Legendary rock icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. The announcement came shortly after he reunited with members of Black Sabbath for a special farewell performance in Birmingham, marking his final appearance before fans.
In a statement released by the Osbourne family, they said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning, surrounded by family and love. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this great loss.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed, though Osbourne had been battling serious health issues in recent years.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, Osbourne underwent multiple spinal surgeries, suffered recurrent infections, and faced a long recovery. His final concert took place on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham during a farewell event titled Back to the Beginning, where he performed with Black Sabbath members for the first time since 2005.
The Godfather of Heavy Metal
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, he rose to fame as one of the founding members of Black Sabbath, pioneers of the heavy metal genre. Tracks like Iron Man, War Pigs, and Paranoid made the band globally famous for blending the raw, industrial energy of their hometown into their sound.
In 1979, Osbourne was dismissed from the band due to his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Yet his solo career proved just as impactful: his debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz earned five platinum certifications in the U.S.
A Wild Life On and Off Stage
Osbourne’s off-stage antics were just as notorious. In 1982, he made headlines for biting the head off a bat during a performance—an incident he later admitted was an accident. At a record label meeting, he infamously bit the heads off two doves.
From 2002 to 2005, Osbourne starred in the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which offered an unfiltered glimpse into his family life and introduced him to a younger generation. In 2003, he and his daughter Kelly Osbourne topped the UK charts with their duet of Changes.
One Last Goodbye
In 2003, Osbourne suffered a near-fatal ATV accident, breaking his neck, collarbone, and several ribs. In 2020, he went public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and by 2022 he had undergone major spinal surgery. He canceled his planned 2023 tour due to health issues.
His final words on stage during his last performance in 2025 were as raw and powerful as ever:
“I am Iron Man. Go fucking crazy!”
