Music and metal world mourn the passing of Ozzy Osbourne

The godfather of heavy metal and the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, has sadly passed away overnight.

A mere 17 days after his epic retirement performance. Osbourne has passed at the age of 76.

Wife Sharon Osbourne, and family Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis, issued a statement via Osbourne’s official social media accounts saying, “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.”

 

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Whilst the cause of death is unknown, Osbourne had been battling multiple health issues, including Parkinson’s Disease which later in life effected his ability to walk.

Ozzy Osbourne is largely credited as the pioneer of heavy metal, thanks to his chilling wail, unorthodox antics both off and on the stage, and his charismatic presence seen both in his musical career and as a reality television star of The Osbournes.

Through his broad career, he has sold more than 100 million albums through his solo work and Black Sabbath releases, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame first as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and then again as a solo artist in 2024, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

His life and legacy was celebrated only weeks ago in a Black Sabbath tribute. On 5 July, Osbourne reunited with his original bandmates in the pioneering group Black Sabbath for the first time since 2005, for Back to the Beginning at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England. The benefit concert featured an all-star lineup of some of the biggest names in metal including Mastodon, Anthrax, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Tom Morello, Jack Black, Alice in Chain, Gojira and more.

An innovator, a pioneer, a crazed character, and one of the most loveable men in metal and music, Ozzy Osbourne will be missed greatly.