Ozzy Osbourne has spent over five decades as a rock and roll icon, rising from the industrial streets of Birmingham to become one of heavy metal’s most recognizable – and unpredictable – figures. Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948, Ozzy’s life reads like a wild saga: working-class beginnings, fronting Black Sabbath, a notorious reputation for outrageous behavior, and a solo career that brought anthems like “Crazy Train” to generations of fans.
Of course, Ozzy’s public image is a mix of myth and reality. The infamous bat-biting incident (which he claims he thought was a toy), his struggles with addiction, and a relentless stage presence have made him both notorious and beloved in the music world. And then there’s his unexpected leap into reality TV: with the 2002 arrival of MTV’s “The Osbournes,” audiences fell for a new side of the “Prince of Darkness” – a sometimes-bewildered dad navigating chaos (and plenty of bleeped-out swearing) at home with wife Sharon and their kids.
Behind all the headlines, Ozzy’s personal life has always shaped his music and his story. His first marriage, to Thelma Riley in 1971, came as Black Sabbath’s star was rising. Ozzy and Thelma had two children, Jessica and Louis, and Ozzy also adopted Thelma’s son, Elliot. But the pressures of the band’s success, constant touring, and Ozzy’s growing dependence on drugs and alcohol strained their relationship. By 1982, it collapsed under the weight of addiction and infidelity.
That same year, Sharon Arden entered the picture – the daughter of Black Sabbath’s manager, she’d become much more than Ozzy’s business partner. When Black Sabbath fired him, Sharon took over managing Ozzy’s solo career, helping stage his comeback in spectacular, over-the-top fashion. Their professional relationship soon turned romantic, and they married in 1982, building a family with daughters Aimee and Kelly and son Jack.
If rock star marriages were built to self-destruct, somehow Ozzy and Sharon’s has done the opposite, surviving almost every challenge imaginable: Ozzy’s rehab stints, a terrifying ATV accident in 2003, public battles and breakups – including a 2016 spat that made headlines worldwide after Ozzy admitted to cheating. Sharon later revealed that Ozzy’s struggle with sex addiction was part of the story, and despite filing for divorce, she chose to reconcile. Looking back, Ozzy has admitted, “I’ve put Sharon through hell and back. She’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. That’s true love.”
The last decade hasn’t been easy – Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, and a 2019 fall left him with serious injuries and chronic pain. Through it all, Sharon has remained his closest ally and caretaker. By all accounts, their relationship, while far from perfect, just keeps enduring. Their daughter Kelly has spoken about her father’s “secretly sappy” side – how he writes poetry for Sharon or tries to surprise her, even if his body doesn’t always cooperate anymore.
Now in his mid-70s, Ozzy has largely stepped back from the road, acknowledging that his days of marathon touring are probably over. Still, he’s never lost his love of performing, or his offbeat sense of humor about his own legend. And at the heart of it all is Sharon – the anchor through decades of chaos, tragedy, and unlikely joy.
“Life without Sharon isn’t worth thinking about,” he reflected in a recent interview. “More than anything, I just want people to remember that I loved her. She’s everything to me.”
Past Relationships
Sharon Osbourne
Thelma Mayfair
michelle Pugh
Even for the man who sang “I am the walrus,” nothing could be simpler – or more human – than that.