The legendary heavy metal frontman died just weeks after a final onstage reunion with his Black Sabbath bandmates
British rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, the charismatic frontman of Black Sabbath who helped shape the sound and legacy of heavy metal, has died at 76, his family announced on Tuesday.
No cause of death was given, though Osbourne had battled numerous health issues in recent years. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and suffered complications from a 2019 accident, among other ailments.
“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,” the statement says.
His death comes less than three weeks after his retirement from performing live. On July 5, Osbourne took the stage one final time with his Black Sabbath bandmates at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK, marking their first reunion since 2005. The all-star farewell concert – ‘Back to the Beginning’ – featured some of metal music’s biggest names.
“I’ve been laid up for six years, and you’ve got no idea how I feel,” Osbourne told the crowd, referring to his long battle with Parkinson’s and multiple spinal surgeries. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948 to factory-worker parents, he endured a tough upbringing and left school at 15. Before finding fame, he worked a string of jobs, including as a manual laborer, plumber, and at a slaughterhouse. He went on to become a pioneering figure in heavy metal with Black Sabbath before achieving major solo success. He was known for iconic tracks such as ‘Iron Man’, ‘Paranoid’, ‘War Pigs’, ‘Crazy Train’ and ‘Changes’.
Osbourne, long known as the ‘Prince of Darkness,’ launched a solo career shortly after leaving Black Sabbath. His debut album ‘Blizzard of Ozz,’ released in 1980, went five times platinum in the US and ushered in a wildly successful run. He released 13 studio albums in total, the most recent being ‘Patient Number 9’ in 2022.
Osbourne was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame – both with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. He earned a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s Broad Street, won five Grammys, and even became a reality TV star.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, as well as two children from a previous marriage, and also several grandchildren.
