Rock singer Ozzy Osbourne was the lead vocalist and a founding member of the globally renowned heavy metal band Black Sabbath. The band name, their on-stage theatrics, and Ozzy’s excessive lifestyle in his younger years led to accusations of satanism. At one time his fans even dubbed him ‘The Prince of Darkness’ and this title has stuck. But when asked about his true convictions he consistently replied, “I’m a Christian.” 

Megastar

Black Sabbath’s first single Paranoid reached number four in the UK singles chart in 1970, with the album of the same name making number one in the album chart. The band’s first seven albums received multi-platinum certifications in the United States. Ozzy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. That same year he received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. As a member of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist, Ozzy Osbourne sold over 100 million albums worldwide. One title Ozzy Osbourne can rightly be given is that of megastar. 

Prince of Darkness? 

Ozzy’s onstage antics mirrored those of other horror movie styled rock acts of the 1970’s, such as Alice Cooper or Kiss. Black Sabbath fans may have dubbed Ozzy  “The Prince of Darkness” but as one of his fellow musicians pointed out, “he was a bit of a softy really.”

In January 1982 Ozzy famously bit off the head of a bat, which he had thought was a toy. He had to have rabies treatment as a result. Such pranks promoted endless sinister theories about him in the press, theories that were sensationalised and often grossly exaggerated. Those who actually knew him said that Ozzy was really just a guy from Birmingham who started singing in a rock band and ‘got lucky’. 

The Osbournes

Ozzy’s earlier life, like many in his field, was characterised by drug and alcohol addiction along with marriage crises. His music made him famous and earned him a lot of money, but it was in his semi-retirement in his fifties that he reached the height of his fame as a reality TV star in The Osbournes. The crazy antics of the Osbourne household were laid bare for all to see and made him a household name. The Osbournes were just a manic family with a famous rock singer Dad. 

“I’m a Christian”

When asked about his beliefs, Ozzy consistently said, “I’m a Christian”. He added, “I was christened as a Christian. I used to go to Sunday school!” He was a practicing member of the Church of England and revealed in numerous interviews that he prayed before every concert. He was clearly enamoured by Jesus and referred to him as “the original rock ’n’ roll star.” 

Man only looks at the outside…

In the Bible, the prophet Samuel was looking for the new King of Israel and found him in David, the youngest, smallest, and least obvious of Jesse’s sons. When Jesse expressed surprise at this choice, Samuel said, “man looks at the outer appearance, but God looks at the heart.” Only God really knows what is in the heart and that goes for Ozzy Osbourne as it does for anyone else. Despite an eccentric and at times wild exterior, especially in his younger years, Ozzy clearly had a tender heart and was not embarrassed to say that he was intrigued by the teachings of the Bible, that he thought Jesus was awesome, and that he considered himself to be a Christian in an increasingly anti-Christian world. 

During the filming of The Osbournes Ozzy was asked why he sent his children to a Christian school. He answered that he wanted his kids to have the best education possible, and they would get that at the Christian school! These were off-the-cuff remarks, but they show a surprising side of the artist who had one persona on stage and another in real life. 

Health Issues 

Ozzy’s  years of drug and alcohol abuse as a young man took its toll on his mind and body when he reached middle age, and this became increasingly evident. His later years were plagued by ill-health and he battled with Parkinson’s disease. 

But the intriguing question is where was he spiritually? It is not fashionable for musicians to claim to be Christians, so why would the man dubbed ‘The Prince of Darkness’ repeatedly make that claim in interviews? Why would he send his children to a Christian school unless he believed in the faith and principles taught by that school? And why would such a man of the world say such positive things about Jesus if he didn’t believe in him? 

What is a Christian?

What actually makes a person a Christian? People offer various definitions, but the Bible is our only true guide. Jesus said, 

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

(Mark 8:38)

Was Ozzy ashamed of Jesus? Clearly not. He was enamoured by Jesus Christ and happy to talk openly about him. 

In the book of John, we are told that after dismissing a judgmental mob, Jesus said to a guilty adulteress, “…neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)

One of the two convicted criminals on a cross beside Jesus asked him,  “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 24:42-43) One criminal put his trust in Jesus and believed he was ‘The Saviour of the World’, the other did not. 

In John’s gospel, Jesus explained to a religious teacher named Nicodemus, 

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. “  (John 3:16-18)

Jesus also told his disciples, 

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

Ozzy did not deny Jesus, he openly acknowledged him. 

Jesus promised the thief on the cross that he would be in paradise that same day. That same promise applies to every one of the countless millions of people throughout the ages who have chosen to put their trust in Jesus rather than religion, ideology, or self. 

 

Story by Ralph Burden

Photos (1) Black Sabbath in 1972, (2) Ozzy Osbourne. Photos are in the Public Domain.

 

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