{"id":29448,"date":"2025-07-22T19:52:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/29448\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T19:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:52:10","slug":"family-pay-tribute-to-beloved-black-sabbath-frontman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/29448\/","title":{"rendered":"Family pay tribute to \u2018beloved\u2019 Black Sabbath frontman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Black Sabbath<\/a> singer Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> has died at the age of 76 \u201csurrounded by love\u201d, his family<\/a> has announced.<\/p>\n

It comes just weeks after he took to the stage one final time with his bandmates at Villa Park in Birmingham.<\/p>\n

A statement said: \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease in 2019.<\/p>\n

As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene \u2013 a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock.<\/p>\n

His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure.<\/p>\n

\"Kelly,<\/p>\n

Kelly, Ozzy, Sharon and Jack Osbourne in 2015 (Ian West\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3 1948 in Aston<\/a>, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands.<\/p>\n

The pair then linked up with the other founder members of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, to form what was then called Earth Blues Company \u2013 later shortened to Earth \u2013 in 1968.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month he bid a farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion, telling thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park, Birmingham \u2013 a stone\u2019s throw from where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968 \u2013 that it was \u201cso good to be on this stage\u201d as he performed his last set from a large black throne.<\/p>\n

Osbourne and his fellow original Black Sabbath members \u2013 Iommi, Terence \u201cGeezer\u201d Butler and Ward \u2013 were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert.<\/p>\n

Also among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N\u2019 Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n

Black Sabbath break-ups fuelled by disputes with fellow members and drug abuse and a well-documented battle with alcoholism cemented his reputation.<\/p>\n

He was also among the vanguard of now-ubiquitous modern reality TV stars, appearing with his family in the hit MTV show The Osbournes.<\/p>\n

As a group, Black Sabbath are widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal.<\/p>\n

As a solo artist, Osbourne released 11 albums, with his debut Blizzard Of Ozz issued in 1980, which featured two of his most revered songs, Crazy Train and Mr Crowley.<\/p>\n

\"Ozzy<\/p>\n

Ozzy Osbourne during a signing session for his book I Am Ozzy at an HMV store on Oxford Street, central London in 2009 (Yui Mok\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

The singer sold more than 100 million records worldwide with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist.<\/p>\n

In 2014, he was presented with a global icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards.<\/p>\n

Osbourne married his first wife Thelma Riley in 1971 and became a stepfather to her son.<\/p>\n

The couple also had two children but split in 1982 after, he admitted, his rock \u2018n roll lifestyle meant he put her \u201cthrough hell\u201d.<\/p>\n

He married Sharon, the daughter of his former Black Sabbath manager Don Arden, in July of that year.<\/p>\n

The pair had met in the 1970s via her father and she took over managing Osbourne after he was booted from the heavy metal group.<\/p>\n

Ozzy and Sharon had three children together: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.<\/p>\n

The couple became an unlikely hit after starring between 2002 and 2005 in The Osbournes, which also launched the careers of Jack and Kelly, but the pair temporarily split in 2016.<\/p>\n

Former X Factor judge Sharon later revealed they had tried marriage counselling to get their relationship back on track \u2013 but gave up because it made him angry.<\/p>\n

In 2017, during an interview with music magazine Rolling Stone, he joked that the secret to his marriage was \u201cdon\u2019t get caught with your mistress\u201d.<\/p>\n

He is quoted as telling Rolling Stone: \u201cWhen I was a crazy f*****, I\u2019m lucky she didn\u2019t walk out. Now I\u2019m coming on five years clean and sober, and I\u2019ve realised what a f****** idiot I was. I mean, I\u2019m still nuts, but in control of it a bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Osbourne added: \u201cWhen I said, \u2018Don\u2019t get caught by your missus,\u2019 I\u2019m not proud of all that s***. I upset my wife and I upset my family and I made a lot of shock and shame. I love my wife, and it made me realise what a f****** idiot I\u2019ve been.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ozzy<\/p>\n

Ozzy Osbourne, wife Sharon and children Kelly, Jack and Aimee at the Kerrang Awards 1997 in London (Neil Munns\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

He also told the magazine he had taken up painting to relax and that he was \u201cobsessed with Game Of Thrones\u201d, the TV series based on George RR Martin\u2019s books.<\/p>\n

In 2016, he revealed he was undergoing \u201cintense therapy\u201d for a \u201csex addiction\u201d that nearly resulted in the disintegration of his marriage but he later told The Times he was not a sex addict, saying: \u201cI\u2019m in a f****** rock band, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, he and Sharon renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Osbourne has also been a firm supporter of the health service, having been treated by NHS staff in 2003 after a near-fatal accident at his Buckinghamshire home left him with a fractured neck vertebra, fractured ribs and a broken collarbone.<\/p>\n

