Heavy Metal Pioneer Ozzy Osbourne Passes Away, Aged 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic heavy metal vocalist best known for his work as the co-founding vocalist of Black Sabbath, has passed away at the age of 76.

Osbourne’s passing was confirmed in a statement released by his family on July 22nd. “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 read.

“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” No cause of death was provided, though Osbourne’s health battles in recent years were well-documented.

Osbourne first rose to fame in the late ‘60s as the frontman for Birmingham metal outfit Black Sabbath. Famed for their ominous and dark musical stylings, the group were considered pioneers of the heavy metal sound, with their self-titled 1970 debut often being called the first metal album.

Albums such as Paranoid, Master Of Reality, Vol. 4, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath have long found themselves on lists of the greatest records of all time, with Osbourne’s unique vocal prowess becoming emblematic of the metal scene of the era.

Osbourne would be fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 (replacing him with Ronnie James Dio), and he embarked upon a solo career the following year.

Recruiting a talented group of musicians (including the late Randy Rhoads), Osbourne’s solo efforts resulted in records such as Blizzard Of Ozz, Diary Of A Madman, and Bark At The Moon and spawned iconic singles such as Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, and Bark At The Moon.

While Osbourne would continue as a solo artist for the rest of his life, The Prince Of Darkness reunited with his Black Sabbath band members in 1997, though would not appear on another album with the group until their final record, 2013’s 13.

In the early ‘00s, the already-iconic Osbourne reached a new generation of fans when he and his family became the subject of the reality TV series The Osbournes.

Featuring wife and manager Sharon and children Jack and Kelly, the series became the highest-rated in MTV history, and coincided with Osbourne receiving his first chart-topping single in the UK when he teamed with Kelly for a rendition of Black Sabbath’s Changes.

Osbourne’s hard-living rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle became the subject of legend amongst music fans, who traded stories of his appetite for drugs and excess – which also included stories of biting off a bat’s head on stage, snorting a line of ants, and urinating on US national monument The Alamo.

However, the ‘00s also brought with it a number of health issues for the rocker, who in 2019 announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The news also followed the cancellation of Osbourne’s planned Australian appearances at Download Festival for early that year.

In 2024, Osbourne was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist, having been previously inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006.

In early 2025, it was announced that the Back To The Beginning concert would be taking place at Osbourne’s hometown of Birmingham. The line up included a final performance from Black Sabbath, alongside high-profile appearances from the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, and more.

Though Osbourne doubted his health in the lead-up to the show, the event took place on July 5th and raised more than £140 million for charity, with Osbourne passing just 17 days later.

In the wake of Osbourne’s passing, many of his friends, colleagues, and collaborators have paid tribute to the legacy he leaves behind. “He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend,” wrote Elton John. “He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly.”

“Thank you Ozzy Osbourne for the inspiration,” wrote the official Nirvana social media account, though the official Black Sabbath account summed it up best when they simply wrote, “Ozzy forever.”