BIRMINGHAM (22 July 2025) – Ozzy Osbourne, the rafter-voiced front-man who helped invent heavy metal with Black Sabbath before building a wildly successful solo career and reality-television empire, passed away early Tuesday. He was 76.
A statement released by the Osbourne family says the singer died peacefully at home “surrounded by those he loved.” No immediate cause of death was given, though Osbourne had battled Parkinson’s disease and lingering spinal injuries in recent years.
A Farewell Just Weeks Ago
The news arrives less than a month after Osbourne’s emotional send-off at Birmingham’s Villa Park. Seated on a gothic-style throne, he reunited with original Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for a one-night celebration that drew 40 000 fans and guest sets from Metallica, Slayer and Guns N’ Roses. “You’ll never know what this means to me,” Osbourne told the crowd before signing off with the definitive scream: “I love you all!”
From Factory Floors to Global Arenas
Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December 1948 in Aston, a working-class district of Birmingham, he left school at 15 and cycled through day jobs before teaming up with guitarist Iommi, bassist Butler and drummer Ward in 1968. Their second album, Paranoid (1970), delivered timeless riffs in “War Pigs,” “Iron Man” and the title track, establishing heavy metal’s blueprint of drop-tuned guitars and doom-laden lyrics.
Fired from Sabbath in 1979 amid legendary substance abuse, Osbourne launched a solo career with Blizzard of Ozz. The record introduced “Crazy Train” and guitarist Randy Rhoads, widening his audience beyond Sabbath devotees. Over five decades he sold more than 100 million albums across band and solo work.
Health struggles in later years
Despite multiple comeback tours, Osbourne’s health became a headline of its own. Complications from a quad-bike crash (2003) and a bathroom fall (2019) left him with metal rods in his spine. In 2020 he disclosed a Parkinson’s diagnosis on U.S. television, yet vowed to keep performing whenever possible. His appearance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Birmingham marked his first live vocal in three years.
Records, Rebellion … and Reality TV
Osbourne’s reputational extremes chewing the head off a bat in 1982, touring with a python named Michael, urinating on the Alamo earned him the moniker “Prince of Darkness.” But MTV’s The Osbournes (2002-2005) humanised the rock star, portraying a gruff but affectionate family man sharing domestic chaos with wife Sharon, daughter Kelly and son Jack. The show won an Emmy and helped normalise unfiltered celebrity reality series.
Tributes From Across the Musical Spectrum
Messages poured in within hours of the announcement. Metallica called Osbourne “the bedrock on which modern metal stands.” Queen guitarist Brian May praised his “unstoppable stage aura,” while rapper Post Malone who collaborated with Osbourne on the 2019 single “Take What You Want” posted simply, “Thank you for everything, Oz.”
The Family He Leaves Behind
Osbourne is survived by Sharon, his wife of 43 years; children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, as well as Jessica and Louis from a previous marriage; and multiple grandchildren. Funeral and memorial arrangements will be shared “in due course,” the family said.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Forms Black Sabbath in Birmingham. |
| 1970 | Releases Paranoid, a heavy-metal landmark. |
| 1979 | Begins solo career with Blizzard of Ozz. |
| 2002 | The Osbournes debuts on MTV. |
| 2020 | Reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis. |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Farewell concert at Villa Park. |
| 22 Jul 2025 | Dies at home, aged 76. |
