Claim: In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath.

John Michael `` Ozzy '' Osbourne -LRB- born 3 December 1948 -RRB- is an English singer , songwriter , and actor . He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath . He was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and went on to have a successful solo career , releasing 11 studio albums , the first seven of which were all awarded multi-platinum certifications in the US . Osbourne has since reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions , recording the album 13 in 2013 . His longevity and success have earned him the informal title of `` Godfather of Heavy Metal '' .   Osbourne 's total album sales from his years in Black Sabbath , combined with his solo work , is over 100 million . As a member of Black Sabbath , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , and he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of the band . Possessing a distinctive singing voice and as a native of Birmingham , Osbourne is known for his strong Brummie accent -- he has a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars in his hometown as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame . At the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards , he received the Global Icon Award . In the early 2000s , Osbourne became a reality television star , appearing as himself in the MTV reality show The Osbournes , alongside wife and manager Sharon and two of their three children , Kelly and Jack . Osbourne appeared with son Jack in the 2016 worldwide travelogue docuseries Ozzy & Jack 's World Detour .