the news about Ozzy and all our thoughts are with Sharon and his family.
'It seems incredible that a couple of short weeks ago Ozzy, Black Sabbath and all the acts that contributed to Back to the Beginning produced the most phenomenal and vibrant concert at Villa Park.
'We are so grateful to Ozzy for all he has done to put a spotlight on the work of Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham children's Hospital and Acorns Children's Hospice.
'On behalf of us all at Cure Parkinson's – thank you.'
Osbourne said earlier this year that the last six years had been 'full of some of the worst times I've been through'.
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Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Sharon Osbourne breaks silence as she responds to touching Ozzy tributes after her beloved husband's death aged 76
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHARON Osbourne has broken her silence by responding to touching tributes paid to her beloved late husband Ozzy. The iconic singer - dubbed the Prince of Darkness - passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, it was confirmed yesterday. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 10 Ozzy with his wife Sharon Credit: Rex 10 Sharon responded to Jack Saunders' tribute Credit: Instagram 10 The pair married in 1982 Credit: Corbis 10 Ozzy and Sharon in 1986 with their three kids Jack, Kelly & Aimee Credit: Getty - Contributor Now, his loving wife Sharon has responded to fans sending their condolences on social media. She replied to one message shared by musician Gavin Rossdale. The Bush singer posted a picture of himself with Ozzy on Instagram, with the caption: "RIP OZZY - a great man - a true legend - I met Ozzy through Jack just a few times, but he was so warm and kind and funny and I love that memory. "Sending much love to his family at this difficult time. Rest in power." Sharon wrote underneath "bless you" in acknowledgement of the tribute. The late rock star's wife also replied to BBC Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders' message of support. "Jack thank you for your tribute to Ozzy tonight, bless you," she commented. Ozzy died at the family mansion in Buckinghamshire with his wife Sharon, 72, and four of his six children by his side. Thames Valley Air Ambulance confirmed an air ambulance was dispatched to 'provide advanced critical care'. Sharon — married for 43 years — said in a joint statement that he had been 'surrounded by love'. Ozzy Osbourne top five greatest moments Ozzy's life changed forever when Sharon Levy turned up at the door in 1970. He later said of the woman who became his second wife: 'If it weren't for her, without a shadow of a doubt, I would be dead.' Sharon, then 27, was the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden. They'd first met when she was 18 and working as her dad's receptionist. 10 Ozzy on tour in Las Vegas in 2002 with his beloved Sharon by his side Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 10 Sharon and Ozzy as youngsters Credit: Getty - Contributor 10 Ozzy and Sharon pictured in Brazil in 1985 The singer wrote in his autobiography I Am Ozzy: 'I fell for Sharon so badly, man.' Sharon convinced the wreck that he could be a solo star, and that she should be the one to manage him. In one of his last interviews, Ozzy described the reality TV star and X Factor judge as his 'soulmate'. He said: 'Sometimes I love her, sometimes I don't love her, sometimes I'm angry with her, sometimes I'm crazy about her, sometimes I'm very jealous of her, sometimes I wanna f***ing kill her. 'But through it all, at the end of the day, I love her more than anything in the world.' As Sharon took over running Ozzy's professional life, the Brummie lad quickly realised that he had never met a woman like her before. In his 2009 biography, I Am Ozzy, he revealed: 'I'd never come across a girl who was like me. Wherever we went, we were always the drunkest and the loudest. 'I learned that when Sharon is on a mission, she'll throw herself at it, lock, stock and barrel, and not stop fighting until well after the bell's rung. 'I trusted Sharon like I'd never trusted anyone before on the business side of things.' Not only did she become mother to his three children Aimee, Kelly and Jack but she also got things back on track. Wild and hilarious Ozzy stories 1. Ozzy once told Sharon: 'Don't cremate me, whatever you do. 'I want to be put in the ground, in a nice garden somewhere, with a tree over my head. 'A crabapple tree, preferably, so the kids can make wine out of me and get pissed out of their heads. 'As for what they'll put on my headstone, I ain't under any illusions. 'If I close my eyes, I can already see it: 'Ozzy Osbourne, born 1948 'Died, whenever. 'He bit the head off a bat.' 2. Ozzy decided to stop using acid while recording Black Sabbath album Vol 4. He said: 'I took ten tabs of acid then went for a walk in a field. 'I ended up standing there talking to this horse for about an hour. 'In the end, the horse turned around and told me to f**k off. 