Ozzy Osbourne‘s death has been confirmed, the man who defined heavy metal’s snarl and spectacle has passed at age 76. His family confirmed the ‘Prince of Darkness’ passed away Tuesday morning, surrounded by loved ones.
Weeks earlier, he’d stood beneath the lights of Birmingham’s Villa Park, delivering an amazing farewell alongside Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. That show, billed as his ‘final bow’ has now become even more special.
Born John Michael Osbourne, Ozzy clawed his way out of Birmingham’s streets in the ‘70s as Sabbath’s unhinged mouthpiece, birthing genre anthems like ‘Paranoid’, ‘Iron Man’, and ‘War Pigs’. When Sabbath ran its course, Ozzy’s solo career kicked into overdrive. Tracks like ‘Crazy Train’ and ‘Bark at the Moon’ became rock staples, and Ozzfest helped usher countless bands into the spotlight.
Despite being labelled the Prince Of Darkness, it was clear Ozzy had a heart of gold, the Black Sabbath reunion gig raised a staggering $190 million USD (£140 million) for charity, cementing Ozzy’s last act as both historic and generous.
Ozzy wasn’t just a frontman, he was heavy metal personified. Whether biting heads off bats or mumbling through reality TV chaos, he blurred the line between legend and man, drawing millions to both.
In recent years, illness unfortunately took over. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020 and struggling after a brutal fall, in true Ozzy fashion he refused to fade quietly. The final Villa Park gig was a remarkable effort from Ozzy, who stayed seated the entire show, but was determined to make it happen. The who’s who of metal including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and many more joined him, honouring the man who gave metal its shadow.
Ozzy leaves behind his wife Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack and three children from a previous marriage. His real legacy is harder to quantify: decades of riffs, rebellion and unapologetic wildness.
The godfather of heavy metal has passed, but the his unmistakeable legacy? That will live forever.
RELATED
MORE IN Music
