Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the most iconic figures in rock music, has died at the age of 76, reported The Guardian. His family announced: “With deep sorrow that words cannot describe, we announce that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. He was surrounded by family and love. We ask for respect for our privacy during this difficult time.” The cause of death was not disclosed, although Ozzy had been suffering from various health issues in recent years.

Osbourne was among the most famous and controversial figures in rock — an innovator with a distinctive ominous vocal style who helped birth heavy metal, a showman who once bit the head off a bat on stage, a drug and alcohol addict who even attempted to kill his wife, and later a TV favorite in the reality show “The Osbournes.”

His death came less than three weeks after his retirement from performing. On July 5, Ozzy reunited with the original members of Black Sabbath for the first time since 2005 for a farewell concert “Back to the Beginning” in Birmingham — an event featuring major names from the metal scene. “I was bedridden for six years, and you have no idea how I feel,” he told the audience, referencing his health problems including a form of Parkinson’s and multiple spinal surgeries. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham, in 1948, the son of factory workers, he had a difficult childhood marked by poverty and traumatic experiences. At 11, he was repeatedly sexually abused. In 2003, he admitted to The Mirror that it was “terrible and seemed never-ending.” He also served time in prison for theft, but said with sarcasm that he was “useless at it.”

This working-class background influenced Black Sabbath’s musical style, who, with their heavy sound, revolutionized British rock. Bassist Geezer Butler explained they wanted to express their bleak worldview, not create cheerful pop songs, using an industrial sound named after the horror of the Boris Karloff film. The band, with Tony Iommi on guitar and Bill Ward on drums, released their debut album in 1970, followed by “Paranoid” with classics like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs,” topping UK charts. Then came “Master of Reality” (1971) with a psychedelic sound that heavily influenced doom metal.

Ozzy released five more albums with Black Sabbath but was expelled from the band in 1979 due to his alcohol and drug addictions, replaced by Ronnie James Dio. He returned for the 2013 album “13,” which topped the charts in the US and UK, and the band ended with a final concert in 2017.

Ozzy’s solo career began immediately after leaving Sabbath, with his debut album “Blizzard of Ozz” achieving five-times platinum status in the US. His latest studio album “Ordinary Man” (2020) features collaborations with young rap artists like Post Malone and Travis Scott, as well as guest Elton John.

The most scandalous moment in his career remains the 1982 Iowa concert where he bit the head off a bat, believing it was a prop. He subsequently received rabies treatment. According to his former publicist Mick Wall, Ozzy also bit the heads off two pigeons during a contentious label meeting in 1981.

In the 80s and 90s, Ozzy had several UK Top 40 hits, including “Bark at the Moon” (1983) and “Perry Mason” (1995). In 2003, he reached number one with the duet “Changes” with his daughter Kelly. Ozzy had three other children — Jack, Amy, and two with his first wife Thelma. His marriage to Thelma ended due to his alcoholism, and he admitted not remembering the births of his children.

In 1982, he married Sharon, who took over managing his career, and together they amassed an estimated fortune of about $196 million. They created the Ozzfest festival in 1996, held regularly in the US, UK, and Japan. In 1989, Ozzy was arrested for attempting to strangle Sharon while intoxicated. Despite the serious incident, they reunited, though briefly separated in 2016 following his infidelity.

The Osbourne family became famous through the reality series “The Osbournes” (2002–2005), which showcased their daily lives — including dog therapists, “vaginal doctors,” and uncensored language — winning an Emmy for best reality program.

In 2003, Ozzy suffered a severe ATV accident at his Buckinghamshire estate, breaking his neck, collarbone, and ribs. He was clinically dead and nearly paralyzed. In 2005, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome. After a period of sobriety, in 2013 he admitted to relapsing into alcohol and drug use but was determined to quit.

In 2019, he announced his final world tour “No More Tours 2,” but illness forced him to postpone the European dates in 2020. That year, he officially announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and in 2022 he underwent spinal surgery due to fall-related complications. In 2023, he canceled a tour due to physical weakness, describing three surgeries, cell therapy, and innovative Cybernics (HAL) treatment.

In a May 2025 interview, Ozzy revealed deep depression caused by the harsh treatment: “You wake up and something else breaks. You think it will never end.” Sharon hoped the “Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham would give him the strength to wake up and live. On stage, he performed with spirit and exclaimed: “I am the Iron Man — fight on!” The concert included appearances by Metallica, Slayer, and Guns N’ Roses.

Ozzy Osbourne leaves a legacy not only with his music but also with a life marked by brilliance, downfall, and human vulnerability — forever known as the “Prince of Darkness” in rock history. | BGNES