'That was it for me.' 3. The rocker began tattooing himself as a teenager while growing up in Birmingham. He said: 'I even put a smiley face on each of my knees to cheer myself up when I was sitting on the bog in the morning.' Decades later he had 'thanks' tattooed on his right palm. He said: 'It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. 'How many times do you say 'thanks' to people during your lifetime? 'Tens of thousands, probably. 'Now all I had to do was raise my right hand.' 4. The Osbournes had a donkey called Sally, who used to sit in the living room with Ozzy and watch Match Of The Day. 5. Former slaughterhouse worker Ozzy claimed to have killed his family's cats while high. He recalled: 'I was taking drugs so much I was a f***ed. 'The final straw came when I shot all our cats. 'We had about 17, and I went crazy and shot them all. 'My wife found me under the piano in a white suit – a shotgun in one hand and a knife in the other.' 6. The Prince of Darkness was interested in the Bible. He said: 'I've tried to read it several times. 'But I've only ever got as far as the bit about Moses being 720 years old, and I'm like, 'What were these people smoking back then?'' 7. Ozzy met the late Queen at the Royal Variety Performance. He recalled: 'I was standing next to Cliff Richard. 'She took one look at the two of us, and said, 'Oh, so this is what they call variety, is it?' then cracked up laughing. 'I honestly thought Sharon must have slipped some acid into my cornflakes that morning.' 8. Ozzy loved putting hidden messages in songs. He said: 'On No Rest For The Wicked, if you play Bloodbath In Paradise backwards, you can clearly hear me saying, 'Your mother sells whelks in Hull'.' Debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz, with big numbers like Crazy Train, Suicide Solution and Mr Crowley, appeared in September 1980, and eventually sold more than five million copies. Sharon also amped up his satanic image, encouraging stage antics such as flinging animal entrails into the audience. Sharon and Ozzy wed in Hawaii on July 4, 1982. However, in 1989 Ozzy's hardcore partying lifestyle took a sinister turn when he tried to strangle Sharon. Although the couple have famously spoken about how they both gave as good as they got, the incident saw Ozzy seek help for his drug use. She agreed not to press charges if he went to rehab - a decision that allowed the artist to continue performing and become the icon he is remembered as today. Along with Sharon and his kids, they became global TV sensations through their groundbreaking fly-on-the-wall documentary The Osbournes. It was such a smash hit that it paved the way for similar reality shows featuring Paris Hilton and later The Kardashians. Sharon was also by Ozzy's side throughout his health battles over the years, The rockstar suffered a spinal injury after an accident at his LA home in 2019 that required him to undergo surgery on his neck. He was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's the same year and revealed the sad news a year later in an emotional joint interview with Sharon. The singer told Good Morning America at the time that he couldn't hide his health struggles any longer. Explaining the condition, Sharon said: "It's Parkin 2 which is a form of Parkinson's. There are so many different types of Parkinson's. "It's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination but it does affect the nerves in your body. "It's like you'll have a good day, then a good day and then a really bad day." Ozzy added: "A year ago I was in a terrible state. I'm on a host of medication, mainly for the surgery. "I've got numbness down this arm and my legs are going cold. I don't know if it's the Parkinson's or what. That's the problem." Following a spate of nasty injuries in 2022 Ozzy was also forced to cancel an upcoming tour after revealing he was "not physically capable" of the travel required. But the Black Sabbath star still took to the stage one final time with his band mates at Villa Park in Birmingham earlier this month. Only three weeks ago, the Prince of Darkness who brought light into so many lives gave us one last hurrah when heavy metal royalty descended on Villa Park, to pay their respects. The Back to the Beginning gig ended with him - seated on a giant black throne because he could not stand - joining his Black Sabbath muckers on the songs that took him to the world stage. The icon vowed, however, that it would be his final performance due to his deteriorating health. 'HE SECURED HIS PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF ROCK GODS' Ozzy's death on Tuesday drew condolences from stars including Sir Rod Stewart, Noel Gallagher and Sir Elton John. And yesterday friends said many big names wanted to salute the bat-munching, self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, who became a national treasure. Such a service would be held ahead of a smaller private funeral. A source told The Sun: 'There are conversations about a celebration of his life in Birmingham, the city that meant so much to him. 