Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary rock singer known for his larger-than-life stage presence, passed away on Tuesday (July 22). He was 76.
In a heartfelt statement, the Osbourne family said, “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. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The news comes just weeks after Osbourne performed with Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham, England, where he reunited with bandmates, including bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi.
The event, Back to the Beginning, was a star-studded farewell that brought together some of the biggest names in metal to honour his legacy.
Ozzy had been battling multiple health problems in recent years. However, his family has chosen not to share the exact cause of his death.
The British rocker rose to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, where his voice became a defining force of heavy metal. He introduced the world to groundbreaking tracks like “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “War Pigs.”
John “Ozzy” Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948, in the central English city of Birmingham, the son of a toolmaker and a factory worker.
Osbourne was musically inspired by The Beatles, crediting the Fab Four’s 1963 smash “She Loves You” for his becoming a musician.
In 1967, Butler, Black Sabbath’s bassist and principal lyricist, formed a group – then called Rare Breed – and asked Osbourne to join, along with guitarist Iommi and drummer Ward. After a couple of name changes, the band finally settled on Black Sabbath.
Throughout his remarkable career, Osbourne earned a place among music’s greatest. He was honoured twice in both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist. His achievements also include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and another in his hometown on Birmingham’s Broad Street.
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He is survived by his wife Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as his two older children, Jessica and Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
