Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of rock and roll’s most iconic figures, sold over 100 million albums across his solo career and time with the band. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006, and again as a solo artist in 2024.
On July 22, 2025, the world lost Osbourne at the age of 76. His family confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement, saying the rock and roll legend passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
“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,” they told CNN. No cause of death has been shared publicly.
Just weeks before, on July 5, Osbourne took the stage one final time at the Back to the Beginning concert—his last live performance, as ongoing health issues had forced him to step away from touring. He passed away seventeen days later.
Related: The Song Ozzy Osbourne Wanted Played at His Funeral Will Break You
While the world remembers him for his outrageous stage persona and music legacy, Osbourne’s beginnings were far from glamorous. He was born into poverty and grew up without a proper bed or toilet. His parents worked opposite shifts—his father by night, his mother by day—to make ends meet.
Ozzy was one of six children, and despite the usual chaos in a large working-class household, the siblings remained close throughout their lives.
Here’s a closer look at his family background.
Who Were Ozzy Osbourne’s Parents? He Grew Up in Poverty
Osbourne was born to Lilian and John Thomas “Jack” Osbourne in Marston Green.
His mother, Lilian, worked at the Lucas car factory, while his father, Jack, was a toolmaker who took night shifts at the General Electric Company (GEC) plant on Witton Lane.
In an interview with The Times, Ozzy recalled how his parents worked around the clock to keep the household running. “Dad worked nights at the GEC plant, and as he came home, Mum would start her shift at the Lucas car factory,” the artist said.
Still, their efforts weren’t enough to lift the family out of poverty. “Money was always scarce. I’d be sent down the road to Mrs. Murphy’s house every other night to borrow a bottle of milk or a cup of sugar.”
The Osbournes had six children and lived in cramped, challenging conditions. “There was no indoor plumbing in the early days—just a bucket to piss in at the end of the bed,” Ozzy shared. Vacations were out of the question, and everyday survival was the priority.
He spent most of his childhood days at 14 Lodge Road in Aston, surrounded by the bombed-out buildings left behind by the war. “Aston was badly affected by the war, with ‘bomb building sites’ on almost every corner,” Ozzy stated. “I used to call them playgrounds, because that’s honestly what I thought they were.”
Both of his parents have since passed away. His father, Jack, died in June 1977 at the age of 63. His mother, Lilian, passed in December 2001 at 85.
He Called His Father “Abusive”
Ozzy spoke openly about the violence he witnessed at home. He said his father was abusive toward his mother and believed that hitting women was just what men did.
That mindset carried into his own first marriage with Thelma Riley. “I was married to another woman before Sharon, and I was a raving drug addict and an alcoholic and about as much good as an ashtray on a motorbike,” Ozzy said. “My father was abusive to my mum, and I would slap my first wife around because I thought that’s what men have to do.”
His Mother Was a Non-Observant Catholic
Ozzy’s mother, Lilian, was Catholic by background but not particularly religious.
In fact, none of the Osbournes regularly went to church. For a short time, Ozzy attended a Church of England Sunday school, mainly because they gave out free tea and biscuits.
He Had Five Siblings
Osbourne grew up with five siblings—three older sisters named Jean, Iris, and Gillian, and two younger brothers, Paul and Tony.
His bond with his sisters remained strong throughout his life, with each of them raising two children of their own.
He once described his older sister Jean as “almost like another mum.” Despite the fame and chaos that followed Ozzy’s rise, the Osbourne family stayed in touch. They made it a point to gather at least once a year—either at Ozzy’s home in Buckinghamshire or Los Angeles—for a big family sing-along and to reminisce about their childhood in Birmingham.
In a 2012 interview with the Birmingham Mail, Gillian recalled growing up without a TV, spending evenings making music instead.
“Both Dad and Mum had lovely voices, and we all took part,” she said. Even the neighborhood kids joined in to put on variety shows, raising money for local causes. “When Ozzy began his career, we sisters were just starting our own families—but he was chasing his dreams, and what a dream it turned out to be.”
Wife and Kids
Ozzy Osbourne was married twice and had three children with each of his wives. He met his first wife, Thelma Riley, at the Rum Runner nightclub in Birmingham in 1971. They married that same year.
Together, they had two biological children—Jessica and Louis—and Ozzy also adopted Elliot, Thelma’s son from a previous relationship.
On July 4, 1982, he married Sharon Arden, who had been working as his manager. The couple went on to have three children: Aimee, born in 1983; Kelly, in 1984; and Jack, in 1985. All three became public figures in their own right, working across music, television, and media.
