Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at 76, just weeks after taking the stage one final time alongside his Black Sabbath bandmates in an emotional farewell performance, Sky News reports.
The music legend passed away Tuesday, July 22, surrounded by loved ones, just weeks after delivering a powerful farewell performance at Villa Park in Birmingham—his hometown—where he shared the stage with his original Black Sabbath bandmates one last time.
“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,” the Osbourne family said in a statement. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
A cause of death was not given.
The July concert marked a “final bow” for Osbourne, who performed seated on a throne and addressed the crowd with visible emotion: “You’ve no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The farewell event featured performances from some of Ozzy’s favorite acts, including Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, and was seen by many as a fitting send-off for a man who revolutionized the genre.
Osbourne rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, delivering genre-defining anthems like Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs. He later forged a wildly successful solo career, releasing hits such as Crazy Train and Changes.
Beyond the music, Osbourne became a pop culture phenomenon in the 2000s thanks to MTV’s The Osbournes, a reality show that offered a chaotic, unfiltered look at his home life with wife Sharon and their children.
He was also the source of some of rock’s wildest lore—including the infamous moment he bit the head off a bat onstage, a story that became synonymous with his rebellious image.
In recent years, Osbourne faced mounting health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease and complications from a serious fall in 2019. He canceled multiple tour dates but continued to make surprise appearances, including a performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Throughout his career, Osbourne racked up accolades: He was inducted into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, won five Grammys, and earned a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s Broad Street.
He is survived by his wife Sharon; their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack; his children Jessica and Louis from a previous marriage; and multiple grandchildren.
