Ozzy Osbourne, “the people’s prince of darkness” and “king of debauchery”
The singer of the legendary band Black Sabbath died on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76. Born in Birmingham, he embodied the cliché of a rock star through his excesses, while remaining a popular figure with whom it was easy to identify, according to the British press.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Less than three weeks ago, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne bid farewell to the crowds in his hometown of Birmingham. Tens of thousands of people packed Aston Villa Stadium to see the final concert of the British band, known for inventing heavy metal and inspiring generations of musicians. The 76-year-old suffered from Parkinson's disease and died on Tuesday, July 22, his family announced.
In the hours following the announcement, tributes poured in from countless fans and the British press. The Guardian , for example, described Ozzy Osbourne as not just the “Prince of Darkness” (his nickname), but “the People’s Prince of Darkness [a nod to the nickname given to the ‘People’s Princess’ Diana],” “a rock star with whom ordinary people can identify” due to his humble origins, his eventful career, and his personality.
"He would have admitted it himself, John Michael 'Ozzy' Osbourne was not a teenager with a promising future," euphemizes Alexis Petridis, rock critic for the British daily, who looks back on his academic difficulties, the sexual violence he suffered, his run-ins with the law and the precariousness of his youth.
Courrier International
