Only a few weeks after playing his final show, Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease over the last few years. The Godfather of Heavy Metal's final concert saw him joined by his namesake band Black Sabbath for the last time, as well as some of rock music's greatest names to pay tribute to one of the metal genre's most influential figures.
Osbourne's death shocked and devastated the music world, with fans and fellow musicians paying tribute to the Prince Of Darkness who, despite his declining health in recent years, was known for his thrilling stage presence and unmistakable identity, even to the very end.
Osbourne first rose to fame in the 1970s as the vocalist for Black Sabbath. Alongside Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, Black Sabbath played a major part in creating the genre we now know as heavy metal, combining complex music with darkly hypnotic and Satanic imagery.
After being kicked out of the band in 1979, Osbourne embarked on a highly-successful solo career, releasing a number of albums -- including Blizzard of Oz (1980), Diary of a Madman (1981), Bark at the Moon (1983), and No More Tears (1991) -- that cemented him as a household name, rock legend, and controversial figure.
Throughout his career, there were many moments that helped fuel Osbourne's image as a wild and unpredictable, yet insanely talented, rock 'n' roll icon. Here are the most standout moments from the "Crazy Train" singer's illustrious career that, following his passing, music fans will always remember and cherish.
Biting the head off a bat onstage
Even if you don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of Osbourne's music, you might know him well enough as "the guy that bit the head off a bat that one time." It sounds like a typical rock 'n' roll urban legend, but unlike the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil or Marilyn Manson allegedly having one of his ribs surgically removed -- this story is true.
On January 20, 1982, while performing a show in Des Moines, Iowa, a fan from the crowd threw a bat onstage. Osbourne, in the excitement of performing, grabbed the bat and bit the head of without hesitation, thinking it was a rubber toy. He was quickly proven wrong.
Over the years, it's been debated whether or not the bat was alive when it was thrown onstage by then 17-year-old Mark Neal. According to Neal, he brought the bat to the show dead. However, according to Osbourne, the bat was very much alive -- alive enough for him to get bit by the animal and require a rabies shot immediately after.
The incident has become so synonymous with Osbourne that a plush bat toy (with a detachable head) was sold on his website in 2019 to celebrate the anniversary of the event. The first batch released sold out in minutes.
Biting the head off a dove in front of CBS
Evidently, that bat was not the first animal Osbourne ended up decapitating. The year before, Osbourne bit the head off a dove during a meeting with executives from CBS Records. The singer was reportedly heavily intoxicated at the time and, while originally intending to let the dove free to fly as a symbol of peace, decided to bite the head off the bird instead.
As Osbourne was being escorted out of the premises, he allegedly grabbed a second dove and bit the head off of it as well. This incident, combined with his run-in with the ill-fated bat, caused Osbourne to maintain a legacy as both a heavy metal legend and the singer who beheads flying animals.
The Alamo
They say to "remember the Alamo," and perhaps nobody abided by this motto better than Osbourne (or at least his fans). Not many people can say they invented an entire musical genre, and fewer people can say they caused themselves to be banned from the city of San Antonio, Texas, home to the renowned historic site.
On February 18, 1982, Osbourne was posing in his then-future wife Sharon's wedding dress for a photoshoot at the Alamo. Considerably drunk at the time, Osbourne urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph monument. Located across the street from the Alamo, the Alamo Cenotaph was constructed in 1939 to honor those who died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Osbourne has apparently been drinking that entire day, even going on to firing his entire band (which he later didn't recall doing). Following the urination at the Alamo, Osbourne was arrested and banned from performing in San Antonio. The ban was finally lifted in 1992, when he publicly apologized for the incident and donated $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
The Osbournes (2002-2005)
It's hard to pick just one memorable moment from The Osbournes, a reality television show that followed the daily lives of Osbourne, his wife, and their two children Kelly and Jack. The show had many touching family moments as well as numerous hilarious and whacky escapades that the Osbourne family found themselves in.
Whether it's Ozzy wondering where his beer went, Ozzy wondering how to work the TV remote, or Ozzy and Sharon having heart-to-heart conversations with their kids about the struggles of substance abuse and young adulthood. The Osbournes contains so many iconic moments that the entire show is an unforgettable highlight for Ozzy's fans.
Snorting a line of ants with Mötley Crüe
Similar to the Prince of Darkness, the boys from Mötley Crüe were known for their dangerous behavior off stage, maintaining a legacy of debauchery all on their own. The artists' paths collided in 1984 when both Osbourne and the Crüe were on tour together.
Allegedly, while both Osbourne and the band were trying to one-up each other in terms of grossness, Osbourne decided to take home the title by doing the unthinkable: snorting a line of ants. The story has gone down in rock history as an infamous (and nasty) story, with many debating whether it actually happened.
