Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, died Tuesday morning at the age of 76, his family confirmed.
The singer passed away in Birmingham, England, surrounded by loved ones, just weeks after his final performance with Black Sabbath.
“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,” read a statement from his family, signed by his wife Sharon and children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and Louis.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
No official cause of death was provided, though Osbourne had battled Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2019, compounded by injuries from a 2019 fall that required neck surgery.
Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham’s Aston area, rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, a band he co-founded with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.
Their self-titled debut album in 1970, followed by classics like Paranoid and Master of Reality, laid the foundation for the heavy metal genre with its dark, heavy sound and Osbourne’s distinctive wail.
Hits like “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “War Pigs” became anthems, earning the band a 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Osbourne launched a successful solo career with his 1980 album Blizzard of Ozz, featuring hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.”
Managed by his future wife, Sharon, he released 13 solo albums, with seven achieving multi-platinum status in the United States.
His solo work earned him five Grammy Awards, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2024.
Osbourne’s larger-than-life persona, dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” was marked by infamous antics, including biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert in Iowa, which he claimed he thought was a prop.
He also gained mainstream fame through the MTV reality show The Osbournes (2002-2005), which showcased his family life with Sharon, Kelly, and Jack, earning a Primetime Emmy.
On July 5, 2025, Osbourne performed his final concert, a charity event titled “Back to the Beginning” at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Seated on a throne due to mobility issues from Parkinson’s, he reunited with Black Sabbath’s original lineup and was joined by artists like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses.
“You’ve no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd.
