Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal and the unforgettable frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76. His passing comes just weeks after a heartfelt farewell performance at Villa Park in Birmingham, where he took the stage one final time surrounded by longtime fans and fellow rock icons.
The concert, which featured Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, marked a symbolic closing chapter to a career that helped define an entire genre. Seated on a throne due to ongoing health challenges, Osbourne thanked his fans “from the bottom of my heart,” in what would be his last public performance.
A Statement from the Family
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning,” read a statement released by the Osbourne family. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
A Career That Shaped Music History
Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948 in Birmingham, England, Ozzy’s rise from working-class roots to global stardom is one of rock music’s most iconic journeys. After leaving school at 15 and working a series of odd jobs, he teamed up with bassist Geezer Butler and eventually formed Black Sabbath. With their self-titled 1970 debut and the landmark album Paranoid, the band laid the blueprint for heavy metal. Tracks like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid” would go on to influence generations of musicians.
Following his departure from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a solo career with the now-classic Blizzard of Ozz, featuring hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Over the decades, he released numerous albums that pushed musical and cultural boundaries, all while cultivating a persona that was as outrageous as it was enduring.
From Prince of Darkness to Pop Culture Icon
Though known for his dark imagery and infamous stage stunts — including the infamous bat incident — Osbourne’s reach extended far beyond metal. In the 2000s, he became a household name through MTV’s The Osbournes, a wildly popular reality show that introduced his eccentric family life to a new generation of fans. His marriage to Sharon Osbourne, who also served as his longtime manager, became one of the most recognized partnerships in entertainment.
Despite serious health setbacks — including a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and complications following a 2019 fall — Osbourne continued to make surprise appearances and remained a beloved figure in both music and television.
A Celebrated Legacy
Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is monumental. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist. He earned five Grammy Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, and accolades including NME’s Godlike Genius Award and Classic Rock’s Living Legend prize. His star adorns both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s own Walk of Stars.
His solo discography includes:
-
Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
-
Diary of a Madman (1981)
-
Bark at the Moon (1983)
-
No More Tears (1991)
-
Ordinary Man (2020)
-
Patient Number 9 (2022)
…and several other fan-favorite releases.
A Final Bow
Ozzy’s final concert appearance in July 2025 — performing from a throne, supported by fellow metal legends, and showered in fan adoration — was a poetic farewell. It was more than a performance; it was a passing of the torch, a reminder that even through pain and decline, rock and roll never dies.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as Jessica and Louis, his children from a previous marriage.
He leaves behind not just a towering body of work, but a cultural footprint that few artists will ever match. From haunted riffs to reality TV, from chaos to charisma — Ozzy Osbourne lived loud, loved hard, and left a legacy etched in the soul of rock.
If you want over 200+ ideas, phrases, and text messages to drive your man wild with desire for you, make sure to check out my new program, Language of Desire. I give you step-by-step instructions and tons of exact words to use to get exactly what you both want in and out of the bedroom.
P.S. The reason so many men “pull away” from women is because
women don’t understand this naughty secret about men. . .
