Farewell to Ozzy the Prince of Darkness

I was never too much into heavy metal but at times I would give a listen and Ozzy was one you could never close your ears too. There was just too much to like. In celebration of his life coming into this world as John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne on December 3, 1948 and leaving this world on July 22, 2025. He was an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. In the 1970s Ozzy was the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath and later set out solo with his own albums.

Ozzy Osbourne was the premier voice in heavy metal. When he summoned all the terror in his being to sing “What is this which stands before me?” on the 1970 song “Black Sabbath,” it cast the mold for all metal singers that followed.

“Black Sabbath” was the first song released on the first album recorded by heavy metal band Black Sabbath. The song included the doomiest guiter riff that had ever been recorded and you heard Osbourne’s ominous voice “What is this that stands before me?,” he begins. “Figure in black that points at me” — before it becomes terrified and then doomed: “Oh no, God help me!”

“Paranoid” was the title track of their second album and became a Top 5 single in the UK and became one of the most-covered rock songs of all time. Released in 1970 it was the first single from their second album of the same name. The song is regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. The song charted on the UK Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts.

"Iron Man" is a song by English rock band Black Sabbath, released in 1970 from the band's second studio album, Paranoid, and as a single in the US in October 1971. It quickly became another classic from this album. The live rendition of this song from the band’s Reunion album 2001 won them the the 2000 Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance.

“Hole in the Sky” came out in 1975 as the lead off track from Sabotage. This album is considered to be the last great Sabbath album.

“Bark at the Moon” is a song recorded by heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It was the first single released from his 1983 album of the same name. The song charted on the UK Singles chart and on Billboard Album Rock Tracks. It has been voted as one of Ozzy’s best songs.

“Crazy Train” was the debut solo single by Ozzy Osbourne and came out in 1980. It is featured on his debut album as a solo artist Blizzard of Ozz. The song was written by Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, and Bob Daisley.

"Diary of a Madman" is the eighth and final track from Ozzy Osbourne's second album of the same name. It was written by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake. It is an innovative, near-ballad like song with haunting arpeggiated riff and a spacy middle section that leads into an over-the-top, Satanic-mass finale.

“Shot in the Dark” was recorded and performed by Ozzy Osbourne and is the ninth and final track on his 1986 album The Ultimate Sin. It became a Top Ten hit on mainstream radio and also became his first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Mama I’m Coming Home” is a power ballad recorded by Ozzy Osbourne and is featured on his sixth album No More Tears. It was first released in 1991. The song features Osbourne on vocals, Zakk Wylde on guitar, Bob Daisley on bass, and Randy Castillo on drums. The lyrics were written by Lemmy. This singles is Osbourne’s only solo Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"I Don't Want to Change the World" is a heavy metal song by Ozzy Osbourne. It first appeared as the second track of the album No More Tears. Two years later, the song appeared in a live version on the album Live & Loud (1993). This version won Best Metal Performance at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.

“Dreamer” is the third track from Osbourne’s album Down to Earth released in 2001. The single charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Ozzy referred to this song as his version of “Imagine” by John Lennon. As the chorus states “I’m just a dreamer/I dream my life away/I’m just a dreamer/Who dreams of better days.”