Heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, just weeks after reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates for a farewell show in Birmingham.
“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,” his family said in a statement. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Less than three weeks ago, Osbourne took the stage at Villa Park seated on a throne, delivering what was billed as his “final bow” with support from Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. “You’ve no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd.
Osbourne rose to fame as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, helping to define and popularize heavy metal in the 1970s before launching a successful solo career. His most iconic songs — Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train, Changes — remain staples of the genre.
In the 2000s, he found a new kind of fame through the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which offered a glimpse into his eccentric family life in Los Angeles with wife Sharon and their children, Kelly and Jack.
He was also known for his wild, often shocking stage antics — most notoriously, the story of how he bit the head off a bat during a live show.
Osbourne had been battling Parkinson’s disease and other health issues in recent years, including complications from a fall in 2019 that forced him to cancel several tour dates. In 2022, he made a surprise appearance at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Birmingham.
His wife, Sharon, announced earlier this year that he was determined to deliver the “perfect farewell” for his fans with the Villa Park show.
Over his career, Osbourne was inducted twice into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an Ivor Novello Award, five Grammy wins from 12 nominations, and industry honors such as NME’s Godlike Genius award and Classic Rock magazine’s Living Legend prize.
He is survived by Sharon and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, as well as Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, and several grandchildren.
