Ozzy Osbourne, the thunderous voice behind the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died in the UK at age 76, bringing an end to a trailblazing life that forever changed the soundscape of rock music.
The world awoke to the heartbreaking news confirmed by his family, who said, “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
According to BBC, Osbourne, famously dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” had long battled Parkinson’s disease, having gone public with the diagnosis in 2019.
Despite the challenges, he made a dramatic return to the stage earlier this month in his native Birmingham, his final performance with Black Sabbath.
There, seated on a black throne before a sea of 40,000 fans, Ozzy’s voice soared once more alongside his fellow founding fathers of heavy metal.
“You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the emotional crowd, in what would become a haunting farewell.
As news of his death spread, tributes began pouring in from across the music world and beyond. Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s co-founder, lamented, “We’ve lost our brother,” while bassist Terence “Geezer” Butler recalled their final gig with visible heartbreak.
Drummer Bill Ward posted a poignant photograph of the band together in better days.
Among the many voices remembering Osbourne were titans of music, Brian May, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Metallica, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, and Yungblud, each paying tribute to a man whose raw energy, theatrical defiance, and unmistakable sound shaped generations.
The farewell concert itself had been an emotional celebration. In a surprise gesture, American country icon Dolly Parton had sent Ozzy a heartfelt video message.
“Are we supposed to be saying farewell to you? Well, I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Why don’t we just say good luck, god bless you and we will see you somewhere down the road,” she said, before affectionately adding that she wouldn’t be surprised if he made another unexpected return to the stage: “I’ll be there.”
Fans, some of whom had marked the moment with commemorative tattoos, described the Birmingham show as a spiritual send-off, a communion of sorts between the man and those whose lives he had thundered through for over five decades.
Reality TV fans had come to know him more intimately through The Osbournes, the MTV reality show that opened the doors to his chaotic yet tender family life. But to millions more, Osbourne was a sonic rebel—a man who turned volume into art, who made darkness melodic, and who bore his demons out loud.
Aerosmith, another cornerstone of rock history, summed it up: “From Black Sabbath to his solo work, Ozzy redefined what it meant to be heavy… Our love goes out to Sharon, his family, his band, and the millions around the world who felt his fire.”
For now, the stage has fallen silent. But the echoes of Ozzy Osbourne, his voice, his madness, his music, will ring out eternally.