Black Sabbath Legend and ‘Prince of Darkness’, Ozzy Osbourne, Dies at 76

By Dayo Ade Olusola | Celebrity News|July 22, 2025

The legendary British rock singer and lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, has passed away at the age of 76. His family confirmed the news in a statement released on Tuesday morning.

“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,” the statement read.

“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We kindly request that everyone respect our family’s privacy at this time. — Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.”

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but Osbourne had battled significant health issues in recent years, including a public diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

The announcement comes just weeks after what would be his final public performance. On July 5, Osbourne took to the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham for the “Back to the Beginning” show—a special one-off event that reunited him with fellow Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.

The concert, which also featured performances by Metallica, Slayer, and Alice in Chains, marked the end of an era for the pioneering metal band.

“It’s so good to be on this stage. You have no idea,” Osbourne told the crowd, thanking fans “from the bottom of my heart.”

Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, rose to fame in the 1970s as the enigmatic and theatrical frontman of Black Sabbath.

Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” he helped pioneer heavy metal with songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.”

He also became infamous for his wild stage antics, including a notorious incident in 1982 when he bit the head off what he believed was a rubber bat—only to discover it was real.

He was rushed to the hospital and given a rabies shot. The incident became part of rock folklore, and Osbourne later capitalised on it with a commemorative plush bat toy featuring a detachable head.

His solo career, which began after he was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, was equally successful.

He released hit albums including Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, cementing his status as a global rock icon.

Offstage, Osbourne’s personal life was closely followed by fans and media alike. He married Sharon Osbourne in 1982, and the couple became one of Britain’s most recognisable celebrity families. Together, they had three children—Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. Osbourne also had three children—Jessica, Louis, and Elliot—from a previous marriage to Thelma Riley.

In recent years, the singer had experienced serious health complications. In January 2020, he publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease. “It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body,” Sharon explained at the time during an appearance on Good Morning America.

Osbourne also underwent multiple surgeries following a 2019 fall that aggravated injuries from a previous quad-bike accident in 2003. The aftermath left him with spinal issues and ongoing neurological symptoms.

“I’m on a host of medications, mainly for this surgery,” Osbourne said in an earlier interview. “I’ve got numbness down this arm from the surgery, and my legs keep going cold. I don’t know if that’s Parkinson’s or what.”

Despite his health struggles, he remained committed to music and family. At his final performance in Birmingham, he witnessed a touching moment when his youngest daughter, Kelly, became engaged to Slipknot musician Sid Wilson backstage.

Fans and fellow musicians around the world have paid tribute to Osbourne’s unparalleled influence on music, describing him as one of the greatest and most resilient figures in rock history.

A public memorial has not yet been announced.