London [UK], July 23: John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, the iconic lead singer of the pioneering British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has passed away at the age of 76. Osbourne breathed his last on Tuesday after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
His family confirmed the news of his demise in a statement, as reported by TMZ: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Just two weeks prior to his passing, Ozzy had performed at what was billed as Black Sabbath’s final concert. This event, a festival titled “Back to the Beginning,” took place in his and the band’s hometown of Birmingham, England. It served as a massive tribute to the legendary band, drawing admiration and performances from spiritual descendants like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice in Chains, and many more.
A Battle with Health and a Legacy Defined
In January 2020, following two years of escalating health problems, Osbourne publicly announced his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. In February 2023, he issued a statement declaring his retirement from touring, citing debilitating spinal injuries sustained in a 2018 accident.
At the time, he expressed his deep disappointment to fans: “[I]n all good conscience, I have now come to the realization that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/U.K. tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required. Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really F***S ME UP, more than you will ever know. Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way.”
The Prince of Darkness: A Trailblazer in Heavy Metal
From 1969 to 1979, Osbourne was the quintessential frontman for the Birmingham-based Black Sabbath. The band forged a revolutionary sound characterized by bottom-heavy, churning riffs and dark, often demonology-infused lyrics, which laid the foundational blueprint for countless metal bands that followed. Despite a chaotic history marked by monumental substance abuse and tumultuous internal conflicts, Black Sabbath’s early albums remain undisputed classics of the genre, cementing their status as heavy metal pioneers.
Osbourne’s immense popularity among metal fans transcended the band. His wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, capitalized on this by creating Ozzfest, a touring festival built around him. Ozzfest quickly became one of the biggest box office attractions of the 1990s, drawing a glittering lineup of support acts and becoming a cultural phenomenon for the metal community.
Beyond music, Osbourne gained additional mainstream fame in the early 2000s as the seemingly addled patriarch of “The Osbournes,” an MTV reality series. The show offered a raw and often comedic look into the rock star’s unconventional home life, further endearing him to a broader audience.
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his six children: Jessica, Louis, and Elliot from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, and Aimee, Kelly, and Jack from his second marriage to Sharon. His legacy as the “Prince of Darkness” and a defining voice of heavy metal will undoubtedly continue to influence generations of musicians and fans worldwide.