Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and a pivotal figure in the creation of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. His family confirmed his passing in a statement released on July 22, 2025, noting that he was "with his family and surrounded by love". The statement expressed a profound sadness, conveying that words could not adequately express the depth of their loss.

Osbourne's death comes just weeks after he reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates for a final farewell concert at Villa Park. The July performance, which was billed as his "final bow," included appearances by Metallica and Guns N' Roses. Osbourne performed from a throne on stage and thanked fans "from the bottom of my heart".

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath in the late 1960s. The band's dark, heavy sound and Osbourne's distinctive vocals helped to define the heavy metal genre. Black Sabbath achieved massive success with albums such as "Paranoid," "Iron Man", and "War Pigs," which are considered seminal works in heavy metal history.

Ozzy Osbourne's career was marked by outlandish behavior and a classic metal look. Memorable exploits included an incident at the Alamo in 1982 and biting the head off a bat during a concert in 1981. Despite these controversies, Osbourne's impact on music remained undeniable.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2003, Osbourne publicly revealed his condition in 2020, describing it as a "mild form" at the time. In recent years, the disease severely impacted his mobility, leaving him unable to walk and requiring daily physiotherapy. Despite these challenges, he remained determined to perform, culminating in a final concert in July 2025 where he sang from a throne, his voice still strong.

Following his death, tributes poured in from across the music industry. Black Sabbath posted a photograph of Osbourne with the words “Ozzy Forever!”. Metallica also posted a photo of the band with Osbourne, along with a broken heart emoji. Ronnie Wood, of The Rolling Stones, wrote: "I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne."

Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, and six children: Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, Louis, and Elliot. His legacy includes two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, five Grammy wins, and global recognition.