Black Sabbath Lead Ozzy Osbourne Dies At 76

On July 22, Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76.
He passed away surrounded by his family.
Osbourne was nicknamed the Prince of Darkness and remembered as the Black Sabbath lead.

Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 at the age of 76. According to a statement by the family, he passed away while “surrounded by love.” Osbourne’s passing follows a 2019 Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Earier this month, Osbourne had played his final show with bandmates Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, and Tony Iommi, marking the first time in 20 years they played together as a group.

Ozzy Osbourne was best known as the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, the pioneering heavy metal band whose dark, thunderous sound helped launch an entire genre in the early 1970s. With landmark songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” he became the face—and unmistakable voice—of a new musical rebellion. After parting ways with the band in 1979, he forged a wildly successful solo career with hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” further cementing his place in rock history. Equal parts chaos and charisma, Osbourne’s legacy stretched beyond music into pop culture, from founding the Ozzfest tour to starring in the hit reality show The Osbournes, earning him a status as one of the most enduring and unpredictable figures in entertainment.

Reign of the Prince of Darkness

Ozzy Osbourne was born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, the fourth of six children in a working-class family. He struggled in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia and left at age 15, working a series of odd jobs and spending time in jail for petty theft. But music became his escape, especially the raw power of The Beatles, whose song “She Loves You” inspired him to pursue singing. With a booming voice and natural stage presence, Osbourne quickly became a fixture in Birmingham’s local rock scene.

In 1968, he teamed up with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward to form a band that would eventually become Black Sabbath. Originally called Earth, they changed their name after a local horror film, leaning into a darker sound that blended blues, distortion, and ominous themes. Osbourne’s haunting vocals and theatrical flair helped the band stand apart from the hippie-leaning rock of the time. Their self-titled debut album in 1970 marked the birth of heavy metal, with Ozzy’s voice leading the charge.

The life of Ozzy Osbourne

In his later years, Ozzy Osbourne faced a series of serious health battles, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019, complications from a previous ATV accident, and a fall in 2019 that left him needing major spinal surgery. Despite these challenges, he remained active in music, releasing his Grammy-winning final album Patient Number 9 in 2022 and continuing to collaborate with fellow rock legends.

Offstage, Ozzy stayed deeply connected to his legacy, overseeing a documentary titled No Escape From Now that chronicled his struggles with illness and his unwavering dedication to music. He also worked on a final memoir, Last Rites, offering candid reflections on his tumultuous life and long career.

Osbourne’s final performance came on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham. Despite battling advanced Parkinson’s disease and being unable to stand, Ozzy took the stage seated on a custom throne, delivering a powerful set alongside the original Black Sabbath lineup. Joined by fellow rock icons and backed by a live stream watched by millions, he delivered a nine-hour concert, later titled “Back to the Beginning,” a fitting tribute to his legacy and roots, raising millions for charity.

A Tuesday statement from Osbourne’s family revealed, “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 continued, “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”