Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and icon of British heavy metal, dies aged 76
At the age of 76, Ozzy Osbourne, the well-known Black Sabbath leader and a significant influence in British heavy metal, passed suddenly.
“With more sadness than we can describe, we have to share that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne died this morning,” his family said in a statement.
His loved ones were all around him.
Please be considerate of our privacy at this time.
Although they did not disclose the cause of death, Osbourne had experienced a number of health problems recently.
Osbourne rose to fame as one of rock’s most iconic characters thanks to his outrageous “Prince of Darkness” persona.
Heavy metal was defined by his icy voice.
In addition, he struggled with addiction and was well-known for his wild theatrical actions, such as chewing the head off a bat.
He later became well-known because to the reality show The Osbournes, which revealed a funnier and more intimate side of his life.
Less than three weeks after he announced his retirement from performing, he passed away.
Osbourne performed alongside his former Black Sabbath bandmates at Back to the Beginning, a farewell show including leading metal musicians, on July 5.
“I’ve been stuck in bed for six years, and you can’t imagine how I feel,” he said to the audience that evening, alluding to his ongoing medical struggles, which include Parkinson’s disease and numerous spine operations.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” he continued.
Ozzy was raised in a working-class household after being born John Michael Osbourne in 1948 in Aston, Birmingham.
He talked about his tough life in a 2003 interview, including living in poverty and experiencing sexual molestation at the age of 11 from two older males.
He was incarcerated for burglary as well, later confessing, “I was terrible at it.”
Completely pointless.
His difficult childhood shaped Black Sabbath’s ominous and forceful sound.
In 2017, bassist Geezer Butler stated: “We wanted our music to be a reflection of our worldview.
We had no interest in happy pop.
There was a raw, industrial vibe about our music.
Black Sabbath, who got their name from a horror film, put out their debut album in 1970.
Legendary albums like Master of Reality (1971), which influenced the doom metal genre, and Paranoid (1970), which featured hits like Iron Man and War Pigs, came after it.
Osbourne produced five more timeless albums with the group until being let go in 1979 due to his drug and alcohol abuse.
Then Ronnie James Dio took his position.
Later, Ozzy returned to the group for their 2013 album 13, which peaked at number one on the US and UK charts.
The band went on tour once again, performing in Birmingham in 2017 in what was thought to be their last show before their reunion in 2025.
Osbourne left Black Sabbath and went solo.
In 1980, he released his debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz, which went platinum five times in the United States.
His most recent solo album, Patient Number 9, was published in 2022.
When he bit the head off a bat during a performance in Iowa in 1982, it became one of his most notorious incidents.
He had to have rabies vaccinations because he believed it to be a hoax.
According to his publicist Mick Wall, he had previously bitten the heads off two doves at a heated meeting with the record label a year prior.
Osbourne had a number of UK chart singles in the 1980s and 1990s, including Bark at the Moon (1983) and Perry Mason (1995).
Changes, a duet with his now-40-year-old daughter Kelly, peaked at number one in 2003.
He had two children with his first wife, Thelma, named Jessica and Louis, and three with Sharon Osbourne: Kelly, Jack (39), and Aimee (41).
His battles with addiction caused his first marriage to fail, and he once said that he didn’t even recall when Jessica and Louis were born.
In 1982, Ozzy wed Sharon.
She took over as his manager and helped him achieve great success in his solo career.
They made a fortune together.
In 1996, Sharon also founded Ozzfest, a heavy metal music festival that went on tour in the US, the UK, and Japan.
Ozzy was arrested in 1989 for attempting to choke Sharon while intoxicated.
He said in a 2007 interview that he woke up in a detention cell and couldn’t remember what had happened.
Ozzy claimed that once a police officer read the charges, he became totally numb.
After Ozzy had an affair in 2016, the two momentarily split up but later reconciled.
The Osbournes, a reality show that featured Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack’s turbulent yet loving home life, ran from 2002 to 2005.
The show gained popularity and won an Emmy for Best Reality Program in 2002, despite its oddball moments and profanity.
Ozzy fractured his clavicle, ribs, and neck in a severe quad bike accident in 2003.
Doctors reported he was almost paralyzed, and Sharon said his heart stopped for a moment.
He was diagnosed with the shaking disorder known as Parkin syndrome in 2005.
He acknowledged relapsing for roughly 18 months in 2013, following years of abstinence.
“I was in a very dark place and hurt the people I love the most,” he said, vowing to never do it again.
No More Tours 2, which was supposed to be his last global tour, was announced in 2019.
(In 1992, he had likewise “retired,” although he later had second thoughts.)
However, he was forced to cancel the 2020 European gigs due to sickness.
Additionally, he needed hospital treatment for a hand infection.
“Everything I touch turns to crap,” he remarked.
He disclosed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2020.
He underwent spine surgery in 2022 after a 2019 fall exacerbated his preexisting injuries.
Due to his physical weakness, he had to postpone another tour of the UK and Europe in 2023.
“Three surgeries, stem cell treatments, tons of therapy, and even Cybernics (HAL) treatment,” he explained.
His mental state suffered as a result of the extensive list of health issues.
He stated, “You wake up and something else is wrong,” in an interview conducted in May 2025.
You begin to think it will go on forever.
Sharon thought of one last performance as a way to cheer him up.
Back to the Beginning was the name of that event, which took place at Birmingham’s Villa Park.
Ozzy performed five songs as a solo artist and four more with the original Black Sabbath band.
Despite sitting on a bat-decorated throne, he delivered a powerful performance, yelling, “I am Iron Man: go fucking crazy!”
Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and Metallica were also on the bill.
Osbourne was honored by a number of celebrities, including Elton John, who wrote: “He was a true pioneer and a dear friend who earned his place among rock legends.”
In addition, he was among the funniest persons I’ve ever met.
I shall really miss him.
Ozzy Osbourne was well-known throughout his life for his music as well as his feisty demeanor, untamed conduct, and startling candor about his hardships.
Fans adored him for being honest and forthright about his shortcomings, despite his gloomy persona and contentious incidents.
Osbourne continued to have a significant impact on the music industry for more than 50 years, despite several ups and downs.
His solo career demonstrated his ability to stand alone, while his work with Black Sabbath contributed to the development of heavy metal.
He left a legacy that influenced an entire genre and served as an inspiration to innumerable artists.
Despite significant health issues, legal issues, and personal struggles, Osbourne continued to return.
In addition to celebrating his talent, his farewell performance in Birmingham also honored his fortitude and tenacity.
It served as a reminder of what made him a legend to people everywhere.
Many will remember Ozzy for his voice, his songs, his honesty, and his unique presence as fans grieve his passing.
He was unapologetically himself whether he was performing on stage, television, or in interviews.
Despite his passing, Ozzy Osbourne will always be remembered as one of the most significant and innovative people in music history.
