Birmingham (Agencies) — July 23, 2025: Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice behind Black Sabbath and a pioneer of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76, just weeks after his final performance in Birmingham. His family confirmed the news in a statement, saying he passed away peacefully, “surrounded by love.”
Known globally as the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne’s influence on rock music spanned more than five decades. His gritty vocals, theatrical stage presence, and unapologetic embrace of the macabre helped define the heavy metal genre. From biting the head off a bat on stage to starring in the hit reality show The Osbournes, Osbourne’s life was as chaotic as it was legendary.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, he rose to fame with Black Sabbath’s 1969 debut album, widely regarded as the “Big Bang” of heavy metal. The band’s follow-up, Paranoid, featured enduring classics like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Fairies Wear Boots,” cementing their place in rock history. Osbourne was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice — with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024.
After being dismissed from Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Osbourne launched a successful solo career with albums like Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, producing hits such as “Crazy Train” and “Flying High Again.” His solo work went multiplatinum and introduced a new generation to his signature sound.
Despite battling Parkinson’s disease since 2020 and enduring multiple spinal surgeries, Osbourne returned to the stage on July 5, 2025, for a farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham. The event, titled Back to the Beginning, reunited him with original Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, and featured performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, and others. Actor Jason Momoa hosted the concert, which raised over £140 million for children’s charities.
Osbourne’s final solo set included emotional renditions of “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Crazy Train,” performed from a gothic throne. “You’ve got no idea how I feel,” he told the crowd, his voice cracking with emotion. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Tributes have poured in from across the music world. “Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal,” wrote Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction. “Anybody who’s serious about metal will tell you it all comes down to Sabbath.”
Osbourne’s legacy is etched into the DNA of rock music. His voice, his madness, and his message — “You can’t kill rock and roll” — will echo for generations.