Legendary Black Sabbath Frontman Ozzy Osbourne Has Died

Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of pioneering hard rock band Black Sabbath, has died at age 76. A statement from the family of “The Prince Of Darkness” confirmed his passing, without naming a cause of death.

The message from the Osbourne family reads:

Birmingham, England July 22, 2025

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.

Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis

Osbourne dealt with numerous health issues in recent years, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis and several spinal surgeries. Osbourne was seated at the recently held all-star final Black Sabbath concert in Birmingham, England, where the band formed in 1968.

Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward had not performed together in 20 years prior to the reunion at Villa Park on July 5.

Born John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, the man who would become known as “The Prince Of Darkness” captivated legions of fans for many decades with his powerful vocals and matching theatrical stage presence.

Osbourne’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll legend began in the late 1960s when he formed Black Sabbath with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut album laid the initial groundwork for what became known as heavy metal music.

Osbourne’s signature vocals and the band’s dark, heavy sound displayed on subsequent albums – 1970’s Paranoid, 1971’s Master of Reality and 1972’s Vol. 4 – solidified Black Sabbath as metal icons. Osbourne and his bandmates crafted metal staples ike “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” “Sweet Leaf,” “N.I.B.” and others.

After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a highly successful solo career. His debut solo album, 1980s Blizzard of Ozz, introduced now-classics “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” The album showcased his collaboration with guitarist Randy Rhoads, whose skillful playing became integral to Ozzy’s early solo sound.

Throughout the 1980s, Osbourne continued to release successful albums including Diary of a Madman (1981), Bark at the Moon (1983), and Shot in the Dark (1986). His theatrical live performances, complete with elaborate stage shows and controversial antics, deepened his reputation as one of rock’s most notorious performers. Osbourne’s connection with Rhoads tragically ended when the guitarist died in a plane crash in 1982.

Later years brought unexpected mainstream success when Osbourne and his family starred in the reality TV show The Osbournes on MTV (2002 – 2005). The show followed the daily lives of Ozzy, his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne, and their children Jack Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne, bringing “The Prince Of Darkness” to a broader, more mainstream audience.

Despite battling various health issues and struggles with substance abuse throughout his career, Osbourne remained active in music. He has continued touring and recording, releasing albums like Scream (2010), Ordinary Man (2020), and Patient Number 9 (2022).

Osbourne was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006.