Ozzy Osbourne Heavy-metal pioneer

OZZY OSBOURNE, THE heavy-metal star who fronted the British rock band Black Sabbath, died on July 22 at the age of 76, his family said in a statement. Osbourne, who publicly shared his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease in 2020, has been credited with helping invent heavy metal with Black Sabbath and went on to have a successful solo career in the 1980s.

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He later went on to star in the hit MTV reality show The Osbournes, which first aired in 2002 and focused on his life with his wife Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack.

Black Sabbath, dubbed “the Beatles of heavy metal” by Dave Navarro of the band Jane’s Addiction in 2010, released their self-titled debut album in 1970. The band fired Osbourne in 1979, citing instances of him turning up to rehearsals late and missing performances. But Osbourne continued performing as a solo artist, releasing 13 of his own albums. He earned the nickname Prince of Darkness.