Rock and roll has lost one of its most iconic voices. Ozzy Osbourne, famously known as the “Prince of Darkness” and the frontman of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76.
Osbourne passed away peacefully on the morning of July 22, surrounded by his family. The cause of death has not yet been officially disclosed, but the rock legend had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years and had experienced a series of health setbacks in recent times.
Just weeks ago, on July 5, Osbourne took to the stage for a final farewell performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where the band was born. The emotional performance marked the end of a five-decade-long career that revolutionized heavy metal music.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, Ozzy rose to fame in the early 1970s with Black Sabbath, delivering genre-defining albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Vol. 4. After parting ways with the band in 1979, he launched a successful solo career, releasing hits such as Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, and No More Tears.
Despite his public battles with addiction and health problems, Osbourne remained a towering figure in rock music. In later years, he became a pop culture icon thanks to the hit reality TV show The Osbournes, which introduced his eccentric family life to a new generation.
Tributes have been pouring in from fans and fellow musicians across the globe. Many hailed him as a pioneer who helped shape the sound and attitude of heavy metal, and someone who remained true to the spirit of rock until the very end.
“He rocked on right until the end,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “Rest in peace, Prince of Darkness.”
Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and his children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
More details, including memorial plans, are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
Rest in Power, Ozzy.
