HBCU Reacts to Death of Rock Legend Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary figure who forever altered the landscape of both heavy metal music and reality television, died on Tuesday at the age of 76.

Osbourne had been battling a rare form of Parkinson’s disease and other health challenges in recent years. Despite these hardships, he remained a beloved icon to generations of fans.

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, he skyrocketed to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, a band he co-founded in 1968. With classic tracks like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” the group essentially birthed the heavy metal genre, and Osbourne became known as the “Prince of Darkness.”

Though he left the band in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, his solo career launched spectacularly with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980, featuring the enduring anthem “Crazy Train.” Osbourne’s theatrical stage presence and controversial antics, including the infamous 1982 incident where he bit the head off a bat, which led to his place as one of rock’s most unforgettable performers.

In addition to his success in music, Osbourne made a groundbreaking leap into reality television with 'The Osbournes', which aired on MTV from 2002 to 2005. The show offered an unfiltered look into his home life with his wife, Sharon, and children, Kelly and Jack. Viewers were drawn to the family’s chaos, making it one of the first successful reality TV series centered on a celebrity household. The show revealed not only Osbourne’s unpredictability but also his long-running struggles with addiction and health issues.

Tributes poured in from around the world, including a heartfelt message from Alabama State University.