The world of music has lost a true legend. Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, solo artist, reality television star, and self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, has died at the age of 76. He passed away peacefully at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, on July 22, 2025, just weeks after his final public performance.
Osbourne’s death marks the end of an era for rock and heavy metal, genres he helped shape and redefine over a career spanning more than five decades.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy rose from working-class obscurity to global superstardom as the lead singer of Black Sabbath. Alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, Osbourne helped usher in the age of heavy metal with Sabbath’s 1970 debut album. The band’s dark, doomy sound and apocalyptic lyrics were unlike anything the world had heard before.
With classics like Paranoid, Iron Man, War Pigs, and Children of the Grave, Black Sabbath became the voice of a disenchanted generation and laid the groundwork for countless metal acts to follow.
After parting ways with Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a highly successful solo career. His 1980 debut album Blizzard of Ozz introduced a new chapter in his legacy, featuring enduring hits like Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley. His solo work, often blending theatrics, melody, and madness, continued to push boundaries, and collaborations with guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde became legendary in their own right.
Offstage, Osbourne was no less a cultural force. He became a household name in the early 2000s through the reality TV show The Osbournes, offering a chaotic and endearing glimpse into his home life with wife Sharon and their children. His slurred speech and unpredictable antics made him a pop culture icon, one that transcended generations.
In 2020, Osbourne revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and his health battles in the following years were closely followed by fans around the world. Yet, in true Ozzy fashion, he never gave up the stage.
On July 5, 2025, just 17 days before his passing, he returned to his hometown of Birmingham for a final, emotional concert with Black Sabbath. Performing from a throne due to mobility issues, Osbourne delivered a set filled with passion, fire, and gratitude. The crowd roared as the band played Black Sabbath, Fairies Wear Boots, and Into the Void, closing with Paranoid, a fitting goodbye to the fans who had followed him for generations.
Rock and metal musicians from across the spectrum, including James Hetfield, Rob Halford, Dave Grohl, and even artists outside the genre like Elton John and Questlove, offered tributes on social media, honoring Osbourne’s revolutionary contributions and lasting impact.
Osbourne’s music has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. In recent years, he also released Patient Number 9 (2022), an album that earned him a new generation of fans and critical acclaim.
Even as his health declined, Ozzy remained committed to his fans. “I owe everything to them,” he once said. “Without the fans, there is no Ozzy.”
He is survived by his wife Sharon, children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and numerous grandchildren.
The Prince of Darkness has taken his final bow, but his voice, his riffs, and his unforgettable presence will echo through rock history forever.
Rest in peace, Ozzy. You were more than a rock star. You were a force of nature.
