1969
Before being known as Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tommy Iommi performed under the name Earth.
1970
The heavy metal band members were ready to rock as they posed for this shot.
1972
Ozzy, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, struggled with school early on. It was his passion for music that ultimately helped him move forward.
“I left school with a little more education than when I first started going,” he told The Associated Press in 2010. “Because of my dyslexia, I couldn’t learn. So, I was teased a lot by one of my sister about not bing able to read. It’s very shameful.”
“If it wasn’t for The Beatles turning me onto music in a big way, I don’t know what I would have done,” he continued. “Music has been the main thing that got me out of the area, the place I was born.”
1973
In 1968, he and his friends formed Black Sabbath, inspired by the film of the same name, with their self-titled debut album earning major commercial success. In 1971, he married his first wife Thelma Riley, with whom he shared kids Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne and Elliot Kingsley.
1974
The “Paranoid” singer, donning shiny pants embellished with a snake, embraced the crowd during the band’s set at the California Jam music festival.
1975
Black Sabbath walked the streets of London in style.
1976
The band performed at the iconic Hammersmith Odeon—now named the Eventim Apollo—in London.
1977
Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill were all smiles as they showed off their silver recording certification for Technical Ecstasy.
1980
Ozzy was happy to sink his teeth into a macabre photo shoot. He was fired from Black Sabbath the year before due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.
"Money would be the alcohol and the drugs and I behaved badly,” he said in his documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne of that time. "That was one of the lowest points of my life.”
1982
Ozzy—as a solo artist—took the stage at Madison Square Garden for his Diary of a Madman tour, just two days after he infamously bit into a dead bat that was thrown onto the stage, which he believed was fake.
"I just thought it was a rubber bat," Ozzy said in the documentary, "and I just put it in my mouth and crunched down. I just f--king bit into it, you know, being the f--king clown that I am [and was like], 'Oh no! It's real.'"
Later that year, he married his manager, Sharon Arden.
1983
The “Iron Man” singer, donning his iconic dark eyeliner, posed with a cigarette before a performance in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their first child together, Aimee Osbourne.
1984
Ozzy and Motlëy Crüe’s Vince Neil posed after performing for their Bark at the Moon tour. Ozzy and Sharon welcomed their daughter Kelly Osbourne.
1985
Ozzy and Sharon, who tied the knot in 1982, were in paradise as they vacationed in Brazil. They also welcomed their son, Jack Osbourne.
1986
Posing for pics before a performance in Chicago on July 13, 1986.
1987
Ozzy at home with Sharon and their kids Kelly, Jack and Aimee.
1988
The British star showcased his '80s rockstar hair for this portrait in his garden in May 1988.
1989
In August 1989, Ozzy's band performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in Russia.
1991
The singer proved he was a style icon as he posed in round-rimmed sunglasses and a black and red theatrical military-inspired ensemble.
1992
Black Sabbath made its mark as the band members left their handprints at the Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
1995
Ozzy sang his heart out at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany.
1997
A portrait of the Osbourne family at their luxury home in Beverly Hills.
1998
Black Sabbath proved their bond was forever as they celebrated 30 years as a band. Ozzy had rejoined one year earlier.
1999
In 1999, the rocker attended the unveiling of the Ozzy Osbourne Action Figure at McFarlane Toy Showroom in New York City.
2000
The Grammy-winner rocked his signature black leather style at the 2000 Grammy Awards.