Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal star, has passed away aged 76 — just weeks after reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates and performing a huge farewell concert for fans.
The family of the legendary singer announced his passing in a statement shared on social media on Tuesday.
Osbourne, known as the ‘Prince of Darkness’ and the ‘Godfather of Heavy Metal,’ died on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his loved ones.
“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. He was with his family and surrounded by love,” the statement reads.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Osbourne’s final performance took place on July 5, at Villa Park, where he reunited with his original bandmates in the pioneering group Black Sabbath for the first time since 2005, for an all-star farewell concert featuring some of the biggest names in metal.
Seated on a throne due to his declining health, he delivered an emotional set, thanking fans for their decades of support.
“You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
The songwriter entertained the cheering crowd with hit songs, including the 1991 track ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, the band that defined heavy metal.
Their self-titled 1970 debut album became a groundbreaking force in music, spawning classics like ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Paranoid,’ and ‘War Pigs’.
Despite his dismissal from the band in 1979 due to substance abuse and erratic behavior, Ozzy launched a wildly successful solo career, producing anthems like ‘Crazy Train’ and ‘Bark at the Moon’.
Beyond music, Osbourne became a pop culture phenomenon through the early 2000s MTV reality series ‘The Osbournes,’ which showcased his eccentric family life with wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack.
His outrageous rockstar persona, including the infamous incident of biting off a bat’s head onstage, cemented his status as a larger-than-life icon.
In his later years, Ozzy faced numerous health battles, including Parkinson’s disease and injuries from a 2019 fall. Yet, he defied the odds, making a surprise appearance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
His resilience and influence earned him inductions into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — twice, as a solo artiste and with Black Sabbath.
Osbourne leaves behind his Sharon and their children — Aimee, Kelly and Jack — as well his two older children — Jessica and Louis — from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.(The Cable)
