NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs.
A godfather and force of heavy metal, Tuesday at 76, just months after his last performance.
idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality.
To celebrate Osbourne鈥檚 life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections.
Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on
1970: 鈥 Black Sabbath
It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches 1970 megahit 鈥淚ron Man.鈥 It transcends the metal genre 鈥 an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere.
1970: 鈥 Black Sabbath
One of the great Black Sabbath's 鈥淲ar Pigs鈥 is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 鈥淧oliticians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?鈥 Osbourne sings in the bridge.
1971: Black Sabbath
Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 鈥淕eezer鈥 Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 鈥淐hildren of the Grave,鈥 the single from the band's 1971 album, 鈥淢aster of Reality.鈥 鈥淢ust the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?鈥 Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 鈥淐an they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?鈥
1973: Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 鈥淪abbath Bloody Sabbath,鈥 the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now 鈥 the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals.
1980: 鈥 Ozzy Osbourne
Would the world know what sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 鈥淐razy Train?鈥 To call it a classic is almost a disservice 鈥 it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears.
1980: 鈥 Ozzy Osbourne
Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 鈥淏lizzard Of Ozz鈥 鈥 released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, 鈥 the arena rock anthem 鈥淢r. Crowley鈥 pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features on keyboard.
1981: Ozzy Osbourne
The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 鈥淒iary of a Madman,鈥 runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it.
1991: Ozzy Osbourne
It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 鈥淢ama, I'm Coming Home鈥 a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by and a welcomed deviation.
1992: Black Sabbath
When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early 鈥80s. But 鈥泪,鈥 a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 鈥淒ehumanizer,鈥 is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 鈥淢ob Rules,鈥 though that's an obvious plus.
2019: Post Malone with Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott
Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is 鈥淭ake What You Want,鈥 which also features Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge 鈥 validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.
