Ozzy Osbourne has died

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Legacy and Emotional Reactions

  • Strong outpouring of affection: described as a legend, founder/blueprint of metal, “Prince of Darkness,” and a massive influence on listeners and musicians.
  • Many recall specific albums and songs (both Sabbath and solo) as foundational to their youth and even their work in tech.
  • Several regret missing the final Birmingham show; others feel lucky to have seen him live in various eras.

Health, Lifestyle, and Longevity

  • People marvel that he lived into his mid‑70s given extreme earlier alcohol and drug use.
  • Discussion of life expectancy statistics (US vs UK, at birth vs conditional on surviving childhood) and how his later wealth and access to medical care, plus calming down after the 1990s, likely extended his life.
  • Some note drug use as a risk factor for Parkinson’s and wonder whether stimulant withdrawal could mask early symptoms.

Cause of Death and Assisted Dying Speculation

  • One commenter asserts he “offed himself” in Switzerland via assisted suicide; multiple others challenge this and ask for sources.
  • Counterpoints: an article where a family member explicitly denied an assisted-suicide pact; BBC reporting he died in the UK; official family statement gives only “passed away… surrounded by love.”
  • Debate over assisted dying laws in the UK and Switzerland, with disagreement on “death panels,” and comparisons to US insurance decisions.
  • Consensus in-thread: actual cause is unclear; suicide claims are unsubstantiated speculation.

Cultural Impact and Image

  • Memories of 1970s–80s “satanic panic,” with Black Sabbath seen as dangerous despite anti‑war and even pro‑Christian themes in some songs.
  • Later reality‑TV and public appearances reframed him as a shuffling, chaotic but endearing figure.
  • Several link performances and tributes, celebrate his stage presence, and recount humorous or surreal anecdotes.

Animal Incidents and Ethics

  • A subthread revisits the bat and dove head‑biting stories.
  • Many emphasize the bat incident was reportedly a mistaken prop; others point out the dove incidents were intentional during a highly intoxicated period.
  • Commenters contextualize with changing animal‑rights norms and the scale of everyday animal slaughter, but opinions differ on how much this should matter to his legacy.

AI, Media, and Perception

  • One commenter describes being emotionally moved by an AI-generated “daughter” video about his last show, only later realizing it was fake.
  • Others outline how AI clips and reaction videos on TikTok/YouTube amplified rumors about his health, using this case as an example of how easy it is to internalize synthetic narratives.