Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76 last month shortly after his farewell gig with his band Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham
Ozzy Osbourne reportedly tried to trademark his ‘Prince of Darkness’ nickname just days before he died at the age of 76. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away shortly after his farewell gig with the band in his hometown of Birmingham last month.
In perhaps what was an attempt to provide for his family, including wife Sharon, 72, after he was gone, the heavy metal legend – who spawned huge hits like Paranoid and War Pigs – is said to have applied for the trademark to sell clothes, games and accessories.
It’s believed the late frontman filed requests in both the UK and the US. An application thought to have been sent to the United States Patent and Trademark Office asks for “entertainment services, namely providing non-downloadable pre-recorded music via a website.”
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Permission has yet to be granted in America, though it’s thought Ozzy has already had the ‘Prince of Darkness’ trademark approved in the UK, according to The Sun.
Though Ozzy is gone devastating fans around the world, he could appear on stage again in the future, as Black Sabbath trademarked their name in virtual reality – which means they could return as holograms.
It follows in the footsteps of bands like ABBA, who have already used avatars for their London show, Voyage, which has been running since 2022 and features younger versions of themselves.
Black Sabbath filed similar documents 20 years ago and the band could do the same at some point should they want to. Papers trademark use of ‘production and presentation of animation and other special effects’. A number of other artists have taken similar action.
Ozzy was laid to rest in Buckinghamshire at a private service attended by his close family and friends on Thursday. Among music royalty attending the funeral were Elton John, Metallica’s James Hetfield, Marilyn Manson, punk singer Yungblud, Rob Zombie, and Ozzy’s guitarist Zakk Wylde.
In keeping with the rockstar’s wishes, he was buried in the grounds of his sprawling family home where he shared many happy memories with wife Sharon, and where he spent his final weeks.
Thousands also lined the streets of Birmingham, where he made one final trip through his home city as his hearse travelled from the Aston Villa football ground through the city centre.
Though a cause of death hasn’t been given, the singer had suffered ill health in recent years and been been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019. A statement from his family said: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Paying tribute to her famous dad, middle daughter Kelly, took to social media to thanks fans for their support. She said: “I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough… but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
“The love, support, and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life. Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain.
“Grief is a strange thing – it sneaks up on you in waves – I will not be ok for a while – but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference. I’m holding on tight to the love, the light, and the legacy left behind. Thank you for being there. I love you all so much.”
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