The Prince of Darkness Rides into the Sunset…
Birmingham-born rocker John “Ozzy” Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and the genre-defining voice of heavy metal, has passed away at the age of 76. His family confirmed he died peacefully on July 22, 2025, surrounded by loved ones .
A Final Act — “Back to the Beginning”
Just weeks ago, on July 5, Ozzy took to the stage one last time at Villa Park, Birmingham, the city where everything started. This historic reunion with Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, was billed as their final performance. The concert, titled Back to the Beginning, marked a triumphant end to a career rife with triumph and turbulence .
Ozzy himself remarked from his royal-looking throne onstage: “I’ve been laid up for six years … Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on 3 December 1948, Ozzy was raised in humble circumstances. In 1968, he co-founded Black Sabbath, delivering a sonic revolution with weighty riffs and dark, blues-tinged metal. His piercing vocals graced milestone albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality, paving the way for generations of heavy music .
His firing in 1979 due to substance struggles launched a solo career highlighted by the 1980 classic Blizzard of Ozz and future anthem “Crazy Train”. With solo success and the groundbreaking Ozzfest under his wife–manager Sharon’s guidance, Ozzy cemented his status as rock royalty, fusing musical innovation with wild showmanship .
No rock tale is complete without Ozzy’s infamous staging moment, biting the head off a bat in 1982, a shocking stunt that became an indelible pop-culture symbol . Yet his most poignant moments unfolded offstage, as chronicled in MTV’s hit reality show The Osbournes, where his candid family life with Sharon, Kelly, and Jack resonated with fans worldwide .
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, Ozzy struggled through spinal complications and numerous surgeries. Tour cancellations followed, but in early 2025 he announced the Birmingham farewell, determined to close the curtain on his terms .
At his death, Ozzy leaves behind Sharon and six children: Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, and Louis. Tributes have flooded in, from family members to fellow rock titans like Elton John, Yungblud, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Ronnie Wood, and Gene Simmons, each honoring his lasting influence.
Ozzy Osbourne’s death marks the end of an era, not just for metal, but for music at large. From Sabbath’s dark riffs to his solo anthems and MTV’s candid reality TV, he redefined the rock star archetype. He once declared that he’d die “a happy man” if he could go out on his own terms, thanks to that final show, he did just that .
Ozzy didn’t merely leave a legacy; he forged one, etched in distortion, defiance, and an undying love for his fans.
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