Ozzy's Real Name: John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)

Quick answer: Ozzy Osbourne's real name was John Michael Osbourne. He was born on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England. He became famous as the singer of Black Sabbath and later as a solo star and reality-TV dad. "Ozzy" was a nickname he used as his stage name. He died on July 22, 2025, at age 76 (Library of Congress; Britannica; AP).

Real name and early life

The Library of Congress name authority files him as "Osbourne, Ozzy, 1948-2025," lists "Osbourne, John Michael" as a variant, and quotes a source saying he "uses stage name Ozzy Osbourne." Another LOC citation places his birth in Aston, a district of Birmingham. Britannica gives "Byname of: John Michael Osbourne."

Britannica says he grew up in a working-class family in Birmingham and left school at 15. He worked low-paying jobs and at 17 served two months in prison for burglary. He then sang in local bands and formed Earth with guitarist Tony Iommi. The band renamed itself Black Sabbath, after an old Boris Karloff film, to avoid confusion with another group called Earth.

Career highlights

Black Sabbath's debut album came out in February 1970. Its heavy, ominous, occult-themed sound helped define heavy metal, and the band built followings in Britain and the United States. It released an album almost every year through the mid-1970s. Osbourne was fired after the Never Say Die! tour in 1978. With the encouragement of his second wife, Sharon Arden, he launched a solo career. Blizzard of Ozz (1980), made with guitarist Randy Rhoads and featuring "Crazy Train," went multiplatinum, and Diary of a Madman (1981) followed. On that tour he bit the head off a live bat that he thought was a rubber toy.

He won a 1993 Grammy for "I Don't Want to Change the World," co-founded the touring Ozzfest in 1996, and reunited Black Sabbath, which won Grammys for "Iron Man" (1999) and "God Is Dead?" from 13 (2013). MTV's The Osbournes (2002–05) made him and his family reality-TV stars.

He had six children, including Aimee, Kelly, and Jack with Sharon. AP reported that he died weeks after a farewell Black Sabbath concert. CBS News noted that he had revealed a Parkinson's diagnosis in 2020 (CBS), and AP later reported that he died of a heart attack (AP).

Name notes for searchers

"Ozzy" is a nickname, not part of his legal name. His full name is John Michael Osbourne. The nickname "Prince of Darkness" refers to the same performer.