It is with profound sadness that the world awakens to the news that Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, has passed away at the age of 76. In a heartfelt statement released earlier today, his family revealed he died “this morning” surrounded by loved ones . No specific cause of death has been disclosed, although it’s known he had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years .
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3, 1948, Ozzy rose from a hard-scrabble working-class childhood to help define heavy metal as the frontman of Black Sabbath . Their eponymous debut in 1970, followed by genre-defining albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality, laid the groundwork for doom-laden riffs and dark lyrical themes . With songs like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs,” Sabbath’s music became the soundtrack of an emerging counterculture, and Ozzy’s wild stage persona cemented his status as a rock icon.
Ozzy’s life was as legendary off-stage as it was on it. Famously, he bit the head off a bat onstage in 1982, believing it was a rubber prop until the moment he took a bite . Another infamous incident involved him biting the heads off two live doves during a photo shoot—a mythic moment that further fueled his “Prince of Darkness” image .
Despite being ousted from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Ozzy took flight as a solo artist. His debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), went multiplatinum and spawned hits that would become metal anthems. Over the next four decades, he released thirteen studio albums, navigating through a tumultuous personal life marked by addiction and legal troubles .
In a personal twist, Ozzy married Sharon Arden in 1982, and she became his lifelong manager. Their marriage weathered multiple scandals—including Ozzy’s arrest in 1989 for strangling Sharon while intoxicated—but they remained together, raising three children: Kelly, Jack, and Aimee, as well as Sharon’s two from a previous marriage .
The early 2000s saw Ozzy reach a new cultural peak through The Osbournes, a reality show that spotlighted the chaotic love at the heart of his family life. This endeared him to audiences who may never have connected with Sabbath’s heavy riffs, and his affable accent and candid fatherly quirks turned him into a pop-culture phenomenon .
2017 marked Ozzy’s initial retirement with Black Sabbath’s final tour The End. But fans would get one more surprise: on July 5, 2025, the original quartet reunited at Birmingham’s Villa Park for a star-studded farewell concert, Back to the Beginning. The event was a benefit for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Hospice—and was Ozzy’s last performance, delivered from a throne as Parkinson’s had taken a heavy toll on him .
Just seventeen days later, Ozzy passed away. Reports from multiple outlets—including Reuters and The Guardian—confirmed that he died peacefully in the morning, surrounded by his family . Sky News echoed this, noting that he died “just weeks after” that farewell concert .
In the aftermath, tributes poured in from across the music world. Elton John described him as a “dear friend and huge trailblazer,” while Rod Stewart and Questlove offered their grief and respect . Pantera, Metallica, and other heavy acts confirmed how foundational his early work was to their own musical journeys .
Ozzy’s legacy was not only musical. His openness about battling Parkinson’s in 2020 helped destigmatize the disease . His story—from delinquent schoolboy and factory worker’s son to rock legend and beloved family figure—captured both darkness and hope. He held onto resilience, layered with humor and vulnerability, all the way to his final days.
Among his survivors are Sharon and their children, along with two children from his first marriage and several grandchildren . His passing marks the end of an era—a world where the raw, rebellious energy of rock was personified by one unforgettable presence.
In many ways, Ozzy Osbourne was the living embodiment of heavy metal’s extremes: brilliant artistry, dark theatrics, human fragility, and familial love. As one chapter closed on July 22, 2025, it leaves behind a towering influence that will echo not just in music but through generations whose lives he touched.
His life and death are immortalized in the thunderous riffs of Sabbath, the anthems of his solo career, the intimate moments on The Osbournes, and the emotional final bow at Villa Park. That final performance—seated, surrounded by metal royalty, and knowing it would be his last—felt like a fitting farewell from the Prince of Darkness himself .
Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne. Your legend lives on in every power chord, every raised fist, and every soul you inspired.
