Ozzy Osbourne Dead at 76, Rock Mourns Legend \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne has died at age 76, just weeks after his final performance in the UK. As the lead singer of Black Sabbath and later a solo rock icon, he defined the genre’s voice and outrageous persona. His death was confirmed by family who asked for privacy.
Quick Looks
- Ozzy Osbourne passed away at 76, shortly after his farewell concert.
- Black Sabbath frontman credited with pioneering heavy metal in the 1970s.
- Known for wild antics, controversial lyrics, and deep fan devotion.
- Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020 after years of health struggles.
- “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Paranoid” remain iconic albums in rock history.
- Reality TV show “The Osbournes” revealed his softer, domestic side.
- Twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
- Leaves behind wife Sharon and five children from two marriages.
Deep Look
Ozzy Osbourne, the growling voice of heavy metal and the once-demonic showman who shocked the world with outrageous stage antics and ear-splitting music, has died at the age of 76. The legendary Black Sabbath frontman passed away Tuesday, just weeks after performing what he declared would be his final concert in the United Kingdom. His family confirmed his passing in a statement from Birmingham, England, requesting privacy as they mourned the loss of their beloved patriarch.
“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 read.
Osbourne had lived for years with Parkinson’s disease, which he disclosed publicly in 2020 after suffering a fall. But even as his health deteriorated, his voice, legacy, and influence continued to resonate in the world of music, especially in heavy metal — a genre he helped forge with chilling ferocity.
A Loud and Lasting Legacy
John Michael Osbourne, known worldwide as Ozzy, was born in the industrial city of Birmingham, England, in 1948. Raised in a working-class family, he struggled with learning disabilities and a troubled youth but found salvation in rock music. The Beatles, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard were early inspirations. “They came from Liverpool, which was about 60 miles from where I lived,” Osbourne once said. “Suddenly, being in a band didn’t seem impossible.”
His musical breakthrough came in the late 1960s when he formed a band with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Originally known as the Polka Tulk Blues Band, then Earth, the group eventually renamed itself Black Sabbath, inspired by an Italian horror movie starring Boris Karloff. Their sound was darker, heavier, and more ominous than anything the rock world had heard.
The band’s 1969 debut album, Black Sabbath, with its thunderous riffs and themes of doom and mysticism, was a seismic shock to the flower power generation. Released during the height of the Vietnam War, the record was seen as a counterpunch to the utopian messages of the 1960s. Rolling Stone later dubbed it the “Big Bang” of heavy metal.
Their follow-up album, Paranoid (1970), included defining tracks like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Fairies Wear Boots.” The title track, which only reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100, became their signature song. Both albums are still regarded among the greatest heavy metal records ever produced.
As Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction once wrote in Rolling Stone, “Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal. Anybody who’s serious about metal will tell you it all comes down to Sabbath.”
Fired and Reborn
Osbourne’s time with Sabbath came to an end in 1979, largely due to drug and alcohol abuse. “We knew we didn’t really have a choice but to sack him,” bassist Geezer Butler wrote in his memoir. “He was just so out of control.”
But Ozzy was far from finished. His solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), was a massive success and marked the beginning of a new era. With guitar prodigy Randy Rhoads by his side, Osbourne released hits like “Crazy Train,” “Goodbye to Romance,” and “Mr. Crowley.” The follow-up album, Diary of a Madman, was equally successful, further solidifying Osbourne’s place in rock royalty.
Tragically, Rhoads was killed in a plane crash in 1982, a loss that devastated Osbourne. He would later honor his late guitarist with the 1987 live album Tribute. Even in grief, Osbourne pressed on, recruiting other talents like Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde to help him craft multiplatinum albums such as Bark at the Moon, No More Tears, and The Ultimate Sin.
Ozzy’s ability to reinvent himself kept him relevant across decades. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice — with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024.
The Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne was as much myth as man. His onstage antics — biting the head off a dove (and later a bat), urinating on the Alamo, and snorting ants off a sidewalk — became part of rock legend. He was sued in 1987 after a teen committed suicide while listening to “Suicide Solution.” The lawsuit was dismissed, and Osbourne maintained that the song was a warning against alcoholism, referencing the death of AC/DC’s Bon Scott.
In 1990, then-Cardinal John J. O’Connor accused Osbourne’s music of encouraging suicide and demonic possession. Ozzy fired back, defending the intelligence of his audience and the misunderstood messages in his songs.
Despite — or because of — these controversies, fans continued to adore him. Concertgoers were frequently greeted with screams, spit, and a final blessing: “God bless you all!”
His annual touring festival, Ozzfest, launched in 1996 and helped elevate a new generation of metal acts including Slipknot, System of a Down, Rob Zombie, and Limp Bizkit.
The Softer Side of Ozzy
In 2002, Osbourne shocked the world again — not with horror, but with humor and heart. The Osbournes, a reality show starring Ozzy, wife Sharon, and children Jack and Kelly, aired on MTV and quickly became a cultural sensation. Viewers saw a bumbling but lovable dad who muttered at the TV and tried to keep his unruly household in order while battling his own demons.
This portrayal won him new fans and revealed the complexities behind the Prince of Darkness persona. Later, he and Jack co-hosted Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour, a travel show exploring historic American landmarks.
In 2014, a bat-like frog discovered in the Amazon was named Dendropsophus ozzyi in his honor — a fitting tribute for a man whose legacy included both bats and biology.
Final Acts and Farewell
Even as his health declined, Osbourne continued making music. His 2020 album Ordinary Man featured Elton John on the title track, with lyrics reflecting on mortality and regret. “The truth is, I don’t want to die an ordinary man,” he sang.
In 2022, Patient Number 9 brought together rock giants like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Mike McCready. It earned him four Grammy nominations and his first back-to-back No. 1 rock radio singles.
Osbourne’s final live performance came in July 2025 in the UK, marking a reunion with the original Black Sabbath lineup after more than two decades. The event was a who’s who of rock royalty: Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, and others performed. Hosted by actor Jason Momoa, the show was a fitting finale for a man who had once defined what it meant to be dangerous — and unforgettable — onstage.
“Let the madness begin!” he told 42,000 fans in attendance, delivering a legendary goodbye to a genre he helped shape.
Family and Final Moments
Ozzy Osbourne’s personal life was as tumultuous as his career. His first marriage to Thelma Riley produced three children, including adopted son Elliot Kingsley. After divorcing Riley, Osbourne married Sharon Arden in 1982. Sharon, daughter of music manager Don Arden, became both his partner in business and life. Together, they had three children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
Their relationship weathered drug addiction, infidelities, separations, and reconciliations, but endured until the end. Osbourne often credited Sharon with saving his life and career.
He met Queen Elizabeth II during her Golden Jubilee, who reportedly laughed at his presence next to Cliff Richard, joking, “So this is what they call variety?”
Osbourne is survived by Sharon, his six children, and millions of devoted fans. From the heavy metal stages of the 1970s to the primetime screens of the 2000s, Ozzy Osbourne was more than a rock star — he was an icon, an enigma, and a legend whose shadow looms large over the world of music.
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