Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of the English rock band Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed on Tuesday.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love,” the statement read. “We ask everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
In 2020, Osbourne publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease following a serious fall.
Tributes quickly poured in from across the music and political worlds. Britain’s Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham, said she was “devastated to hear the news,” calling Osbourne “one of the greatest gifts my city gave the world.”
Music legend Elton John paid tribute on Instagram, hailing Osbourne as “a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods — a true legend.”
“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly,” John added.
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood expressed sadness, describing Osbourne’s final performance in Birmingham last week as “a lovely goodbye.”
Nirvana credited Black Sabbath as “the template for heavy rock,” thanking Osbourne for the inspiration.
KISS frontman Gene Simmons called him “a giant” who was “admired and loved by millions of fans worldwide.”
Rod Stewart wrote: “Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there — later rather than sooner.”
Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948, he grew up in a working-class family in Birmingham, England, the fourth of six children. He struggled with dyslexia and left school at 15, working various odd jobs and even serving time in prison for burglary.
His rise to stardom began in the 1970s with Black Sabbath, whose hits like “Paranoid,” “War Pigs,” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” helped define the heavy metal genre. Fans dubbed him the “Prince of Darkness” and the “Godfather of Heavy Metal.”
Osbourne became infamous for biting the head off a bat onstage in 1982 — a moment he later claimed was accidental, believing the bat was a toy.
After years of substance abuse, he made a surprising reinvention as a reality TV personality, reaching new audiences through “The Osbournes.”
His death comes just over two weeks after a farewell concert in Birmingham.
“It’s the last song ever,” Osbourne told the crowd after closing the set with “Paranoid.”
“Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle… Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
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