Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of Black Sabbath and pioneer of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76, just weeks after delivering an emotional farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham.

In a statement, his 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.”

Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham, rose to fame in the late 1960s with Black Sabbath, whose dark, detuned riffs and apocalyptic lyrics helped define the heavy metal genre. Albums like Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath became cornerstones of rock history.

After being dismissed from Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Osbourne launched a wildly successful solo career with hits like Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, and Diary of a Madman. His band, Blizzard of Ozz, featured guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads, whose death in 1982 marked a tragic chapter in Osbourne’s life.

Beyond music, Osbourne became a pop culture icon through the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which showcased his chaotic but endearing family life with wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack.

His infamous antics—including biting the head off a bat on stage—cemented his reputation as the “Prince of Darkness,” though he later revealed a more vulnerable side, especially after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.

Osbourne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024. He also received five Grammy Awards, an Ivor Novello, and stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s Broad Street.

His final performance, held at Villa Park earlier this month, featured Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and other metal legends. Seated on a throne, Osbourne told fans: “You’ve no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

He is survived by Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as Jessica and Louis, his children from a previous marriage, and several grandchildren.

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