'Artists like Yungblud, who was seen by Ozzy as a musician who could carry on the mantle of what he started all those years ago, is expected to have a role in it. 'There are hundreds of big names who will want to pay their respects and celebrate his life and legacy, as well as thousands of fans who would line the streets to say goodbye.' A new documentary, No Escape From Now, is set to air on Paramount+ later this year, following his life since a fall in 2019 — before his Parkinson's diagnosis — left him needing a series of ops on his back and neck. Tributes poured in for the legendary singer from across the music world. Sir Elton John shared a photo of himself alongside Ozzy with the message: "So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away. "He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. "He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. "To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx" Singer-songwriter Yungblud wrote on X: "I didn't think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. "But as it is written with legends, they seem to know things that we don't. "I will never forget you - you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. "Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. "You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. "You took us on your adventure - an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time." Ozzy Osbourne's iconic career The singer then pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963, aged 15. After appearing in a handful of school plays, Ozzy joined Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler in their first group Rare Breed in 1967. When that band split, the pair reunited in Polka Tulk Blues alongside Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The group later became known as Black Sabbath and went onto shatter the music world with their whining guitar solos, Occult-based lyrics and Ozzy's screeching vocals. In 1970, the group gained a cult following in both the US and UK after releasing their eponymous first album. Black Sabbath saw incredible success with hit tracks such as Paranoid but discord in the group saw most of the original line-up leave. Ozzy himself quit the band in 1978, with a spiral into drug abuse leading to a divorce from first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with. It was then he first met a young Sharon Arden, who Ozzy at first wrote off as he believed she would think he was a "lunatic". But the singer could not be more wrong and the pair married in Hawaii in July 1982 before going on to have three children together, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. With Sharon's encouragement and help from her music manager dad Don, he began to carve out a successful solo career. His seminal first album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 became a multi-platinum success thanks to Ozzy's howling vocals and macabre laugh on hit Crazy Train. Coupled with the Prince of Darkness' insane tour that saw him bite the head off a live bat, a string of successful tracks followed - cementing Ozzy as a rock legend around the world. In 1992, the singer announced his retirement but four years later created the beloved annual music festival Ozzfest with Sharon, which featured heavy metal acts touring the US and some of Europe. Ozzy returned to Black Sabbath in 1999, with the band winning a Grammy for best metal performance for the song Iron Man. They later earned the same award in 2013 after releasing single God Is Dead? from album 13. Queen icon Sir Brian May also paid tribute, saying Ozzy's final concert earlier in the month "was a glorious way to say goodbye" to the heavy metal vocalist. The guitarist said on social media: "So sad to hear of Ozzie's passing. "His last appearance at Villa Park was a glorious way to say goodbye - the love in that place for him was gigantic. "I'm grateful I was able to have a few quiet words with him after the show. And happy to know he passed peacefully with his loving family close by." He added: "But the world will miss Ozzie's unique presence and fearless talent. My heartfelt consolations to Sharon and their great family. "And to Bill (Ward) and Geezer (Butler) and my dear friend Tony (Iommi) - for this is family - I know only too well. REST IN PEACE dear Ozzie. Bri." 10 The Osbourne Clan remained a solid unit throughout the decades Credit: PA 10 Ozzy credited Sharon with saving his life in interviews over the years Credit: Getty
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Heartbroken Sharon Osbourne responds to touching Ozzy tributes after Black Sabbath legend's death aged 76
