Ozzy Osbourne, the pioneering heavy metal legend and unforgettable voice behind Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we share the news of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne’s passing,” his family said in a statement on Tuesday, July 22. “He was surrounded by love and his family. We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time.”
Just weeks before his death, Osbourne appeared on stage — seated on a throne — for Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in their hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5.
Osbourne publicly revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003. “It’s not a death sentence,” he said at the time. But as the condition progressed, it increasingly impacted his mobility. By 2025, Osbourne could no longer walk, though his voice remained powerful.
Despite mounting health issues, including spinal surgery, pneumonia, and a near-fatal fall in 2019, he continued performing and connecting with fans. In February 2025, he announced what would become his final Black Sabbath concert — his first in two decades.
In a moving radio appearance that same month, Osbourne reflected: “I’ve made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but I’m still alive. I may complain, but I’ve lived more than most and outlasted expectations.”
His health battles, however, had taken a toll. In March 2023, he canceled a European tour and later withdrew from the Power Trip Festival in 2024, writing that his body wasn’t ready and he didn’t want to deliver a “half-assed” performance.
A Heavy Metal Pioneer
Born John Michael Osbourne on Dec. 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath — the band credited with birthing heavy metal. Alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, the group exploded onto the scene in 1968 with hard-hitting classics like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.”
After parting ways with Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a wildly successful solo career. His hits, including “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears,” showcased his unique voice and rebellious persona. His 1988 duet with Lita Ford, “If I Close My Eyes Forever,” became his only Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
His onstage antics — most infamously biting the head off a bat in 1982 — added to his mythic status.
Over the course of his career, Osbourne won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He received the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
In a 2007 interview with The Guardian, Osbourne called his life “an incredible adventure,” recalling his childhood dreams of becoming a Beatle. “It’s just been incredible, really.”
Reality TV Fame and Family Life
In 2002, Osbourne became a household name to a new generation with The Osbournes on MTV, the wildly popular reality show that followed his chaotic and endearing family life with wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack. Their eldest daughter, Aimee, chose not to appear.
“The first season was magical,” Kelly Osbourne said in 2019. “It was raw, emotional, and totally unfiltered.”
Osbourne and Sharon married in 1982 and renewed their vows in 2017 after weathering marital challenges. Reflecting on their bond, Ozzy once said, “Marriage is a journey. You go up, you go down, you make mistakes. But you learn.”
Sharon added, “I fell out of love and fell back in love again. I respected him more because he truly tried to be a better person.”
A Legacy That Endures
In his final years, Osbourne remained deeply grateful for his fans and the music that defined his life. “I still feel young at heart,” he said in a 2022 interview. “The only thing that reminds me I’m aging is when my body doesn’t cooperate.”
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and his children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, and Louis. Though the curtain has closed on his life, his music — and legacy — will continue to echo for generations.
