Ozzy Osbourne, the untamed iconic voice behind Black Sabbath and one of the founding fathers of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. Known to millions as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne passed away peacefully on the morning of July 22, 2025, surrounded by his family, according to a statement released by his wife, Sharon, and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report our beloved Ozzy has passed away this morning,” the Osbourne family shared. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
No cause of death has been officially given, though Ozzy had been battling a range of health issues in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease and spinal complications following multiple surgeries.
A Voice That Defined a Generation
John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne wasn’t just a rock star—he was a revolution. Rising from the industrial town of Birmingham, England, with little formal education and a troubled youth that included a stint in prison for burglary, he transformed himself into one of music’s most recognizable and enduring figures.
As frontman of Black Sabbath, he helped pioneer a darker, heavier sound that laid the foundation for heavy metal. The band’s groundbreaking albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality weren’t just records—they were cultural detonations that redefined what music could be: loud, aggressive, and unapologetically real.
From the haunting riffs of “Iron Man” to the eerie chants of “War Pigs,” Ozzy’s voice became the battle cry of the disillusioned and the misunderstood.
Beyond the Music: A Life of Chaos, Redemption, and Family
Ozzy’s life outside the spotlight was as chaotic as his onstage persona. He openly wrestled with substance abuse, mental health struggles, and public controversies—including biting the head off a bat during a live show, a moment that would become both infamous and iconic.
But he also became something else: a symbol of redemption.
In the 1980s, with encouragement from his second wife Sharon Arden, Ozzy launched a wildly successful solo career, producing hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.”
Sharon was more than his manager—she was his anchor. The couple weathered storms that would destroy most marriages and built an empire together, raising a family in the glaring eye of fame.
In the 2000s, The Osbournes, one of the first breakout reality TV series, introduced Ozzy to a whole new generation—not as a fearsome rock god, but as a bewildered, endearing, often hilarious father figure, muttering through domestic life with charm and chaos in equal measure.
Honors, Reunions, and the Final Encore Of Ozzy Osbourne
Though his career had ups and downs, Ozzy’s legacy never waned. He reunited with Black Sabbath in the late ’90s, culminating in a Grammy win for “Iron Man” in 1999.
Their final studio album, 13, released in 2013, debuted at No. 1 in the UK and the US. The single “God Is Dead?” earned them yet another Grammy.
Through it all, Ozzy remained brutally honest about his past—and deeply grateful for the chance to grow beyond it. In interviews, he often marveled that he’d even lived this long.
“I should’ve been dead a thousand times,” he once said. “But I wasn’t. I guess the devil didn’t want me, and God wasn’t ready.”
Tributes Pour In for a Fallen Titan, Ozzy Osbourne
The world is mourning. Fans, fellow musicians, and celebrities have flooded social media with tributes. Some remember the voice that gave them strength. Others remember the vulnerability behind the eyeliner and the snarling lyrics.
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi wrote: “Ozzy wasn’t just my bandmate—he was my brother. Together, we changed music forever. And he changed all of us.”
A Legacy Carved in Fire and Spirit
Ozzy Osbourne lived louder than most could imagine—and died loved, not just as a performer, but as a husband, a father, and a symbol of survival. He didn’t just make noise—he made meaning.
Through pain, relapse, fame, and fire, he found a way to hold on to what mattered most: family, music, and the raw honesty that made him unforgettable.
In a world that often silences the troubled, Ozzy roared.
The ‘Prince of Darkness’ has left the stage—but the echo of his howl will never die.
