By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
REGION – News of the passing of 76-year-old Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, sent fans and the rock and roll world reeling. The Godfather of Heavy Metal made headlines throughout his career spanning over 60 years including one controversial moment that almost got the U.K. native canceled in Boston.
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Early Boston shows
The former frontman and vocalist for metal pioneers Black Sabbath performed with the band at area venues like the Boston Tea Party in 1970, and the Boston Garden in 1971 and 1975. These shows played a significant role in establishing a loyal fan base for the British rockers in the United States’ northeastern region. By 1979, Black Sabbath members were forced to show Osbourne the door after having had enough of his out-of-control behavior.
Osbourne recalled in his decades-old memoir, “I Am Ozzy,” “It was obvious that Bill (Ward) had been sent by the others, because he wasn’t exactly the firing type. I can’t remember exactly what he said to me … but the gist was that Tony (Iommi) thought I was a pissed, coked-up loser and a waste of time for everyone concerned.” Since his death, the book has unsurprisingly returned to Amazon’s bestsellers list.
Solo career
The “Bark at the Moon” singer embarked on a solo career that initially experienced tragedy and a bit of opposition. Two weeks before Osbourne was set to play the Boston Garden in April of 1982, his guitarist Randy Rhoads was killed in a plane crash. Wife Sharon convinced him to continue the tour while his Blizzard of Oz band tried playing with a replacement for one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Adding salt to the wound, a wild rumor started which threatened cancellation of an upcoming show at the Garden.
In 1981, Osbourne bit the heads off two doves in front of record executives at a sales convention. The next year, a fan in Des Moines, Iowa threw a bat onstage. Thinking it was a rubber toy, Osbourne bit off its head and was later given rabies and tetanus shots. This led many to believe the singer was into animal cruelty and puppies might be next on the menu.
With that unfounded rumor in mind, the sold-out show for April 2, 1982, almost did not happen after the Garden received a letter from the state Licensing Board for the City of Boston. The board was concerned about rumors that animals would be killed during the concert.
Not only did Osbourne go on to perform there, but some head-banging fans will remember flocking to his 1983 April Fool’s show at the Centrum in Worcester, and seeing him hang out at Cahoots, the downtown bar in the old Marriott Inn at Lincoln Square (now a Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences dorm). His popularity held even more so in the Bay State after the launch of Ozzfest, a touring festival (1996 to 2018).
His role in the reality TV Show “The Osbournes,” which chronicled his everyday life with his wife and children in their Los Angeles home introduced him to a new audience and wider fame while it aired on MTV between 2002 and 2005. It was considered a pioneer among reality shows focusing on the lives of celebrities and was cited as the most-viewed series on MTV. Interestingly, his signature song “Crazy Train,” from his debut solo album in 1980, did not hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart until after his death.
Final concerts with Black Sabbath
In August 2016, Osbourne joined Black Sabbath for a concert in Mansfield where he asked an enthusiastic crowd, “Is this the end for Black Sabbath?” Much to their disappointment, Osbourne followed up with an answer, “It is.”
Photo/Wikimedia Commons
Weeks before his death, Osbourne was reunited again with his former bandmates during his farewell show in Birmingham, U.K., where he sang from a throne due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Among those who paid homage to the late performer were the New England Patriots who for over 20 years ran out onto the field on game day to “Crazy Train.” The team posted, “Condolences to his family and all who mourn his loss.”
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