The singer often hit the headlines for his off-the-wall comments, like his quip about Brexit to the Big Issue magazine in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople keep going on at me about that \u2013 is it a big deal over there?\u201d he asked in an interview with the publication.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI don\u2019t read the newspapers and I don\u2019t really talk politics because I don\u2019t really know. I don\u2019t really understand Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his later years Osbourne attempted to press on with his rock career, but was hampered several times by illness and injury.<\/p>\n

In early February 2019, Sharon revealed he had been admitted to hospital after suffering from flu.<\/p>\n

She said her husband had experienced \u201ccomplications\u201d from the illness and doctors advised him to go to hospital.<\/p>\n

Sharon tweeted: \u201cAs some of you may have heard, Ozzy was admitted to hospital following some complications from the flu.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery. Thanks to everyone for their concern and love.\u201d<\/p>\n

The illness led to him cancelling a string of tour dates while he recovered, including postponing the UK and European legs of his No More Tours 2.<\/p>\n

A tweet from his official account said planned performances in Australia, New Zealand and Japan had also been axed.<\/p>\n

\"Ozzy<\/p>\n

Ozzy Osbourne fronted Black Sabbath (Anthony Harvey\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

In October 2018, he insisted he was not retiring, telling Rolling Stone: \u201cIn essence, what I\u2019m trying to do is slow my lifestyle down to a more comfortable way of living.\u201d<\/p>\n

But within months he was forced to postpone another string of tour dates \u2013 including a show at the famous Hollywood Bowl \u2013 after suffering a fall at his Los Angeles home in April 2019.<\/p>\n

In November 2019, he returned to the stage for a one-song performance at the American Music Awards alongside rappers Post Malone and Travis Scott.<\/p>\n

The trio performed the song Take What You Want, from Malone\u2019s album Hollywood\u2019s Bleeding, although Osbourne spent most of the performance sat immobile in a gothic-style throne towards the back of the stage.<\/p>\n

Another blow came in January 2020 when the singer revealed on US television that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease, which was discovered by doctors after a fall.<\/p>\n

Sharon, who was at his side during the Good Morning America interview, said the diagnosis was \u201cnot a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination\u201d.<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cBut it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it\u2019s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The musician was revealed to have a rare form of the disease called Parkin 2, which he had since birth.<\/p>\n

In May 2022 Sharon shared the news that Ozzy had tested positive for Covid, and just days later she too tested positive.<\/p>\n

In August that year he made a surprise appearance onstage in his home city of Birmingham to close out the 2022 Commonwealth Games, backed by Black Sabbath as fireworks lit up the sky.<\/p>\n

But early in 2023 he announced via a lengthy statement on social media that following extensive spinal surgery he was not \u201cphysically capable\u201d of doing his tour dates in Europe and the UK.<\/p>\n

\"Ozzy<\/p>\n

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne leave the Cambridge Theatre in central London after watching their daughter, Kelly, making her West End debut in Chicago (Jane Mingay\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

He said his singing voice was fine but that, following three operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy sessions and more, his body was \u201cstill weak\u201d.<\/p>\n

Osbourne was scheduled to return to the stage in October 2023 at the Power Trip music festival in Indio, California, alongside other rock powerhouses including Metallica, AC\/DC, Iron Maiden and Guns N\u2019 Roses.<\/p>\n

However in July he once again was forced to bow out, saying he had been \u201coptimistic\u201d about a summer return but did not want the show to be \u201chalf-assed\u201d.<\/p>\n

Osbourne did not return to touring in 2024, but was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for a second time, one of the few to be given the honour.<\/p>\n

He also took aim at US rapper Kanye West that same year, for sampling a Black Sabbath song after being refused permission, and Osbourne referred to his remarks about Jewish people.<\/p>\n

Osbourne said on social media he did not want to be associated with West as he has brought \u201cuntold heartache to many\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Ozzy<\/p>\n

Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath attending The Classic Rock Roll of Honour at The Roundhouse, Camden, London (Ian West\/PA) (PA Archive)<\/p>\n

He bid farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion in his final live performance earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The legendary rocker told thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5 that it was \u201cso good to be on this stage\u201d as he performed his last set from a large black throne.<\/p>\n

Osbourne and his fellow original Black Sabbath members \u2013 Iommi, Butler and Ward \u2013 were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert.<\/p>\n

Among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N\u2019Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n

In an emotional moment, Osbourne said: \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, man, I\u2019ve been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel \u2013 thank you from the bottom of my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76 \u201csurrounded by love\u201d, his family has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29449,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[4593,24893,24890,236,88,4595,12625,24889,90,24891,24892,15394,10227,4594],"class_list":["post-29448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-bill-ward","tag-birmingham","tag-black-sabbath-members","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-geezer-butler","tag-jack-black","tag-jack-osbourne","tag-ozzy-osbourne","tag-pa-archive","tag-ricky-gervais","tag-rolling-stone","tag-sharon-osbourne","tag-tony-iommi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}