Singer and musician Ozzy Osbourne died on Tuesday at the age of 76.
His death comes just over two weeks after Osbourne took to the stage for the last time with his friends to perform at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham.
No details have been provided regarding the circumstances of his death, but Osbourne has dealt with a series of health problems in recent years, including Parkinson's disease, a serious spinal injury, and general exhaustion, which led him to announce in 2023 that he would not go on long tours again.
"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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," a family statement said.
Ozzy Osbourne performs "Paranoid" onstage in Israel in 2018
On July 5, Osbourne performed a historic farewell show in Birmingham, where he reunited with the original Black Sabbath lineup in front of an estimated 40,000 fans. The show, titled "Back to the Beginning," featured Osbourne singing while seated on a black "king's throne" due to his medical condition, but swept the audience with five classic songs - ending with Black Sabbath's iconic "Paranoid." For Osbourne, it was a "final goodbye" to his loyal audience, which was symbolically set in his hometown of Birmingham, where Black Sabbath was founded. The evening's proceeds were divided between associations working for Parkinson's patients, as well as local hospitals.
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born in 1948 in the Worsted area of Birmingham, to a working-class family. As a child, he suffered from dyslexia and was bullied at school, and got into trouble and committed petty crimes. At the age of 17, he was caught trying to rob a clothing store and was sent to prison for six weeks. During this time, he also became a fan of The Beatles, and he says their music inspired him to become a musician.
In 1968, he formed Black Sabbath with Tommy Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, which is considered a milestone in the development of the heavy metal genre with key albums such as "Paranoid" and "Master of Reality." The band's first album, "Black Sabbath," became a hit despite receiving a cold shoulder from critics, reaching number six on the UK Albums Chart - and number 23 on the US Billboard chart. Their next album, "Paranoid," was even more successful, and included some of the band's most iconic songs - from the title song, to "War Pigs" and "Iron Man."
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After being fired from the band in 1979 due to his addictions, Osbourne forged a successful solo career that began with the album “Blizzard of Ozz” and included hits such as “Crazy Train” and “Bark at the Moon.” At the same time, he initiated the Ozzfest festival and became a reality star thanks to the series “The Osbournes,” which introduced his unconventional family to every household in the United States.
Osbourne won a Grammy, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath, and received lifetime achievement awards for his contributions to heavy music. Despite his “Prince of Darkness” image and provocative acts—including biting the head of a bat during a 1982 performance—he won a cross-generational following and became one of the most recognizable figures in British rock culture.