The incident was even depicted in Mötley Crüe's 2019 biopic The Dirt. Whether or not Osbourne actually snorted ants is still debated, but either way, the supposed urban legend wouldn't be the craziest thing that he has done.
His role as an anti-rock priest in Trick Or Treat (1986)
Osbourne has made a number of appearances in film and television over the years, but perhaps one of his most iconic is his brief cameo as a Catholic priest in the cult film Trick or Treat (1986). Also containing a cameo from KISS' Gene Simmons, Trick or Treat is about a high school metalhead who is haunted by the ghost of his favorite rockstar, Sammi Curr, who returns from the dead with cruel intentions.
In one scene, Osbourne plays Reverend Aaron Gilstrom, who makes an appearance on a talk show condemning rock musicians and their provocative songwriting. While anyone with this view point wouldn't win the affection of any rock fans, there's nothing wittier than casting one of the genre's most controversial names as a member of a group who was so adamant on condemning it.
The time he met Paul McCartney
It's hard to think that even the stars get star struck -- even harder to think that Ozzy Osbourne of all people could be at a loss for words. The singer has gone on record numerous times as saying that The Beatles changed his life forever, and finding their music is what made him want to pursue a music career of his own.
While typically known for his unpredictable behavior both on and off stage, it seems Osbourne became the young Beatles fan from Birmingham as soon as he met Paul McCartney for the first time. Finally coming face to face with the artist who shaped his career, Osbourne is clearly honored to meet one of his greatest heroes, telling him "[The Beatles] made me start music."
Without Black Sabbath we wouldn't have heavy metal, but without The Beatles we wouldn't have Ozzy Osbourne.
When he had no idea who Justin Bieber was
Always quick to the punch, Osbourne didn't hesitate when it came to sharing his thoughts on the 21st century pop star. The moment is a brief one, but it has since become a funny moment among Ozzy fans.
While being interviewed on a talk show, Osbourne is asked if he listens to any new artists. The interviewer then jokingly asks if he listens to Justin Bieber, to which Osbourne immediately responds, "Who the f*ck is Justin Bieber?"
Osbourne eventually became acquainted with Bieber when the two shot a Super Bowl commercial together in 2011, directly referencing the infamous talk show incident.
Black Sabbath (1970)
The album that started it all. After a couple of reincarnations in the late 1960s, Black Sabbath eventually found their lineup with Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, and Bill Ward on drums. Each a master of their own craft, their combined forces went on to produce their debut self-titled album as Black Sabbath, changing the landscape of metal as we knew it.
Released in 1970, Black Sabbath holds a legacy as being the first legitimate heavy metal album, and its title track was labelled by Rolling Stone as the greatest heavy metal song ever written. It might now be considered surprising, but the record faced negative reviews upon release. However, looking back on the album, it is now looked upon as a masterpiece.
Before Black Sabbath came onto the scene, never had such haunting, occult-infused darkness ever been seen in popular music. Combining doom-inspired compositions with a sensational and sludgy mask, Black Sabbath's debut record set the prototype for what would soon become metal music, forever altering rock music's everlasting and sensational sonic identity.
Back to the Beginning
One of Osbourne's most memorable moments among fans was his recent sold-out final show. The final concert, titled Back to the Beginning, was held on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham, U.K. It was labelled as not just Black Sabbath's final concert together, but the last time that Osbourne would ever perform onstage.
It became one of the highest-selling charity concerts in history, raising $190 million for Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's. Other artists on the lineup that were there to pay tribute to Osbourne and Black Sabbath included Metallica, Anthrax, Halestorm, Mastodon, Tom Morello, Alice In Chains, and many more.
Due to his ongoing battle with Parkinson's, Osbourne performed his entire set sitting on a massive throne, but his physical condition did not stop him from giving one of the most thrilling performances of his entire career. The concert included many unforgettable moments, and through playing songs like "Mama I'm Coming Home," it was clear to see that the emotions were heavy for Osbourne.
There are many things Osbourne has done throughout his career that not many have said they've done and that not many are brave enough to risk. While the singer was known for his erratic behavior outside of his musical contributions, he was honorable enough to leave this world with raising millions of dollars for children's hospitals and Parkinson's research as his final swan song.
Not only is Osbourne known for his often controversial career, but he is also praised for his irreplaceable musical legacy. Without his contributions to rock 'n' roll, the entire genre would not be what it is today.
Through the music he shared with the world, and his passionate love for his fans and performing live, perhaps Osbourne's truly most memorable career moment is driving the whole world mad over the last nearly six decades -- and the world loving every second of it.