Sharon Osbourne has spoken out for the first time since the death of her husband Ozzy aged 76 on Tuesday, replying to heartfelt messages from fans. English musician Gavin Rossdale took to Instagram shortly after the news broke to pay tribute to the heavy metal icon, writing: 'RIP OZZY - a great man -a true legend - i met ozzy through jack just a few times but he was so warm and kind and funny and i love that memory .sending much love to his family at this difficult time. Rest in power.' Ozzy's heartbroken wife Sharon replied to his post: 'Bless you.' The Black Sabbath legend's death was announced by his family last night in a statement which read: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Ozzy married Sharon, the daughter of the band's manager Don Arden, on July 4, 1982. The rocker was able to bid an emotional farewell to his fans on stage this month as he reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time since 2005. 'You've no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart,' Osbourne told the crowd in his final speech. The music legend vowed, however, that it would be his final ever performance due to his health, having opened up about his battle with Parkinson's in 2020. The star was a titan of music who somehow survived controversies that would end the careers of many others, and weathered health problems that would leave most of us on our backs. Whether it was biting the head off both a bat and a dove, snorting a line of ants or urinating on a US war memorial while wearing one of his wife Sharon's dresses, Osbourne was defined by his antics both on and off stage. The singer, who sold more than 100 million records, will forever be synonymous with the heavy metal band he formed in his home city of Birmingham in 1969. With hits that included Iron Man, War Pigs and Paranoid, Black Sabbath's pushing of occult themes proved both hugely popular and controversial, with a future pope even condemning Osbourne for his 'subliminal satanic influence'. On Wednesday, MailOnline revealed that an air ambulance was called to Ozzy's multi-million-pound country home as paramedics battled to save his life. The Thames Valley air ambulance landed in a field close to Welders House, the singer's Grade II listed mansion on Tuesday morning at around 10.30am. It's believed that calls from Welders House had led call handlers to believe that the Black Sabbath singer's life was in the balance. A chopper was dispatched from Thames Valley ambulance base at RAF Benson in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, some 27 miles from the mansion which is located close to the village of Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. The crew were airborne for around 15 minutes before landing in the grounds of the mansion and were then with Ozzy for around two hours, trying but failing to save his life, it's understood. News of the helicopter drama is the first insight into the finer details of the singer's death. Locals in the village of Jordans, which adjoins Osbourne's home told MailOnline that they realised 'something serious' was taking place when they heard a helicopter hovering above Welders and then saw it land nearby. It was seen taking off again at around 12.30pm. One resident, who did not wish to be named said: 'I went out to have a look and saw that it was landing close to Ozzy's house. 'All of us were talking about it and wondering what had happened. We immediately feared it may be for him as he was known to be in fragile health. 'When we heard later that night that he had died it confirmed our worst fears.' A spokesperson for Thames Valley Air Ambulance confirmed to MailOnline: 'We can confirm that our helicopter was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident near Chalfont St Giles yesterday.' Ozzy's 125-year-old country pile is surrounded by a 350-acre estate which he and Sharon bought in the summer of 1993 for an undisclosed sum. Ahead of his arrival in the UK for his farewell concert in Birmingham three weeks ago it had undergone a major refurbishment which included a dedicated rehab wing, swimming pool and pond so that he could spend more time there as his health deteriorated. Another local, Jane, also saw the Air Ambulance. She told MailOnline: 'I was out walking when I saw the helicopter landing close to Welders and realised something serious was happening…. 'Ozzy Osbourne was quite a character and we'll miss him.' The Thames Valley Air Ambulance service is based at RAF Benson in Wallingford, Oxfordshire and covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It can reach any location within these three counties in a maximum of 15 minutes. The Air Ambulance base is around 27 miles from the property with locals telling MailOnline that after seeing it land, they saw it take off again and fly over Jordans at around 12.30pm. It only has one helicopter which is painted bright red and is routinely called out to provide critical care to patients in emergency situations. This can range from road traffic accidents to those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke. Thames Valley Air Ambulance receives no government or NHS funding and relies entirely on donations and is a registered charity. Earlier this week, it revealed that it had logged its 20,000th emergency call out since becoming an independent healthcare provider in 2018, which allows it to crew its aircraft with its own medical staff. This equates to an average of nine call outs per day.
