Ozzy Osbourne, a Rock n’ Roll icon who was known as the “Prince of Darkness,” has died at the age of 76 years old. The “Mama I’m Coming Home” singer passed away early morning on Tuesday (July 22).
On Tuesday, July 22, the Osbourne family confirmed the heartbreaking news with fans via a statement shared on the late Rock And Roll Hall of Famer’s official social media accounts. The statement was shared alongside a recent photo of Osbourne sitting in his winged-throne that was taken about two weeks ago during what is now known as his final concert.
“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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time,” the statement read, signed by his wife Sharon and their children Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.
The family’s statement did not provide additional details regarding the cause of death. However, in recent years, Ozzy Osbourne had faced numerous health battles, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis and complications from a fall. In February 2023, Ozzy Osbourne canceled all concerts and announced retirement from touring. Despite his health challenges, he remained dedicated to his music and fans, releasing two solo albums, Ordinary Man (2020) and Patient Number 9 (2022), and announcing plans for final tours and appearances whenever his condition allowed, including his final performance at Back To The Beginning on July 5, 2025.
The news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death comes just over two weeks after the rock ’n’ roll icon performed his final show, Back To The Beginning, on July 5 at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England, the same place where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968. The event boasted a star-studded lineup of rock acts, including Mastodon, Rival Sons, Anthrax, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Jack Black, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Travis Barker, Pantera, Tool, Slayer, Fred Durst, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and more. Osbourne and Black Sabbath, who reunited for the first time since 2005, closed the show with what is now remembered as their final live performance.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, the band widely credited with creating the blueprint for heavy metal. With hits like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man, and “War Pigs,” Black Sabbath transformed the sound of rock in the 1970s, with Osbourne’s haunting vocals and rebellious persona at the forefront.
After parting ways with Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched an extraordinarily successful solo career, releasing multi-platinum albums and timeless anthems such as “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Bark at the Moon,” and “No More Tears.” His 1980 solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz, is still considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Osbourne later reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions, rejoining in 1997 to record the group’s final album, 13, before they embarked on their farewell tour that ended in 2017.
Ozzy Osbourne’s influence extended far beyond the stage. In the early 2000s, he became a global pop culture phenomenon thanks to the reality TV series The Osbournes, which followed his family’s chaotic, yet endearing, day-to-day life. The show introduced him to a new generation of fans and earned him a reputation for his humor and eccentricity.
Ozzy Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. He was also inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of Black Sabbath, in 2005. He earned a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Birmingham Walk of Stars. In 2014, he was presented with the Global Icon Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and the following year, he received the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.
Ozzy Osbourne was honored with dozens of awards, including prestigious Grammy Awards and more. Osbourne’s impact on rock and metal is immeasurable. He has also sold over 100 million albums.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as millions of fans worldwide who consider him one of the genre’s most iconic voices and influential rock artists of all time.
As tributes pour in from across the music world, Osbourne’s legacy as a heavy metal/rock pioneer, entertainer, and enduring music icon will live on through his music and influence for generations to come.
