Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne started as the frontman for Black Sabbath in the early 1970s, a heavy metal band from Birmingham, England. His raw vocals and stage presence became a defining part of their sound during those years. After leaving Sabbath, he launched a solo career in 1979 with the album 'Blizzard of Ozz,' which included 'Crazy Train.' That song's guitar riff and his delivery made it an immediate rock radio staple, and it's still what many people first think of when they hear his name.

His solo work kept a loyal following through the '80s and '90s with albums like 'No More Tears,' which gave him another hit with the title track. Songs like 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' showed he could dial back the intensity for power ballads that connected on rock radio. The lineup behind him shifted over time, with guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde leaving their own marks on his records.

Personal struggles with substance abuse and mental health, along with the notorious 1982 bat-biting incident, became part of his public story. But he kept recording and performing, maintaining a place in rock culture without fading into nostalgia. For better or worse, his name is shorthand for a certain kind of theatrical, enduring metal personality.