Ozzy Osbourne took his final bow at 76 on Tuesday (July 22), just weeks after a farewell concert in Birmingham that marked the end of a genre-defining career and a life lived in overdrive.
The Black Sabbath frontman and solo icon died surrounded by loved ones, his family confirmed, adding, “Ozzy passed away surrounded by loved ones; they requested privacy following his death.”
The performance at Villa Park served as both a goodbye and a tribute to his roots, with Osbourne seated on a throne due to ongoing health issues.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, he rose from working-class beginnings to become one of rock’s most recognizable figures.
Known as the “Prince of Darkness” and the “Godfather of Metal,” Osbourne helped shape the sound of heavy music as the founding vocalist of Black Sabbath in 1968.
Black Sabbath’s early albums, including Paranoid and Master of Reality, laid the groundwork for generations of metal bands to follow.
Osbourne’s time with the group ended in 1979 due to substance abuse, but his solo career launched immediately after with 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz, featuring the now-iconic track “Crazy Train.”
He released 13 solo studio albums and became known for chaotic stage antics, most infamously biting the head off a bat during a live performance.
Osbourne also became a household name outside of music through the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which aired from 2002 to 2005 and won a Primetime Emmy.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024.
He wasn’t afraid to mix it up with rappers either. He worked with Post Malone, Travis Scott, Wu-Tang Clan and even Trick Daddy.
Even Ice-T was inspired by Ozzy’s relationship with his wife Sharon Osbourne.
“When I was going after Coco, I was watching a lot of The Osbournes,” Ice-T revealed during an interview with Daymond John. “I was looking like, ‘would Ozzy have a mansion if it wasn’t for Sharon Osbourne?’
“This woman is running all the tours, running all his businesses. It doesn’t even seem like Ozzy would know how to pay a phone bill,” Ice-T continued. “Ozzy is something different. But he’s wealthy because he got a woman to hold it together.”
Despite controversies, his impact on music never waned. He sold over 100 million records across his career, both solo and with Black Sabbath.
In 2020, Osbourne revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease the previous year. He also dealt with chronic emphysema and injuries from a 2019 fall. Though he retired from touring, he made surprise appearances, including a performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; children Aimee, Kelly and Jack; and two children from a previous marriage.
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