Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76. The announcement was made by his family on Tuesday, just weeks after he delivered an unforgettable farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England.
“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,” the family stated. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Osbourne had battled health issues in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2019, and complications from a 2019 fall that worsened injuries sustained in a 2003 quad bike crash. Despite this, he thrilled fans one final time on July 5 in a sold-out concert at Villa Park, Aston Villa’s home stadium, reuniting with original Black Sabbath bandmates for their first performance together in two decades.
Known as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne became a towering figure in rock history. Black Sabbath, formed in 1968, helped shape the heavy metal genre with albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality, selling over 75 million records worldwide. Osbourne’s haunting vocals and theatrical stage presence earned him a devoted global following.
Tributes poured in following news of his death. Elton John called him “a huge trailblazer… a true legend,” while Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready said, “It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. Thanks for the music.”
Osbourne’s wild antics were the stuff of rock legend from biting the head off a bat on stage in 1982 to starring in the reality show The Osbournes alongside his wife Sharon and their children.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, he rose from humble beginnings to become a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee once with Black Sabbath, and again as a solo artist.
With his final words on stage “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts” Osbourne closed the chapter on a wild, unforgettable career. His legacy will forever echo in the halls of rock history.
