Ozzy Osbourne Dead at 76: Metal Legend Passes Mere Weeks After Final Show
Ozzy Osbourne has died at age 76, his family confirmed today in a statement signed by wife Sharon and their children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis. They said he passed “peacefully… surrounded by love,” and requested privacy as they mourn.
His passing comes just weeks after delivering a defining farewell performance on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham. In the final concert, billed “Back to the Beginning,” Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath, taking the throne-like seat on stage, unable to walk due to his progressing Parkinson’s illness, and told fans, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart”.
Osbourne’s influence on heavy metal is undeniable. As frontman of Black Sabbath, he led the charge with tracks like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.” After being dismissed in 1979 amid personal struggles, he launched a solo career that gave us “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears.” He earned dual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, once with Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024.
His career reflected extremes: biting the head off a bat on stage, battling substance abuse, and later serving as an unexpected family figure on MTV’s “The Osbournes.” In recent years, he faced many health setbacks. He disclosed a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019 and underwent multiple surgeries following a 2003 accident and a 2019 fall.
The July 5 farewell show wasn’t just a musical closure; it marked a moment of unity. Black Sabbath’s original lineup (Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward) performed together for the first time in two decades. The event raised £140 million for Parkinson’s research and children’s charities and drew a star-studded ensemble, from Metallica and Guns N’ Roses to Pantera and Tool.
What the cause of death was remains undisclosed. But the timing? mere weeks after what he declared would be his final bow, and it adds a poignant, full‑circle note to a life framed by music, controversy, resilience, and incandescent performances.
Ozzy Osbourne was born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham. He overcame a working‑class upbringing and early hardships to lead a band whose debut album is often credited as the birth of heavy metal. Solo, he sold over 100 million records and left a footprint still visible in today’s rock and metal acts.
He is survived by Sharon, their children, his older children Jessica and Louis, and multiple grandchildren. His death closes the final chapter of a life lived at full volume. The metal world has lost its godfather—but the music endures.
