Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the most iconic figures in heavy metal, died on 22 July 2025, aged 76, his family has announced. In a statement, they said he passed away “surrounded by love,” surrounded by his wife Sharon and their children.
The star’s death comes just weeks after performing a final farewell concert with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham on 5 July. Sitting on a throne due to worsening Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne thanked the audience, saying, “You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Osbourne first rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, helping to define the heavy metal genre. He achieved global success with tracks such as “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “War Pigs.” Following his departure from the band in 1979, he embarked on a solo career, producing hits including “Crazy Train” and “Changes.”
In the 2000s, Osbourne became a household name through the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which followed his family life in Los Angeles with Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack.
His later years were marked by serious health struggles. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, he also suffered complications from a fall in 2019 and underwent multiple surgeries, including spinal operations. Despite these challenges, he returned to the stage in 2022 to close the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and staged the memorable “Back to the Beginning” concert earlier this month.
Osbourne’s many accolades include induction into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (twice each), five Grammy Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He leaves behind his wife Sharon, their three children—Aimee, Kelly, and Jack—as well as two older children, Jessica and Louis, from his first marriage, and several grandchildren.
Osbourne’s passing brings to a close an extraordinary career that not only shaped the sound of heavy metal but also bridged generations, transcending the music world and popular culture alike.
