Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman, has died aged 76 just weeks after the band’s farewell show.
A statement from 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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The statement was signed by his wife Sharon and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.
The surviving members of Black Sabbath shared a photo of Ozzy at the final gig alongside the words “Ozzy Forever”.
Responding to the news, the band Metallica shared an image on X of them with Osbourne from 1986 along with an emoji of a broken heart.
Sir Elton John called him “a legend”. He posted on Instagram: “So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away.
Watch: Ozzy Osbourne, dead at 76
Osbourne with his wife, Sharon and daughter, Kelly, in 2020
KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES
“He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods — a true legend.
“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”
Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, said: “One of the greatest of all time. @OzzyOsbourne R.I.P.”
Osbourne performing during half-time show at an NFL football game in California in 2022
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones said: “I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”
Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath co-founder, said in a social media post, which included a photo of him and his former bandmate: “I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s just such heart-breaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him. Geezer [Butler], Bill [Ward] and myself have lost our brother.”
Sammy Hagar, the former Van Halen frontman who was among the musicians who performed at Black Sabbath’s final concert, said: “Ozzy Osbourne was and will always be a one of a kind true rock legend. For him to have been that close to death on July 5 and still get up there and perform like he promised — wow! That puts him in a category of his own. Talk about commitment and loyalty to your fans. Nobody’s going to out-do that ever! RIP my brother, you did it all.”
Terence “Geezer” Butler said: “Goodbye dear friend, thanks for all those years, we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston — who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”
Black Sabbath’s original line-up reunited for the last time, after 20 years, on July 5 at Birmingham’s Villa Park stadium.
The band were heavy metal pioneers, writing classic tracks including Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.
Osbourne, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, performed his last set from a large black throne and said it was “so good to be on this stage”, a stone’s throw from where the heavy metal band was formed in 1968.
The band performed last at the all-day charity benefit, which included other rock bands and featured tributes from famous well-wishers including Elton John and Dolly Parton.
Osbourne at the Black Sabbath farewell gig at Villa Park on July 5
ROSS HALFIN
He was born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham.
He left school at 15 and did odd jobs including in an abattoir and factory work before teaming up with school friend Terence “Geezer” Butler in several bands. Tony Iommi and Bill Ward were the other original band members.
Black Sabbath in the 1970s: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne
CHRIS WALTER/WIREIMAGE
Black Sabbath were one of the most influential and successful metal bands in history, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and Osbourne was added for a second time last year.
Osbourne was known for his theatrical stage presence, including biting off the head of a live bat on stage, as well as his off stage antics. He once snorted a line of ants in a drunken contest with the lead singer of Mötley Crüe.
Osbourne in 1986
ROSS MARINO/GETTY IMAGES
He was also arrested for attempting to strangle his wife Sharon at their daughter’s sixth birthday party. She declined to press charges.
Osbourne was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979 and launched a successful and prolific solo career with hits such as Crazy Train and Mr Crowley. He reformed with the band several times, including in 2016 for a final world tour.
Ozzy and Sharon with and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, in America in 1987
PHOTO BY DAVE HOGAN/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
The Osbourne family became the subject of a reality television show broadcast on MTV and ran for three years from 2002.
Osbourne went on to dine with President George Bush and perform at Buckingham Palace to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.
He had three children with Sharon; Aimee, Jack and Kelly, as well as two children with his first wife Thelma (née Riley); Jessica and Louis.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2023, Osbourne said: “If I can’t continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’ That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.”
Ozzy Osbourne in his own words“Pink Floyd was music for rich college kids, and we were the exact f***ing opposite of that”“I got rabies shots for biting the head off a bat but that’s OK — the bat had to get Ozzy shots”“I’m a lunatic by nature, and lunatics don’t need training — they just are”“Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most”“I knew it was time to get off of reality TV when someone asked me if I sang as well as acted”