From the iconic “All Aboard!” opening of “Crazy Train” to his oft-meme’d “Sharon!” Ozzy Osbourne had one of the most recognizable screams in modern history.
The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and legendary rocker has died just weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final show in England. He was 76.
A family statement shared with USA TODAY said Osbourne died in Birmingham, England, “surrounded by love” Tuesday morning.
Osbourne was one of the most iconic figures in rock, molding the sound and perception of heavy metal with his one-of-a-kind voice and shocking antics. He followed his rock zenith with a reality TV career, making him as well known for biting the head off a bat on stage as his bemusing bickering at home with his wife and kids.
He leaves behind Sharon Osbourne, his wife of more than 40 years, as well as their daughters Aimee and Kelly and sons Louis and Jack.
House of Guitars owner shares memories
House of Guitars co-owner Armand Schaubroeck has lots of memories of Osbourne.
The famed Irondequoit music store hosted him three times for meet-and-greets while he was in town to perform, and in each case, he packed the place.
“He was very human,” Schaubroeck said. “He was real nervous. And I said, ‘Ozzy, it’s OK.’ And he said, ‘I’m not used to them being this close.’”
During one HOG appearance during the 1980s, Osbourne learned that his show here had sold out. “And he jumped in the air and made those signs with his fingers,” Schaubroeck said. “And he told the crowd, and they all cheered him. He was like a little kid. He showed his emotion.”
Schaubroeck recalled how after finishing up one autograph session at the store, Osbourne wasn’t sure how he was going to get to his Rochester gig.
“He never knew the plan,” Schaubroeck said. “He said, ‘I gotta call Sharon, I gotta called Sharon.’ He called her, and she told him not to worry, that the limo was on the way for him. Then he went.”
He also was a humble person, he said. When “People” magazine was writing a story about the House of Guitars, it reached out to a number of its rock-star patrons.
Most calls were returned by managers or assistants.
“Ozzy picked up the phone and called them back himself. He didn’t really owe us anything,” Schaubroeck said.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England on Dec. 3, 1948, he enjoyed more than five decades in the spotlight, first as a member of Black Sabbath before branching out on his own after being booted from the group in 1979 due to issues associated with drug and alcohol addiction. (His penultimate album, 2020’s “Ordinary Man,” was the first album he’d completed sober.)
He later reunited with Black Sabbath, the band that helped bring heavy metal to the world, including its 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a July 5 “Back to the Beginning” farewell show.
“It takes a while to switch off being Ozzy,” Osbourne told USA TODAY in 2013. “I’ve been on my own for 35 years and it took me three or four gigs to become un-Ozzy and be a member of Black Sabbath again. Now it’s one unit. It’s great, a different feeling entirely.”
Osbourne was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease in 2019. He learned the news shortly after suffering a bad fall that “screwed up all the vertebrae” in his neck, leading to the cancellation of his European tour.
Less than two weeks before his death, a new memoir from Osbourne called “Last Rites” was announced (releasing Oct. 7 from Grand Central Publishing Group).
In the book, he writes, “Look, if it ends tomorrow, I can’t complain. I’ve been all around the world. Seen a lot of things. I’ve done good… and I’ve done bad. But right now, I’m not ready to go anywhere.”
Schaubroeck will never forget the excitement Osbourne generated at his store.
After one appearance, “All the kids were calling their parents saying they met Ozzy and now they know him and they’ve gotta go to his concert” he said. “And the parents were like, ‘Why aren’t you in school?’ They skipped school and they wanted Mom to come down with her charge card and buy them tickets.”
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments and has an interest in retail news. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on X @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: House of Guitars owner reflects on Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy and visits to Rochester
Reporting by Marcia Greenwood and Melissa Ruggieri, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
