Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at 76—just weeks after his emotional farewell concert in Birmingham, surrounded by loved ones.
July 22, 2025 – The music world is in mourning as Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and the “Prince of Darkness” of heavy metal, passed away today at the age of 76. His family confirmed that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
On July 5, Ozzy took to the stage for what would be his final performance—a star-studded farewell show titled “Back to the Beginning” at Birmingham’s legendary Villa Park stadium. Seated on a throne due to advanced Parkinson’s disease, he delivered an emotional send-off alongside members of Black Sabbath and special guests including Metallica and Guns N’ Roses.
A Lifetime of Firsts and Farewells
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy co-founded Black Sabbath in 1967. The band’s dark, heavy sound transformed rock music, spawning anthemic hits like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs”.
After parting ways with Sabbath in 1979, he launched a solo career with iconic tracks like “Crazy Train” and helped launch the Ozzfest festival phenomenon.
Offstage, Ozzy’s life was as dramatic as his performances—famously biting the head off a bat, struggling with substance abuse, and even attempting violence against his wife during a drug-fueled episode.
Yet he reinvented himself as a family man on MTV’s hit reality show, #₹The Osbournes##, bringing an earnest and humorous side of the heavy metal icon to viewers worldwide.
The Battle with Parkinson’s
Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2020, a condition that gradually impacted his mobility and led to spinal injuries from falls in 2019.
Despite these setbacks, he powered through, making a surprise return to the stage in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and planning a full farewell in 2025.
Global Tributes and Fan Farewell
News of Ozzy’s passing sparked an outpouring of grief and admiration from fans and fellow artists alike. Tweets and tributes flowed in:
Man,,, real heart broken over the passing of OZZY OSBOURNE,,, we go way back and it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year. Sending my love and prayers to Sharon and his kids and whole family. RIP 🤍 pic.twitter.com/YVKpAz6FKg
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) July 22, 2025
Flavor Flav: “Man,,, real heart broken over the passing of OZZY OSBOURNE… RIP 🤍”
Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day): “No words, we love you Ozzy.”
Other legends—Jack White, Questlove, Ronnie Wood, Pantera—praised Ozzy as a trailblazer who laid the groundwork for heavy metal.
On Reddit’s r/BlackSabbath, fans shared heartbreak and gratitude:
“It was almost spiritual… I could feel the special atmosphere even watching it online.”
His Unmatched Legacy
- Co-founder of Black Sabbath and solo music innovator
- MTV reality show pioneer, introducing him to a new generation
- Grammy winner
- Inductee into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (twice each)
- Creator of one of rock’s most iconic festivals, Ozzfest
Ozzy leaves behind his wife Sharon and five children—Kelly, Jack, Aimee, Jessica, and Louis—as well as numerous grandchildren.