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sharon Osbourne breaks silence as she responds to touching Ozzy tributes after her beloved husband's death aged 76
SHARON Osbourne has broken her silence as she responds to touching tributes paid to her beloved husband Ozzy. The iconic singer - dubbed the Prince of Darkness - passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, it was confirmed yesterday. 5 5 Now, his loving wife Sharon has responded to fans sending their condolences on social media. She replied to one message shared by musician Gavin Rossdale. The Bush singer posted a picture of himself with Ozzy on Instagram, with the caption: "RIP OZZY - a great man - a true legend - I met Ozzy through Jack just a few times, but he was so warm and kind and funny and I love that memory. "Sending much love to his family at this difficult time. Rest in power." Sharon wrote underneath "bless you" in acknowledgement of the tribute. The late rock star's wife also replied to BBC Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders' message of support. "Jack thank you for your tribute to Ozzy tonight, bless you," she commented. Thames Valley Air Ambulance confirmed an air ambulance was dispatched to 'provide advanced critical care'. Sharon — married for 43 years — said in a joint statement that he had been 'surrounded by love'. Ozzy Osbourne top five greatest moments Ozzy's life changed forever when Sharon Levy turned up at the door in 1970. He later said of the woman who became his second wife: 'If it weren't for her, without a shadow of a doubt, I would be dead.' Sharon, then 27, was the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden. They'd first met when she was 18 and working as her dad's receptionist. The singer wrote in his autobiography I Am Ozzy: 'I fell for Sharon so badly, man.' Sharon convinced the wreck that he could be a solo star, and that she should be the one to manage him. In one of his last interviews, Ozzy described the reality TV star and X Factor judge as his 'soulmate'. He said: 'Sometimes I love her, sometimes I don't love her, sometimes I'm angry with her, sometimes I'm crazy about her, sometimes I'm very jealous of her, sometimes I wanna f***ing kill her. 'But through it all, at the end of the day, I love her more than anything in the world.' As Sharon took over running Ozzy's professional life, the Brummie lad quickly realised that he had never met a woman like her before. In his 2009 biography, I Am Ozzy, he revealed: 'I'd never come across a girl who was like me. Wherever we went, we were always the drunkest and the loudest. 'I learned that when Sharon is on a mission, she'll throw herself at it, lock, stock and barrel, and not stop fighting until well after the bell's rung. 'I trusted Sharon like I'd never trusted anyone before on the business side of things.' Not only did she become mother to his three children Aimee, Kelly and Jack but she also got things back on track. Debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz, with big numbers like Crazy Train, Suicide Solution and Mr Crowley, appeared in September 1980, and eventually sold more than five million copies. Sharon also amped up his satanic image, encouraging stage antics such as flinging animal entrails into the audience. Ozzy's family statement BLACK Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. A statement from his family said: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. "Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Sharon and Ozzy wed in Hawaii on July 4, 1982. However, in 1989 Ozzy's hardcore partying lifestyle took a sinister turn when he tried to strangle Sharon. Although the couple have famously spoken about how they both gave as good as they got, the incident saw Ozzy seek help for his drug use. She agreed not to press charges if he went to rehab - a decision that allowed the artist to continue performing and become the icon he is remembered as today. Along with Sharon and his kids, they became global TV sensations through their groundbreaking fly-on-the-wall documentary The Osbournes. It was such a smash hit that it paved the way for similar reality shows featuring Paris Hilton and later The Kardashians. The Black Sabbath star's death comes just weeks after he took to the stage one final time with his band mates at Villa Park in Birmingham. Only three weeks ago, the Prince of Darkness who brought light into so many lives gave us one last hurrah when heavy metal royalty descended on Villa Park, Birmingham, to pay their respects. The Back to the Beginning gig ended with him - seated on a giant black throne because he could not stand - joining his Black Sabbath muckers on the songs that took him to the world stage. The icon vowed, however, that it would be his final performance due to his deteriorating health, having opened up about his battle with Parkinson's in 2020. Then, on July 22, Ozzy died at home in his stunning mansion in Welders, Buckinghamshire, "surrounded by love". 