Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76: Rock Legend’s Final Bow Sparks Global Tribute

Weeks after his farewell concert, Ozzy Osbourne passes away surrounded by family — leaving behind a legacy that shaped heavy metal and pop culture alike.

The world is mourning the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and solo rock legend, who died at 76 just weeks after his final performance in Birmingham, U.K.

“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,” read a statement from his family, signed by wife Sharon Osbourne and children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”

Osbourne had lived with Parkinson’s disease for years, publicly revealing his diagnosis in 2020. His final concert, dubbed his “last bow,” saw him rise from a trap door on a black throne at Villa Park, declaring to fans, “Let the madness begin!”

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, he co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968, pioneering heavy metal with hits like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.” After leaving the band in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, he launched a solo career with Blizzard of Ozz, featuring the now-iconic “Crazy Train.”

Known for his wild stage antics — including the infamous 1982 bat incident — Ozzy released 13 solo albums and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024.

Beyond music, Osbourne became a pop culture fixture through MTV’s The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005 and offered a raw look into his chaotic home life. The show also spotlighted his health battles and personal struggles.

Despite his diagnosis, Ozzy remained defiant. “I’m not dying from Parkinson’s,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve cheated death so many times… If tomorrow you read ‘Ozzy Osbourne never woke up,’ you wouldn’t go, ‘Oh my God!’ You’d go, ‘Well, it finally caught up with him.’”

In recent years, he also endured a staph infection, multiple spinal surgeries, and a fall that worsened an old injury. “You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong,” he told The Guardian in May. “You begin to think this is never going to end.”

Tributes from across the music and entertainment world have flooded social media, honoring Osbourne’s influence, resilience, and unforgettable presence.