LONDON, July 15, 2025 — Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic and often controversial frontman of Black Sabbath and a foundational figure in the rise of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. His family announced his passing on Tuesday morning in Birmingham, England, just weeks after his farewell concert, which marked a final reunion with the original Black Sabbath lineup.
Osbourne, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, died surrounded by his family, according to a statement. A key force in shaping the dark and thunderous sound of heavy metal, Osbourne’s death closes a monumental chapter in rock history.
Rising from the working-class neighborhoods of Birmingham, Osbourne — born John Michael Osbourne — formed Black Sabbath in the late 1960s alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their debut album, Black Sabbath, released in 1970, is widely cited as the birth of heavy metal, featuring dark themes, distorted riffs, and an ominous atmosphere that challenged the prevailing flower-power ethos of the era.
The band’s follow-up, Paranoid, included genre-defining tracks such as War Pigs, Iron Man, and the title track Paranoid. Though initially met with mixed critical response, the albums became enduring cornerstones of metal. As Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction once remarked in Rolling Stone, “Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal.”
Osbourne’s volatile behavior, fueled by substance abuse, led to his departure from Sabbath in 1979. Bassist Butler later wrote that the decision to fire him was unavoidable due to his spiraling condition. Osbourne rebounded quickly with a solo career, launching Blizzard of Ozz in 1980 and Diary of a Madman in 1981 — albums that introduced hits like Crazy Train and Flying High Again. His band featured rising guitar talents, including Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde, who helped define the sonic edge of his solo work.
Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Osbourne became a lightning rod for controversy, often criticized by religious groups and blamed for promoting violence and suicide. In one notorious incident during a 1981 concert, he bit the head off a live bat — an act he later said was unintentional, believing it to be a toy.
Despite or perhaps because of his dark image, Osbourne remained culturally relevant. In the 2000s, The Osbournes reality show revealed a softer, eccentric side of the rock star, portraying him as a bemused, often bewildered father navigating domestic life. The show ran on MTV from 2002 to 2005, helping revitalize his public persona.
Osbourne’s touring festival, Ozzfest, launched in 1996, brought heavy metal to a new generation, hosting acts such as Slipknot, System of a Down, and Megadeth. He also enjoyed late-career success with collaborations including a 2019 track with Post Malone and the Grammy-nominated 2022 album Patient Number 9, featuring Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.
In 2024, Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a second time, this time as a solo artist. A year later, on July 4, 2025, he took the stage one final time with the original Black Sabbath lineup before 42,000 fans in the U.K., marking his last live performance.
Born on December 3, 1948, Osbourne’s early influences included the Beatles and Chuck Berry. He first performed with local bands before forming what became Black Sabbath, named after the English title of a Boris Karloff horror film. The band’s early work — including Master of Reality and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath — was characterized by heavy riffs and lyrics that addressed alienation, war, and mental health.
Osbourne’s personal life was marked by tumult and endurance. After a failed first marriage, he wed Sharon Arden in 1982, who became his longtime manager and co-star in both his music and reality TV ventures. They had three children together — Aimee, Kelly, and Jack — and endured well-documented highs and lows.
Beyond music, Osbourne left his mark in pop culture in unexpected ways — from a batlike Amazonian frog named after him (Dendropsophus ozzyi) to appearances alongside Queen Elizabeth II. His long-standing image — dark clothes, round glasses, and heavy eyeliner — became as iconic as his voice.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, his children, and a legacy that continues to influence artists across genres. His music, antics, and presence helped shape an entire generation’s understanding of rock, rebellion, and reinvention.
