Ozzy Through the Years: 16 Legendary Throwback Photos of Ozzy Osbourne

On July 22, Ozzy Osbourne — leader singer of the heavy metal band “Black Sabbath” — passed away at the age of 76. The singer, also known as The Prince of Darkness, had recently finished a farewell show (and the highest-grossing charity concert in history). Osbourne suffered from Parkinson’s disease, and spent much of the performance seated in his black leather throne.

Still, we will always think of Oz as the wild rocker he once was. He’s the bat head-biting, profanity-flinging, vocal madman who everyone called crazy but admired his talents anyway. These vintage photos offer a glimpse into Ozzy Osbourne’s wild ride during his younger years.

1. 4-Year-Old Prince of Darkness (1952)

2. Recording the First ‘Black Sabbath’ Album (1970)

3. Peace, Man (1971)

4. 26-Year-Old Ozzy Deep in Thought (1974)

5. Rocking the Long Hair (1975)

6. ‘Black Sabbath’ Backstage at Cobo Hall in Detroit (1976)

7. Bearded Ozzy (1977)

8. Chilling With Tony Iommi in Wye Valley (1977)

9. Performing at the American Rock Festival (1981)

10. Ozzy and Sharon’s Wedding (1982)

11. Have You Ever Seen Someone So Stoked To Be Posing by a Volvo? (1982)

12. Say ‘Cheese’ (1983)

13. Giving Sharon a Squeeze (1984)

14. Ozzy and Sharon Looking So … Suburban (1985)

15. Ozzy Looking Nothing Like Himself (1985)

16. Dressed as Pagliacci for the MTV Video Music Awards Promo (1999)

Looking for more rockstar content?

For a raucous trip down memory lane, take a look at The Roots of Rock: 20 Throwback Photos That Show the Rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the ’50s. You might also be interested in 10 Famous Rockstar Clothing Items That Sold for Absolutely Wild Prices and 15 Throwback Photos That Capture the Energy of Swing Dancing.