The “Prince of Darkness,” heavy metal singer and icon, and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne was laid to rest on July 30, 2025, at the age of 76. In the months after his death, many remember Ozzy Osbourne’s sobriety journey, with its setbacks, trials, and ultimate triumph.
Ozzy Osbourne struggled with his addiction for decades, both before and after his marriage to his long-term partner and wife Sharon Osbourne. People magazine reported that the dove-eating rock star battled issues stemming from Parkinson’s and his battle with lifelong addiction after his death on July 22 of this year. His addiction to alcohol and drugs was so bad, in 1979, fellow Black Sabbath bandmates kicked him out of the group.
Still, even after being married to the love of his life, finding success in reality television as the patriarch in the hit American TV show The Osbournes, and living as a family man, it wasn’t until 2014 that Ozzy finally started long-term sobriety. Multiple relapses before this, as well as stints in rehab encouraged by his wife Sharon, did little to stop the seriousness of his addiction. Osbourne admitted that at one point he drank up to 28 gallons of alcohol just to make it through the holiday season.
Though he found success in music, television, and family life, the heavy-metal singer said in a 2021 interview with Variety, “I’ve always been self-medicating because I’ve never liked the way I felt. I’ve had great success in my life, but I’ve never felt great about myself.”
Fortunately, Osbourne’s battle with addiction was ultimately successful, as he remained sober from 2014 onward. The singer even described his 2020 music album Ordinary Man as being the first he’d ever completed sober! His son, Jack, has also celebrated sobriety, remaining clean since entering rehab at 17-years-old in 2003.
Both father and son show two different sides to recovery. For some, like Jack, recovery can happen quickly and successfully. For others, like Ozzy Osbourne’s sobriety journey, the road is long, winding, but well worth it in the end. One thing is certain – both roads are lifelong, take effort, and are possible no matter how long you’ve been using.
