Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne dies, aged 76

22 July 2025, 19:38 | Updated: 22 July 2025, 20:14

By Mayer Nissim

Ozzy Osbourne played his farewell show with Black Sabbath just two weeks ago.

Loading audio...

Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76

News of the rock legend's passing was confirmed today (July 22), just weeks after he reunited with Black Sabbath for a farewell concert in his native Birmingham.

"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," read a statement.

"He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."

Ozzy played a solo set before headlining with Black Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park on July 5.

BLACK SABBATH - "Paranoid" (Official Video)

Ozzy, who has suffered from various health conditions in recent years, performed sat in a black throne during his sets.

The show is reported to have raised £140 million for The Cure Parkinson's Trust, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019.

Born in Marston Green on December 3, 1948, Ozzy formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham with guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward and bassist Geezer Butler.

Black Sabbath: guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and singer Ozzy Osbourne. Picture: Alamy

The band changed the face of music forever, with albums like Black Sabbath, Paranoid and Master of Reality.

As a solo artist, Ozzy also had hits with songs like 'Crazy Train' and 'Mr. Crowley'.

Ozzy is survived by his wife Sharon and his six children, including Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne.

He was born in working-class Birmingham, and he transformed from a factory worker's son into one of rock music's most iconic and influential figures.

As Black Sabbath's lead vocalist, Osbourne helped birth heavy metal in the early 1970s with groundbreaking albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The band's dark, thunderous sound and Osbourne's haunting wail created a blueprint that countless metal bands would follow. Songs like 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs', and 'Paranoid' became anthems for generations of metalheads.

After being dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, Osbourne launched a spectacularly successful solo career. Albums like Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman spawned classics including 'Crazy Train' and 'Mr. Crowley', cementing his status as metal royalty. His theatrical stage performances, including the infamous bat-biting incident, became the stuff of rock legend.

In the 2000s, Osbourne found unexpected mainstream fame through MTV's reality series The Osbournes, which showcased his endearingly chaotic family life with wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack. The show revealed the gentle soul beneath the demonic persona, introducing him to an entirely new generation.

Ozzy Osbourne's legacy as heavy metal's founding father and most beloved madman will echo through eternity.