Ozzy Osbourne Passes Away at 76: A Rock Legend’s Final Goodbye

The music world is in mourning as Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and a towering figure in rock and heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. His passing comes just weeks after what was billed as his final concert appearance — a farewell performance at Villa Park in the UK.

In a heartfelt statement released by his family — wife Sharon Osbourne, and children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis (his son from a previous marriage with Thelma Riley) — they shared, “It is with more sadness than words can express that we confirm Ozzy Osbourne passed away peacefully this morning. He was surrounded by those who loved him. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this enormous loss.”

Known affectionately and fearfully as the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England. He first gained global recognition in the late 1960s as a founding member of Black Sabbath. With iconic songs like Paranoid, Iron Man, and War Pigs, the band shaped the heavy metal genre and earned a permanent place in rock history.

Ozzy left Black Sabbath in 1979 amid struggles with substance abuse, but that didn’t end his story—it marked the beginning of a wildly successful solo career. His debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz, featured one of his most enduring hits, Crazy Train. His unpredictable stage antics, like biting the head off a bat during a 1982 performance, cemented his status as one of rock’s most eccentric and controversial performers.

Over the years, he released 13 studio albums and was honored with two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—first with Black Sabbath in 2006, and then as a solo artist in 2024.

Beyond music, Ozzy became a pop culture icon through The Osbournes, a groundbreaking MTV reality show that gave fans an unfiltered look at the chaotic and humorous family life he shared with Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. While the show brought laughter, it also revealed Ozzy’s deep personal struggles with health and addiction.

In 2020, he revealed that he had been living with Parkinson’s disease since 2003—a condition he candidly discussed in interviews. “I’m not dying from Parkinson’s,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve been dealing with it most of my life. I’ve cheated death so many times. If you read tomorrow that I didn’t wake up, you wouldn’t be shocked—you’d just say, ‘Well, it finally caught up with him.’”

In recent years, Ozzy faced numerous health challenges, including a serious staph infection in 2018 and multiple spinal surgeries following a fall that aggravated an old neck injury. In May 2025, he told The Guardian, “You wake up and something else has gone wrong. You start to wonder if it’s ever going to end.”

Tributes from fans and rock legends alike have been flooding in across social media and major news outlets. Many are remembering Ozzy not just as a musical pioneer, but as a father, husband, and fighter who faced every challenge with grit, humor, and heart.

For those who loved his music, his spirit lives on through every riff, scream, and unforgettable lyric. Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne. The world will never forget the Prince of Darkness.