John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, widely hailed as the Godfather of Heavy Metal, has died at the age of 76. Born on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England, Osbourne co‑founded Black Sabbath in 1968 and became the voice of a new musical revolution in the early 1970s.
With his haunting vocals and dark, heavy riffs, Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut and follow‑ups such as Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath defined what would become heavy metal music. Though dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, Ozzy immediately launched a gritty, lauded solo career. Albums like Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981) featured hits such as “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley,” and “Flying High Again” — tracks that cemented his influence across generations.
His legendary onstage presence was fueled by wild antics — including the infamous moment he bit the head off what he claimed he thought was a rubber bat — along with outrageous stunts that blurred the line between rock show and performance art. Despite the controversies, Ozzy emerged as a beloved figure. His irreverent humor and self‑deprecating charm became nationally known through MTV’s The Osbournes in the early 2000s, featuring his wife, Sharon, and children Kelly and Jack.
In 2006, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Black Sabbath; in 2024, he received the honor once again as a solo artist — a unique distinction reflecting his monumental contributions. Beyond awards, he transformed live music culture with Ozzfest, a tour he launched in 1996 that became critical in promoting both mainstream and underground metal acts.
By 2019, Ozzy had publicly disclosed a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, alongside long‑standing complications from a 2003 quad‑bike accident and a consequential neck surgery in 2022. Though frail, he remained determined. On July 5, 2025, he and Black Sabbath’s original lineup reunited at Villa Park in Birmingham for a massive farewell event dubbed “Back to the Beginning”. Osbourne, seated on a throne, performed classics to a crowd of 40,000+ and countless livestream viewers.
Just seventeen days later, on July 22, 2025, Ozzy passed away peacefully at his home in Birmingham, surrounded by family. His wife Sharon and children released a statement asking for privacy, saying he left “surrounded by love.” The news has sparked a global outpouring of grief and tributes from peers and fans alike.
Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is vast: over 100 million albums sold, multiple Grammy Awards (including solo and Sabbath accolades), a persona that blurred the boundaries of rock entertainment, and an indelible influence on the sound and culture of modern heavy metal. From “Iron Man” to “Crazy Train,” his distinctive voice and defiant spirit sparked movements — inspiring Iron Maiden, Metallica, and countless artists recorded their own “direct line” back to Sabbath’s early sound.
In the end, Ozzy’s final performance brought things full circle: he returned to the birthplace of his legend, gave the fans one last unforgettable show — and then left us. With his passing comes a closing chapter in the story of heavy metal’s birth and evolution. His influence will echo in every distorted riff, every crowd chant, and every flame‑lit stage for decades to come. Long live the Prince of Darkness
