Birmingham, UK – The music world is mourning the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” who died on July 22, 2025, at age 76. His family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt statement: “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.”
Osbourne’s death comes just 17 days after his emotionally charged final performance with Black Sabbath’s original lineup—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—at Birmingham’s Villa Park. Dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” the July 5 concert drew 42,000 fans and was live-streamed to millions worldwide. Performing from a custom black throne due to severe health struggles, Osbourne told the crowd: “You’ve no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
A Life Forged in Birmingham’s Factories, Forged in Metal
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in working-class Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy’s early life was marked by poverty, dyslexia, and a six-week jail stint for burglary. He worked slaughterhouse and factory jobs before forming Black Sabbath in 1968. The band’s self-titled 1970 debut album pioneered the heavy metal genre with its dark, riff-driven sound, followed by era-defining hits like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.” Despite initial critical disdain (labeled “Satanic claptrap”), Sabbath sold over 100 million albums and influenced generations of musicians.
Health Battles and a Fitting Finale
Ozzy’s later years were plagued by health crises, including a 2019 fall that exacerbated spinal injuries, multiple surgeries, and a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2020. In 2023, he retired from touring, stating he was “physically incapable” of continuing. The Birmingham farewell show—his first with Sabbath in 20 years—was a triumph against adversity. Though seated, his voice “wavered but packed a punch” as he roared through classics like “War Pigs” and “Paranoid.”
Legacy Beyond the Bat: Reality TV, Redemption & Radical Honesty
Fired from Sabbath in 1979 for drug-fueled chaos, Osbourne launched a massively successful solo career with wife Sharon’s management, producing anthems like “Crazy Train.” His notoriety peaked with the 1982 bat-head biting incident (“I thought it was rubber!”) and a public struggle with addiction. In a stunning second act, MTV’s The Osbournes (2002–2005) revealed his hilarious, vulnerable family life, winning an Emmy and rebranding him as America’s baffled dad. Despite past turbulence—including a 1989 arrest for attacking Sharon—their 40-year marriage endured. Sharon later revealed they had a euthanasia pact if either faced dementia, inspired by her father’s suffering with Alzheimer’s.
The World Mourns a “Godlike Genius”
Within hours of his death, tributes flooded global media:
- Metallica posted a photo with a broken-heart emoji.
- Elton John: “A dear friend and trailblazer. One of the funniest people I’ve ever met.”
- Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones): “What a lovely goodbye concert he had.”
- UB40’s Ali Campbell hailed him as “the undisputed king of heavy metal” who “defined Birmingham’s culture.”
Final Rest for the Prince of Darkness
Ozzy is survived by wife Sharon, children Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and grandchildren. His tombstone, he once joked to Esquire, should read: “Here lies Ozzy Osbourne, the ex-Black Sabbath singer who bit the head off a bat.” But as Birmingham chanted his name one last time at Villa Park, he offered a truer epitaph: “Birmingham forever!”