3 December 1948 - 22 July 2025

Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of heavy metal’s most pioneering figures, has died today (22 July 2025), aged 76. His family shared the news this morning and asked for privacy as they mourn a man beloved by millions.

Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December 1948 in Warwickshire, England, Ozzy rose to global stardom from factory work and local bands. He was well known for shaping the heavy metal genre with a voice as unmistakable as his stage antics, alongside the band's dark sound and themes.

In 1968, he co-founded Black Sabbath with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. With their debut album Black Sabbath (1970), the band helped shape the entire heavy metal genre, blending dark riffs with themes that had never before echoed so loudly through rock.

Classic albums Paranoid and Master of Reality followed, giving us thunderous anthems like Iron Man, War Pigs and N.I.B.. Their influence runs deep, inspiring generations of artists from Nirvana and Alice in Chains to Iron Maiden and Metallica. Though the band weathered lineup changes and long breaks, their farewell run, The End Tour (2016–2017), signalled what was supposed to be the closing chapter of a genre-defining legacy.

In 2019, Ozzy revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. True to form, he returned to the stage one final time earlier this month. Black Sabbath’s farewell concert, “Back to the Beginning,” was held at Villa Park in his hometown.

Ozzy reunited with his bandmates to a crowd of fourty thousand fans packed into the stadium, and was joined by a parade of rock royalty, including Billy Corgan, Steven Tyler, Tom Morello, Ronnie Wood, and Yungblud. Yungblood was heard in a social media clip telling Ozzy backstage that "the music is enough" - which will be a sentiment many fans truly resonate with today.

The event raised £140 million for charity, an incredible testament to Ozzy's legacy.

Tributes have begun pouring in. Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood described the Birmingham gig as “a lovely goodbye,” while UB40’s Ali Campbell called him “a true Birmingham legend” who “defined a culture and led from the front.”

Rest in peace to the Prince of Darkness, and thank you for an incredible legacy.