Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, just weeks after his farewell performance in Birmingham, his family announced this evening.
The heavy metal pioneer passed away “surrounded by love” this morning, according to a statement released by his family. The news comes as a shock to the music world, particularly given his recent appearance at the highly anticipated “Back to the Beginning” concert in his hometown of Birmingham on 5th July.
“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 statement reads. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The statement was signed by his wife Sharon and children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and Louis.
Sharon Osbourne: “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.”
Born John Michael Osbourne on 3rd December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, the rock legend rose to fame in the 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, earning him the nickname “Prince of Darkness”. He left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands.
Black Sabbath, formed in 1968, pioneered the heavy metal genre with groundbreaking albums including “Paranoid” (1970), “Master of Reality” (1971), and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (1973). After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a hugely successful solo career with his 1980 debut “Blizzard of Ozz”.
The singer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019. Despite his health challenges, he managed one final performance for fans at Villa Park in Birmingham earlier this month, where he performed seated on a black throne due to his condition.
During the show, he told fans it was “so good to be on this stage”. The show included performances from Metallica and Guns’n’Roses for the singer’s final show.
In the 2000s, Osbourne found a new generation of fans through the MTV reality show “The Osbournes”, which followed his family life and made him a household name beyond music. The show ran from 2002 to 2005 and starred Osbourne alongside wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack.
Throughout his career, Osbourne sold over 100 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist. His influence on heavy metal and rock music cannot be overstated, inspiring countless musicians across multiple generations.
His recent autobiography “I Am Ozzy” (2009) and the upcoming memoir “Last Rites”, scheduled for release in October, detail his wild lifestyle and remarkable survival through decades of substance abuse and near-fatal accidents.
Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind a legacy as one of rock music’s most enduring and influential figures, having helped create an entire musical genre whilst maintaining his status as one of entertainment’s most beloved personalities. His death marks the end of an era for heavy metal music and popular culture.