Ozzy Osbourne — Black Sabbath’s founding vocalist, heavy-metal icon and the Prince of Darkness — has passed away at the age of 76.
News of Osbourne’s death arrived today (July 22nd) through a short statement from his family, which confirmed that the vocalist died earlier this morning.
“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.”
Other details on Osbourne’s passing have not yet been revealed, with the family requesting “everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The metal icon’s death follows Black Sabbath’s epic “Back to the Beginning” farewell show in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, UK — a night that found Osbourne reuniting with the classic lineup of the original heavy-metal band to perform songs together for the first time in years. He also played a handful of hits from his equally iconic solo catalog.
In addition to Ozzy and Sabbath’s performances, the eight-hour-plus event boasted a historic lineup of famous fans and friends assembled by Music Director Tom Morello, including Metallica, TOOL, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Lamb of God and other heavyweights who all played electric mini-sets, each including a Sabbath cover. A rotating supergroup — billed as “Tom Morello’s All Stars” and featuring members of Disturbed, Smashing Pumpkins, Ghost, Sleep Token and many more — also performed a variety of rock and metal classics, leaning hard into the Ozzy canon.
“I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park,” Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi wrote in an Instagram post. “It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother.”
“Goodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun,” Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler added in his own socials post. “4 kids from Aston- who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”
“Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you’re forever in my heart,” Sabbath drummer Bill Ward added over Facebook. “Deepest condolences to Sharon and all family members. RIP Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever.”
As previously reported, a documentary titled No Escape From Now is currently in production at Paramount+. The film, described as “a deeply personal portrait of the rock legend’s harsh new realities,” had been shooting footage at the “Back to the Beginning” event. It’s set to cover Osbourne’s legendary music career, while also detailing his various health struggles stemming from a back surgery and his Parkin 2 diagnosis.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Marston Green, Warwickshire, England in 1948, Osbourne picked up the nickname “Ozzy” as a child. By his teens, he became a lifelong fan of the Beatles.
By 1967, Osbourne had linked up with friend and bassist Geezer Butler to perform in a group called Rare Breed. They’d later form the Polka Tulk Blues Band in the Aston, Birmingham area with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. They’d make a name change to Earth shortly thereafter, and then again to Black Sabbath in 1969 after the troupe crafted a gothic and incredibly evil-sounding song of the same name (itself named after an 1963 horror anthology).
Armed with a powerful tenor wail and seemingly boundless onstage energy, Osbourne helped define the first wave of heavy metal with his Black Sabbath bandmates. Together, they delivered a staggering, revolutionary eight-album run between 1970 and 1978 — yielding anthems like “Iron Man,” “War Pigs, “Paranoid,” “N.I.B.”, “Snowblind,” “Sweet Leaf,” “Children of the Grave” and many, many more. Led by Osbourne’s unique vocal, their songbook remains a touchstone for metal.
After departing Sabbath at the tail end of the Seventies, Osbourne transitioned toward an equally celebrated solo career, which started with 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz. Throughout his solo run, Osbourne teamed up with a number of venerated guitarists, including Randy Rhoads (RIP), Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde and most recently producer-guitarist Andrew Watt.
Osbourne would reunite with Black Sabbath for the first time in 1997, which led to touring with the group and the launch of his Ozzfest summer tour. The band’s last album together — minus Ward — was 2013’s 13. His most recent solo album was 2022’s Patient Number 9. The last new song released by Osbourne in his lifetime was a reworked and symphonic version of “Gods of Rock N Roll” with friend and collaborator Billy Morrison.
Osbourne was likewise a well-known character off-mic, showing up in numerous film and TV projects, from his well-known appearance in 1988 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, to a satirically off-brand turn as Rev. Aaron Gilstrom in Eighties horror flick Trick or Treat, to voicework on South Park. Then there was the zeitgeist-tapping The Osbournes reality show he starred in between 2002 and 2005, alongside wife Sharon Osbourne and their children, Kelly and Jack, which introduced him to a generation.
In more recent years, Osbourne was mostly side-lined from the stage, owing to his health issues. However, in 2019, he joined Post Malone and Travis Scott to perform at the 47th annual American Music Awards, and in 2022, he reunited with Iommi to play “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” at the Commonwealth Games. In his 2022 interview with Revolver, he was still determined to tour, saying defiantly, “I’m going out on the fucking road and never coming home again.”
But Ozzy did come home — to Birmingham. Back in May, Osbourne noted on his Ozzy Speaks program with co-host Morrison that he’d been working with a physical trainer in preparation for “Back to the Beginning,” and that he was looking forward to “giving 120%” at the show. And he did that, and then some.