Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal’s ‘Prince of Darkness,’ Dead at 76

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One of the pioneers of British heavy metal music, the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. The news has been shared by Variety. His family issued a statement saying, “With heavier hearts than we can express in words, we regretfully announce that our dearly loved Ozzy Osbourne has left us this morning. He was surrounded by his family and affection. We ask for everyone to grant us privacy at this difficult time.” The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, renowned for hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” ultimately lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Between 1969-1979, John Michael Osbourne, better known as Ozzy, led the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Over eight albums, they delved into dark themes, earning Ozzy the title “The Prince of Darkness.” Their hits like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs” shaped the genre’s identity. Unfortunately, Ozzy was dismissed from the band in 1979, largely due to his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. However, Ozzy Osbourne thrived as a solo artist in the ’80s, churning out a series of commercially successful albums and singles. In this period, he pulled off daring publicity stunts to reinforce his rock’n’roll persona, such as biting live doves or bats (he claimed the bat was fake). These antics only bolstered his reputation as the rock star parents most dreaded.

Later on, Ozzy joined Black Sabbath again for multiple albums and tours. His spouse Sharon, who took up management duties, established Ozzfest in the ’90s – a music festival emphasizing heavy metal bands, with Ozzy as the main attraction. In the early 2000s, The Osbourne family gained popularity on MTV’s reality show The Osbournes, which portrayed them at home. This unexpectedly transformed Ozzy into a lovable but forgetful dad figure. Sharon and their children, Jack and Kelly, all rose to fame due to The Osbournes, expanding Ozzy’s audience to a fresh group of fans.

At Villa Park in Birmingham, Ozzy Osbourne delivers his final performance of “Crazy Train” before an eager crowd.

— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) July 5, 2025

After that, Ozzy continued going on tour intermittently. During these tours, he dealt with numerous health issues such as Parkinson’s Disease and emphysema. Ozzy Osbourne performed for the last time only a few weeks before his passing, on July 5. This final performance was accompanied by an array of top-tier hard rock bands, all paying tribute to the legendary Darkness Prince. From a throne adorned with wings and in front of a crowd of 42,000, just weeks prior to his death, Ozzy Osbourne declared, “It’s fantastic to be on this stage, you can’t even imagine! Let the craziness commence!” Just as one would expect from Ozzy, he departed with a roar, not a sigh.

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2025-07-23 01:03