Music Industry Legend, Black Sabbath Frontman, and the Heavy Metal Icon, Ozzy Osbourne, Died at 76.
“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 Osbourne family shared in a statement. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Ozzy Osbourne, who faced numerous health challenges in his final years, played his last concert earlier this month in Birmingham, England. The star-studded event featured the original Black Sabbath lineup, Metallica, Slayer, and more, marking a powerful farewell for the Prince of Darkness. The concert will be adapted into a film titled Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow, set for release next year. While a formal cause of death has not been announced, fans continue to celebrate Ozzy’s legendary impact on rock and metal.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne discovered his passion for music after hearing the Beatles’ “She Loves You” as a teenager. In the late 1960s, he formed Black Sabbath with Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward, forever transforming rock music with albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality. Ozzy’s groundbreaking work with Black Sabbath helped define the hard rock and heavy metal genres for generations to come, cementing his status as a true legend in music history.
Ozzy Osbourne served as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath until 1979, when he was replaced by Ronnie James Dio amid disputes over substance use and reliability, though Osbourne argued his behavior was no different from his bandmates. Following his departure, Osbourne launched a highly successful solo career, with his first seven albums achieving multi-platinum status in the U.S. Teaming up with guitarist Randy Rhoads, Osbourne co-wrote the iconic hit “Crazy Train.” After Rhoads tragically died in a plane crash in 1982, Osbourne honored him with the 1987 live album Tribute, cementing their enduring musical legacy.