Tragic news has shaken the music world: heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at 76, surrounded by his devoted family. Just weeks ago, he stood onstage at Villa Park alongside his Black Sabbath bandmates, delivering a triumphant farewell that thrilled fans from start to finish. From his throne-like perch, Ozzy thanked the crowd with heartfelt emotion: “You can’t imagine how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
That unforgettable night featured special appearances by Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, closing the book on a career that forever changed the face of rock. Following the announcement of his death, Metallica paid tribute on X with a poignant photo and a broken-heart emoji, reflecting a collective sense of loss.
Born John Michael Osbourne, “The Prince of Darkness” co-founded Black Sabbath in the late 1960s, pioneering the heavy riffs and dark themes that defined the genre. His solo career soared with anthems like “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “Crazy Train” and “Changes.” In the early 2000s, MTV’s reality series The Osbournes offered a candid glimpse into his life with wife Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack, cementing his place in pop culture.
Ozzy’s wild stage moments were the stuff of legend—none more infamous than the time he bit the head off a bat. Yet in recent years he battled Parkinson’s disease and complications from a 2019 fall, forcing him to cancel multiple tours. Even so, he surprised fans with a cameo at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, demonstrating the resilience that defined his spirit.
Honors poured in throughout his career: inductions into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (twice, with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and another on Birmingham’s Broad Street, an Ivor Novello Award, five Grammy wins, NME’s Godlike Genius Award and Classic Rock’s Living Legend prize.
Ozzy leaves behind his wife Sharon; children Aimee, Kelly and Jack; his older children Jessica and Louis from his first marriage; and a host of grandchildren who will carry forward his legacy. The world may have lost its “Prince of Darkness,” but his thunderous riffs and unmistakable voice will echo forever.