Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the most iconic figures in rock history, has died at the age of 76. According to a statement from his family, the pioneering musician passed away “surrounded by love.”
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, Osbourne battled health complications in recent years but remained a towering figure in the world of music.
As the voice and face of Black Sabbath, Ozzy helped forge the sound of heavy metal—a genre born from the grit of hard rock but steeped in darker, more powerful tones. Rising to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s, the band’s influence would shape generations of musicians and redefine the boundaries of rock.
Osbourne became a lightning rod for controversy throughout his career, thanks to his wild stage antics—most infamously biting the head off a bat during a live performance—and his embrace of the “Prince of Darkness” persona. Yet beneath the theatrics was an artist deeply connected to his roots and his fans.
Born John Michael Osbourne in December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and worked various jobs, including in a factory. It was during this time that he reconnected with school friend Geezer Butler and began playing in local bands—setting the stage for what would become a seismic career in music.
Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind an indelible legacy—a voice that defined a genre, a spirit that refused to be tamed, and a lifetime of music that shook the world.
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed in a heartfelt statement on Wednesday.
“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 statement read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
Despite ongoing health battles in recent years—including Parkinson’s disease and complications from multiple surgeries—Ozzy never stopped showing up for his fans. He made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and, earlier this month, performed a powerful farewell set at Villa Park, his hometown’s beloved football stadium.
“You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told an emotional crowd in Birmingham during what would become his final live performance.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, his children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, as well as his grandchildren.
Tributes have poured in from around the world, including from his boyhood football club, Aston Villa. In a statement posted to social media, the team shared:
“Aston Villa Football Club is saddened to learn that world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne has passed away. Growing up in Aston, not far from Villa Park, Ozzy always held a special connection to the club and the community he came from. The thoughts of everyone at Aston Villa are with his wife Sharon, his family, friends, and countless fans at this extremely difficult time.”
Ozzy’s later years were marked by serious health setbacks. After surviving a near-fatal quad bike accident in 2003, he endured a debilitating fall in 2019 that dislodged metal rods in his spine. Multiple surgeries followed, including a 2023 procedure that he told Rolling Stone had “gone drastically wrong” and left him “virtually crippled.”
Still, the man known as the “Prince of Darkness” never lost his defiant spirit or his deep love for the stage. From fronting Black Sabbath and pioneering the heavy metal genre to becoming a pop culture icon with his outrageous antics and heartfelt candor, Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind a legacy like no other.
A true original, his voice may now be silent—but his roar will echo forever.
“It’s really knocked me about,” Ozzy shared candidly in one of his final interviews. “I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third [surgeries], but with the last one, they put a rod in my spine.”
He went on to reveal that doctors had discovered a tumor in one of his vertebrae, requiring it to be surgically removed. “They had to dig all that out too. It’s been pretty rough, man… and my balance is all messed up.”
Even in the face of unimaginable pain, Ozzy never lost his grit—or his voice. He faced his battles with brutal honesty, defiant humor, and the same raw energy that defined his music.
The Prince of Darkness has taken his final bow.
May he rest in peace.