Ozzy Osbourne has died age 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice of metal band Black Sabbath and a towering figure in the history of rock music, has died at the age of 76.
His family confirmed he passed away peacefully at home in England on 22 July, surrounded by loved ones. Osbourne had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other health complications in recent years, including a spinal injury that forced him to step away from touring.
Despite those challenges, Osbourne made a powerful final appearance on stage in his hometown, Birmingham, earlier this month, performing with the original Black Sabbath lineup in an emotional farewell concert dubbed Back to the Beginning. He sang seated from a throne, gold-inlaid cane in hand, in front of thousands of fans who understood they were witnessing the end of an era.
Rockstars YUNGBLUD visited Ozzy in his dressing room before the show, gifting him with a chain necklace identical to one Ozzy gave to him previously.
“Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own”
— YUNGBLUD
Born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy became a pioneer in heavy metal music when Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut in 1970. With his haunted vocals and dark charisma, he helped shape heavy metal into a global movement.
After being fired from the band in 1979, Osbourne launched a wildly successful solo career with albums like Blizzard of Ozz and hits including Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley.
His reputation of drug and alcohol abuse (not forgetting the time he bit the head of a bat) was mentioned by rock band Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins, who stated that:
“Osbourne was just a genuinely good guy with an incredible amount of charisma... He was wild, but not wild and mean.”
In the 2000s, a new generation came to know him as the lovable chaos agent at the heart of The Osbournes, MTV’s hit reality show which revealed the secrets of his offstage life. The show highlighted many heartwarming and funny moments he shared with his family, showing Osbourne’s truly caring personality.
Throughout his career, Osbourne has played multiple shows in Bristol, including a solo performance at Bristol Beacon (then Colston Hall) in 1980, at the height of his early solo success.
This image shows an original ticket for the Blizzard of Ozz tour concert at the Bristol show.
Osbourne’s global reputation precedes him - the star was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice—first with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, their children, and millions of fans worldwide. Tributes have poured in from across the music world, with everyone from Metallica to Liam Gallagher honouring his memory.
The Prince of Darkness is gone, but the shadow he cast will endure for generations.