Rock and roll has misplaced certainly one of its most iconic voices. Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and a pioneer of heavy steel, has died at age 76 following a years-long battle with Parkinson’s illness.
“It’s with extra unhappiness than mere phrases can convey that we have now to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has handed away this morning,” his household shared in a press release to Metro on Tuesday, July 22. “He was together with his household and surrounded by love. We ask everybody to respect our household privateness right now.” His loss of life was later confirmed by the BBC.
The heartbreaking information comes simply weeks after Ozzy took the stage for what can be his remaining efficiency with Black Sabbath of their hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5 — a full-circle second for the group that helped form the sound of rock music for many years.
Ozzy’s musical journey started in 1967 when he joined the band Uncommon Breed with bassist Geezer Butler. After a short-lived run, the band reformed as Black Sabbath with the additions of guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Invoice Ward. Recognized for his or her darkish lyrics and heavy riffs, the band catapulted to fame and helped outline the heavy steel style. Regardless of a short cut up in 1978, Osbourne rejoined the band earlier than being fired in 1979 because of his struggles with medicine and alcohol. He later reunited with Black Sabbath for his or her remaining album, 13, and their farewell tour, which concluded in 2017.
Whereas his music profession cemented him as a rock god, Ozzy additionally made a reputation for himself in actuality TV. Alongside his spouse Sharon Osbourne, he starred in The Osbournes, the hit MTV collection that aired from 2002 to 2005 and provided an unfiltered take a look at their residence life with children Kelly and Jack. The couple, who wed in 1982, additionally share daughter Aimee, whereas Ozzy had three kids — Elliot, Louis and Jessica — from his earlier marriage to Thelma Riley.
Ozzy’s later years have been marked by well being struggles. In 2020, he publicly revealed he had Parkinson’s illness. “I’m now residence from the hospital recuperating comfortably,” he wrote on Instagram in June 2022 following a serious surgical procedure. “I’m positively feeling the love and assist from all my followers and ship everybody a giant thanks for his or her ideas, prayers and effectively needs throughout my restoration.”
The next 12 months, he introduced his retirement from touring because of lingering spinal accidents from a 2018 fall. “Imagine me once I say that the considered disappointing my followers actually F***S ME UP, greater than you’ll ever know,” he stated in a February 2023 assertion. “By no means would I’ve imagined that my touring days would have ended this manner.”
In what would turn into certainly one of his final interviews, Ozzy spoke candidly to The Guardian in Could 2025 in regards to the toll his well being points had taken. “You get up the following morning and discover that one thing else has gone incorrect,” he admitted. He credited Sharon for organizing his remaining Black Sabbath present, saying it gave him “a cause to stand up within the morning.”
