At the end of the day, what Ozzy really did was inspire generations of rebellious weirdos that we too could find real success. He showed millions that you don’t have to look like a fashion model or play happy music to win. With the right level of talent and intensity, anyone could break through.
This ushered in a surge of unassuming freaks who started ’80s bands like Metallica, Misfits, Slayer, and Motley Crue—who all had ridiculous success and shaped the modern landscape of heavy music today. And all of those bands are even more popular in 2025 than they were in the ’80s; they outlived so many other gimmicks from that decade.
Heavy music, particularly metal, is one of the most universal genres globally. It’s the actual “world music” genre, and Ozzy was one of the biggest contributors to its inception. If you search online, you can find music videos of a young girl in Indonesia with millions of views, who shreds incredible guitar covers of Lamb of God and countless other metal bands. She, too, is part Ozzy.
And don’t forget that The Osbournes in 2002 essentially created the modern reality television genre. The Kardashians have Ozzy to thank as well.Â
Legend is a word thrown around a little too lightly these days, but Ozzy is one of the rare, true legends. He’s almost mythological. Remember, kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends—heroes get remembered, but legends never die.