Ozzy Osbourne

Few artists have impacted the world of entertainment like Ozzy Osbourne. He is one of rock music's most enduring figures who in the last two years has also become one of television's best loved personalities via the wildly successful hit MTV show "The Osbourne's" (the highest rated original program in MTV's 24-year history). With his first #1 hit single ("Changes" featuring daughter, Kelly) on the UK charts in December, a Broadway play and a film based on his life story in the works, Ozzy's popularity, creativity and reach is immeasurable.
 

John Michael Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948 in Birmingham, England. Throughout an extraordinary career, which has so far spanned three decades, Osbourne has made major contributions to the worlds of music and popular culture. As co-founder, lead singer, and songwriter for Black Sabbath (1970-79) he was, in effect, a chief architect of the genre now known as "heavy metal", creating the powerful new sound and provocative performance style that would forever expand the definition of rock music. Black Sabbath has sold more than 25 million records in the U.S. alone.

In 1980, Osbourne debuted as a solo artist to widespread popular acclaim. Over the next two decades, his career continued to gain momentum with a continuous string of multi-platinum albums, and he has brought his notorious live show to sold-out arenas in virtually every corner of the world. As a solo artist, Osbourne has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, bringing his cumulative sales to more than 90 million albums. Blockbusters such as Black Sabbath's seminal Paranoid and Ozzy's solo smashes Blizzard of Ozz and No More Tears are 4x Platinum and still selling thousands of copies each week.

As the founder and star attraction of his annual OZZfest festival tour, now in its 9th year, Ozzy continues to win over legions of new fans while at the same time building the hard rock audience by introducing standing-room-only crowds to emerging artists in the genre. The number of multi-platinum bands (which include Incubus, System Of A Down, Limp Bizkit, Godsmack, Slipknot and Disturbed) that got their start or broke through due to their visibility on OZZfest is staggering. OZZfest which was launched in 1996 is the longest running and most successful music festival of its kind and since its inception has sold over 5 million tickets for a total of more than $100 million dollars in revenue.

Ozzy Osbourne can be seen weekly on the Emmy Award winning series "The Osbourne's" (now in its 3rd season on MTV). The show is so popular in part because Ozzy's loving wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack provide Ozzy with a nuclear family life that one would not normally associate with a star who is sometimes referred to as the "The Prince Of Darkness."

The influence of Ozzy Osbourne can be felt just as strong, if not stronger, in 2004 as it was in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties. In his thirty-five years in the music business Ozzy's popularity with die-hard music lovers has never waned. In fact, it only seems to have gotten bigger. From his days as a member of the legendary rock band, Black Sabbath, and throughout his tremendously successful solo career (and now, television popularity) Ozzy has transcended all boundaries and categories and is truly among the elite few who can lay claim to being called a true Rock Icon.
Here are some the milestones from Grammy Award-winning Ozzy Osbourne's 34-year career:

THE SEVENTIES

• Ozzy releases his first record with Black Sabbath in 1970 (released Friday, February 13th). The self-titled record goes platinum that same year in the U.K. and U.S.

• Ozzy releases 10 records with Black Sabbath.

• Black Sabbath has sold over 30 million records (to date) worldwide.

• Black Sabbath embarks on several world tours and performs to legions of fans around the globe.

• Black Sabbath performs at the first California Jam in June 1974 to over 250,000 fans.

• Ozzy leaves Black Sabbath and goes solo in 1979.

THE EIGHTIES

• Ozzy releases his first solo record Blizzard Of Ozz in 1980. The record quickly goes 4x Platinum.

• Ozzy releases seven records throughout the decade. Each one sells over two million copies.

• Ozzy has sold over 50 million CD's as a solo artist worldwide.

• Ozzy performs at the US Festival in 1983 in front of 250,000 fans.

• Ozzy performs at Live Aid in 1985, the legendary benefit concert for world hunger.

• Ozzy performs at the Russian Peace Festival in 1989. This was the first major rock concert in the Soviet Republic by Western artists.

THE NINETIES

• Ozzy releases five records this decade. Each record goes multi-platinum.

• Ozzy has performed to millions of fans around the world. His live concerts are guaranteed sell-outs.

• Ozzy won a Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Metal Performance for "I Don't Want To Change the World.

• Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon launch OZZfest in 1996, the first national music festival of its kind dedicated to hard rock music and breaking new artists.

• 1.4 million fans attend the annual OZZfest music festival which Ozzy headlines.

• Ozzy donated a portion of the OZZfest proceeds to various charities across the country including Lifebeat.

THE NEW MILLENIUM

• Ozzy won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2000 as a part of Black Sabbath for "Iron Man.

• Ozzy (with Black Sabbath) headlines OZZfest 2001. Over 1 million-plus fans attended 32 sold-out dates.

• Noted film director Penelope Spheeris shot a full-length documentary on OZZfest titled "We Sold Our Souls For Rock 'n' Roll," that debuted at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. Ozzy also appears in the Adam Sandler film "Little Nicky" and "Austin Powers Goldmember" (with the Osbournes).

• Ozzy received an MTV Movie Awards 2001 nomination for "Best Cameo" for his role in "Little Nicky.

• Ozzy has released 13 albums during his 20-year career with Epic Records.

• Ozzy received a Star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, April 12, 2002.

• "The Osbournes" debuts on MTV to a record-breaking audience for a new program. Further episodes create a national sensation around the Osbourne family and ratings skyrocket to become the highest-ever in MTV's 22 year history.

• Ozzy dines with President Bush at the Washington Correspondents Association Dinner in May 2002.

• Ozzy performs the Black Sabbath classic "Paranoid" for Queen Elizabeth's 50th Jubilee celebration at Buckingham Palace in June 2002.

• Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly & Jack host ABC-TV's "American Music Awards" in January 2003.

• Ozzy, Kelly & Jack's Emmy nominated "Pepsi Twist" commercial airs during Superbowl XXXVII (2003).

• Ozzy & Kelly hit #1 on the UK singles charts with their remake of the Black Sabbath classic "Changes.