Ozzy Osbourne is one of the most notable rock artists of the past 55 years, both as the lead singer of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. Osbourne, who was 76 years old when he passed away on July 22, saw plenty of his fellow artists go through phases and chapter in their own career, including Steven Tyler. The Aerosmith singer famously released We're All Somebody, a country album out in 2016.
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Osbourne doesn't exactly criticize artists for switching genres, but he does say that he was never, ever interested in being anything but a rock star.
"Not me, thank you," Osbourne tells Rolling Stone in 2016. "Personally, I think you should stick to what you know best. If Steven's having a good time with it, who am I to complain? But it would be absurd for me to do that."
Osbourne adds that country music might work for some artists, but for him, it would never make sense, at least in his mind.
"I don't mind country," he says. "But the 'Prince of Darkness' with a cowboy hat? I'm a rock & roller, not a f***ing country bumpkin."
What Happened To Ozzy Osbourne
Osbourne's family announced the news of Osbourne's passing in a statement, without disclosing his cause of death.
"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," the family says in a statement to the New York Post via The Sun. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
In 2020, Osbourne announced that he had Parkinson's disease, which greatly impacted his mobility.. Osbourne performed his final show only a few weeks ago, on July 5, singing while seated on a throne.
"He's very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this," Osbourne's wife Sharon tells The Sun. "Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."
Proceeds from the show went to Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice.
