Ozzy Osbourne Rock Legend Dead At 76

Ozzy Osbourne, nan iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and a pioneering fig successful dense metal, has passed distant astatine nan property of 76, his family announced connected Tuesday, July 22.

The singer, known for his “Prince of Darkness” persona, died surrounded by loved ones, little than 3 weeks aft a triumphant status concert. No origin of decease was disclosed, though Osbourne had faced important wellness challenges successful caller years, including Parkinson’s illness and aggregate spinal surgeries.

Born John Michael Osbourne successful 1948 successful Aston, Birmingham, to mill worker parents, Osbourne’s early life was marked by hardship. He grew up successful poverty, suffered intersexual maltreatment astatine property 11 and later served clip for burglary. The experiences shaped nan raw, business sound of Black Sabbath, which he formed pinch Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. They named nan set aft a Boris Karloff scary movie of nan aforesaid name, and Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut and follow-up Paranoid revolutionised stone euphony from past on, laying nan instauration for dense metallic pinch anthems for illustration Iron Man and War Pigs. Their 1971 medium Master of Reality influenced nan slower, heavier punishment metallic subgenre.

Osbourne’s clip pinch Black Sabbath ended successful 1979 owed to his struggles pinch constituent abuse, which led to his sacking from nan band. He past launched an moreover bigger successful solo profession pinch Blizzard of Oz (1980), which went 5 times platinum successful nan US. Over 4 decades, he released 11 solo albums. His 2003 duet pinch girl Kelly, Changes, topped nan UK charts.

Osbourne’s larger-than-life persona went world pinch notorious incidents, including biting nan caput disconnected a bat during a 1982 capacity successful Des Moines, Iowa, aft he mistakenly thought it was a prop. He besides spot nan heads disconnected 2 doves successful a 1981 gathering pinch grounds executives.

His individual life was arsenic stormy. Married to Thelma Riley from 1971 to 1982, Osbourne had 2 children, Jessica and Louis. His struggles pinch alcoholism put strain connected nan marriage, and he later admitted to having small representation of his children’s early years. In 1982, he joined Sharon Osbourne, who became his head and took his profession to caller heights. Together, they had 3 children (Aimee, Kelly, and Jack) and amassed a fortune, ranking 17th connected nan 2018 Sunday Times database of Britain’s richest musicians. However, their matrimony faced difficulties, including a 1989 incident wherever Osbourne, intoxicated, attempted to strangle Sharon, starring to his arrest. The mates reconciled, though they concisely separated successful 2016 aft his infidelity.

Osbourne’s fame extended beyond euphony pinch The Osbournes (2002–2005), a reality TV show that offered a humorous glimpse into his family life. The bid won an Emmy successful 2002, revealing Osbourne’s bewildered charm. Health setbacks, including a 2003 quad biking mishap and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, slowed his career, but he kept going. His final performance, nan Back to nan Beginning performance connected July 5, 2025, saw him reunite pinch Black Sabbath astatine Birmingham’s Villa Park, joined by metallic giants for illustration Metallica and Slayer. Seated successful a bat-adorned throne, Osbourne delivered an fantabulous set, declaring, “I americium Iron Man: spell fucking crazy!”

Osbourne’s decease is nan extremity of an era for dense metal. Fans mourn nan nonaccomplishment of a trailblazer whose euphony and persona near an indelible people connected stone history. The Osbourne family has requested privateness during this clip of grief.