Ozzy Osbourne: Heavy Metal’s Prince of Darkness Was a Devoted Beatles Fan

Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, will forever be remembered as the godfather of heavy metal. As the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and a larger-than-life solo act, Ozzy earned the nickname The Prince of Darkness—but there was a surprisingly tender side to the legend: his deep, lifelong love for The Beatles.

Ozzy’s Beatles Obsession

In a 2002 interview with Rolling Stone, Ozzy didn’t hide his admiration:

“I absolutely worshiped The Beatles. Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols once said to me, ‘I hated The Beatles.’ To me, that’s like saying you hate air.”

For Ozzy, The Beatles weren’t just a band—they were a revelation. In a 2011 video for the Hope and Homes for Children charity, he reflected on the exact moment that changed everything:

“I remember exactly where I was. I was walking down Witton Road in Aston with a blue transistor radio, and when I heard ‘She Loves You,’ I knew from then on what I wanted to do with my life.”

That one song, released in 1963, sparked a fire in the young John Michael Osbourne that would go on to ignite one of the most influential careers in rock history.

Ozzy’s Beatles Covers

Osbourne’s admiration for the Fab Four eventually made its way into his music. His 2005 album Under Cover includes a moving rendition of “In My Life”, originally released by The Beatles in 1965. The album also features covers of songs connected to individual Beatles members:

• “Go Now” – a song made famous by the Moody Blues and later covered by Paul McCartney & Wings
• “Woman” – a John Lennon solo track
• “Working Class Hero” – another powerful solo piece from Lennon

Each cover showcases Ozzy’s softer vocal range and sincere emotional depth, surprising fans who knew him best for growling over heavy guitar riffs.

A Hidden Collaboration With Ringo Starr

During a recent tribute to Ozzy on Breakfast With the Beatles (KLOS and Sirius/XM), host Chris Carter posed a trivia question: Which Ringo Starr song features Ozzy Osbourne on backing vocals?

The answer: “Vertical Man,” the title track from Starr’s 1998 album.

This little-known collaboration was just another example of Ozzy’s deep respect for his childhood heroes—and their mutual admiration.

The Beatles Sparked It All

Ozzy never forgot what The Beatles meant to him.

“This was so brand new, and there was just a great feeling it gave me,” he said of that first listen to “She Loves You.” “I became an avid Beatles fan—they were great. I owe my career to them.”

For someone whose own music reshaped an entire genre, it’s telling that he credited his career to four lads from Liverpool. Ozzy Osbourne may have worn the crown of darkness, but at his core, he was a fan who never forgot the band that changed his life.