Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Icon And Heavy Metal Pioneer, Dies At 76
Summary
- Ozzy Osbourne has died at 76, ending a career that helped define heavy metal and reshape modern rock with Black Sabbath and his solo work.
- Known for wild behavior and a distinctive voice, Ozzy became a global icon across music and television with hits and a reality show.
- He passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family, leaving behind six children, wife Sharon Osbourne, and a half-century legacy.
Ozzy Osbourne, one of the most recognizable voices in rock and heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. The Osbourne family confirmed the news on July 22, 2025, saying he passed peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones.
In a statement, the family said: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
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Metal pioneer
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Ozzy first rose to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, a band often credited with inventing heavy metal. Their early albums, like Black Sabbath and Paranoid, introduced a heavier, darker sound that separated them from other rock bands of the late 1960s.
At first, critics weren’t impressed. Some called the band’s lyrics and imagery “Satanic nonsense”. Robert Christgau, a longtime music critic, dismissed their early work as “the worst of the counterculture on a plastic platter.”
Still, fans connected with the band’s dark sound and themes. As the Vietnam War raged and social unrest spread, Black Sabbath offered something that felt honest to a new generation.
Distinct voice
Music experts often pointed to Osbourne’s unique voice as one of the band’s defining traits.
Mark Tavern, a music professor at the University of New Haven, called it “a throaty delivery, reminiscent of old-time blues shouters.”
Katherine Dacey, from Berklee College of Music, said his tone had “a powerful, focused energy” and was instantly recognizable. Even if he wasn’t considered a technically perfect singer, Osbourne’s voice matched the intensity of the music.
Chaos and success
Offstage, Ozzy lived up to his nickname, The Prince of Darkness. His reputation for partying became legendary.
He once bit the head off a live bat on stage in Iowa, thinking it was a prop. He also urinated on the Alamo, snorted ants with Mötley Crüe, and reportedly shocked his bandmates with his drug and alcohol consumption.
In fact, scientists once studied his DNA and described him as a “genetic mutant” due to his ability to survive such high levels of drug use.
Despite his chaotic lifestyle, Ozzy kept making music. He was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, but quickly found success as a solo artist with the help of Sharon Levy, the daughter of Sabbath’s former manager Don Arden. She became his new manager, and later, his wife.
Solo career
Osbourne’s solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), went multi-platinum. The album included hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley”, solidifying his place in rock history.
He followed it with Diary of a Madman, touring with young guitar prodigy Randy Rhoads, whose life was tragically cut short in a 1982 plane crash.
In the years that followed, Ozzy continued releasing solo albums and headlined Ozzfest, a music festival that ran from 1996 to 2018. It became a major platform for both legendary and new metal bands.
Reality TV and comeback
By the late ’90s, his music career had slowed, but in 2002, Sharon helped reboot his public image once again, this time through television.
The MTV reality series The Osbournes gave viewers a look into the often surreal domestic life of the Osbourne family. Audiences saw a softer, funnier side of the man once known for shocking stunts.
Robert Thompson, a media professor at Syracuse University, said the show introduced Ozzy to a “whole new group of people” who may not have known his music.
It worked. The show won an Emmy, and Ozzy became a pop culture icon. He was invited to perform at Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee, met President George W. Bush, and continued making public appearances.
Final tours and respect
Ozzy later reunited with the original Black Sabbath lineup, minus drummer Bill Ward, for a farewell tour and the release of 13, the band’s only U.S. No. 1 album, in 2013.
In 2025, word came that the original lineup would reunite one final time for a sold-out show in Birmingham, their hometown. It was meant to be a send-off for both the band and its founding frontman.
Over time, critics who once dismissed Ozzy began to see his lasting impact.
Eddie Trunk, a heavy metal historian, said, “He may not have been seen as a great vocalist early on, but his presence and charisma made him a legend. He was a tremendous entertainer, a character, and a force in music.”
Family and legacy
Ozzy is survived by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and six children: Jessica, Louis, and Elliot from his first marriage, and Aimee, Kelly, and Jack from his second.
He spent his last years battling health issues, including a public diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2020, spinal surgeries, and a serious fall.
Despite it all, he continued to make music and appear publicly, even after announcing his retirement from touring.
In a 2002 interview with Rolling Stone, he summed it up with characteristic honesty: “I’ve done a lot for a simple working-class guy. I made a lot of people smile. I’ve also made a lot of people go, ‘Who the @#$%! does this guy think he is?’”
“But I’ve got no complaints. At least I’ll be remembered.”
And he will be.
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