Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of Black Sabbath and often called the founding father of British heavy metal, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.
A statement from his family said he was with his loved ones at the time of his death and requested privacy.
His death comes just two weeks after what was billed as Black Sabbath’s final concert, a festival titled “Back to the Beginning” held in Birmingham, England. The event paid tribute to the legendary band, with performances and messages from bands like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera and Alice in Chains.
Ozzy revealed in January 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after a period of declining health. In early 2023, he announced his retirement from touring due to spinal injuries suffered in a 2018 accident. He said he was no longer physically capable of managing the travel required for concerts and did not want to disappoint his fans.
He was born as John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3, 1948. Growing up in a working-class family, he was one of six children. He left school at 15 and took up various jobs, also serving a short jail sentence for burglary.
In his late teens, he joined bassist Geezer Butler to form a local band, later joined by guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. They first performed under the name Earth before switching to Black Sabbath, inspired by a 1963 horror film.
Black Sabbath released its debut album in 1970. Though it was not well received by critics, it became a commercial success. The second album, ‘Paranoid’, solidified their place in music history with tracks like ‘War Pigs’, ‘Paranoid’, ‘Hand of Doom’. and ‘Iron Man’, which became the band’s most recognised song.
Osbourne was removed from Black Sabbath in 1979 but went on to achieve greater commercial success as a solo artist. His solo career launched the careers of guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde. His popularity led to the creation of the Ozzfest music festival, and later, the MTV reality show ‘The Osbournes’, which focused on his family life.
His life was often troubled by drug and alcohol addiction, and he was known for his unpredictable behaviour both on and off the stage. Despite this, he maintained a strong fan base throughout his life.
He released two solo albums in recent years titled ‘Ordinary Man’ and ‘Patient Number 9’. In 2022, the BBC announced a new reality show, ‘Home to Roost’, about the Osbourne family’s return to the UK after spending 25 years in the United States.
He sold over 100 million albums during his career, combining his solo work and releases with Black Sabbath. The band officially ended with a final concert in Birmingham in 2017, though they reunited once more earlier this month. Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and children.
