Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the founding fathers of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. His death was confirmed Tuesday morning by his family, who stated he passed peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3, 1948, his journey from the industrial streets of Aston to global stardom was as improbable as it was extraordinary. With Black Sabbath, founded in 1968, Osbourne helped invent a new genre—darker, louder, and more defiant than anything before. Albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality redefined rock and laid the foundation for heavy metal as a movement.
After leaving the band in 1979, Osbourne launched a solo career that produced iconic albums like Blizzard of Ozz, featuring the classic “Crazy Train.” Despite well-publicized battles with addiction and health, his creative spirit never wavered. Across his five-decade career, he sold more than 100 million records and was twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—once with Black Sabbath, and again as a solo artist.
His persona—equal parts menace and mischief—became legend. Yet behind the theatrics was a devoted husband, father, and artist who wore his heart on his sleeve. The world saw this side of him in The Osbournes, the reality series that revealed the tenderness and chaos of his family life.
Osbourne’s final bow came on July 5, 2025, at a farewell concert in Birmingham. The event, dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” reunited the original Black Sabbath lineup one last time. The moment will be captured in a forthcoming film, Ozzy’s Final Bow, slated for release in 2026.
He is survived by his wife Sharon and six children. Tributes have poured in from around the globe. “Ozzy Forever,” wrote his bandmates. The world mourns not only a musician, but a myth made real—a man who changed music forever.