'HE SECURED HIS PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF ROCK GODS' Ozzy's death on Tuesday — just 17 days after a farewell gig at the city's Villa Park stadium — drew condolences from stars including Sir Rod Stewart, Noel Gallagher and Sir Elton John. And yesterday friends said many big names wanted to salute the bat-munching, self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, who became a national treasure. Such a service would be held ahead of a smaller private funeral. A source told The Sun: 'There are conversations about a celebration of his life in Birmingham, the city that meant so much to him. 'Artists like Yungblud, who was seen by Ozzy as a musician who could carry on the mantle of what he started all those years ago, is expected to have a role in it. 'There are hundreds of big names who will want to pay their respects and celebrate his life and legacy, as well as thousands of fans who would line the streets to say goodbye.' Tributes poured in for the legendary singer from across the music world. Sir Elton John shared a photo of himself alongside Ozzy with the message: "So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away. "He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. "He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. "To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx" Singer-songwriter Yungblud wrote on X: "I didn't think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. "But as it is written with legends, they seem to know things that we don't. "I will never forget you - you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. "Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. "You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. "You took us on your adventure - an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time." Ozzy Osbourne's iconic career The singer then pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963, aged 15. After appearing in a handful of school plays, Ozzy joined Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler in their first group Rare Breed in 1967. When that band split, the pair reunited in Polka Tulk Blues alongside Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The group later became known as Black Sabbath and went onto shatter the music world with their whining guitar solos, Occult-based lyrics and Ozzy's screeching vocals. In 1970, the group gained a cult following in both the US and UK after releasing their eponymous first album. Black Sabbath saw incredible success with hit tracks such as Paranoid but discord in the group saw most of the original line-up leave. Ozzy himself quit the band in 1978, with a spiral into drug abuse leading to a divorce from first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with. It was then he first met a young Sharon Arden, who Ozzy at first wrote off as he believed she would think he was a "lunatic". But the singer could not be more wrong and the pair married in Hawaii in July 1982 before going on to have three children together, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. With Sharon's encouragement and help from her music manager dad Don, he began to carve out a successful solo career. His seminal first album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 became a multi-platinum success thanks to Ozzy's howling vocals and macabre laugh on hit Crazy Train. Coupled with the Prince of Darkness' insane tour that saw him bite the head off a live bat, a string of successful tracks followed - cementing Ozzy as a rock legend around the world. In 1992, the singer announced his retirement but four years later created the beloved annual music festival Ozzfest with Sharon, which featured heavy metal acts touring the US and some of Europe. Ozzy returned to Black Sabbath in 1999, with the band winning a Grammy for best metal performance for the song Iron Man. They later earned the same award in 2013 after releasing single God Is Dead? from album 13. Queen icon Sir Brian May also paid tribute, saying Ozzy's final concert earlier in the month "was a glorious way to say goodbye" to the heavy metal vocalist. The guitarist said on social media: "So sad to hear of Ozzie's passing. "His last appearance at Villa Park was a glorious way to say goodbye - the love in that place for him was gigantic. "I'm grateful I was able to have a few quiet words with him after the show. And happy to know he passed peacefully with his loving family close by." He added: "But the world will miss Ozzie's unique presence and fearless talent. My heartfelt consolations to Sharon and their great family. "And to Bill (Ward) and Geezer (Butler) and my dear friend Tony (Iommi) - for this is family - I know only too well. REST IN PEACE dear Ozzie. Bri."
