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Who Was Ozzy Osbourne? All About Black Sabbath Rock Legend and Prince of Darkness as He Passes Away at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV icon, has passed away at 76. Here’s a look back at his music, legacy, and unforgettable life.
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to an individual's death.
Ozzy Osbourne, known as the 'Prince of Darkness' and a pioneer of heavy metal, has died at the age of 76. A statement from the Osbourne family said, "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."
Osbourne had been struggling with multiple health issues in recent years, including Parkinson's disease and spinal injuries. No official cause of death has been shared.
The rise of a rock legend from Birmingham
Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy grew up in a working-class family. He faced a troubled childhood, including poverty, abuse, and jail time. "I was no good at that. Fucking useless," he once said of his short-lived career as a burglar.
His environment shaped the sound of Black Sabbath, the band he co-founded with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1970, along with classics like Paranoid and Master of Reality, became blueprints for heavy metal.
After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Ozzy launched a successful solo career starting with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. He released 13 solo studio albums, the latest being Patient Number 9 in 2022.
He was known for shocking stunts like biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert and once biting off two doves' heads at a record label meeting. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, managed his career, and together they launched Ozzfest in 1996, a major metal festival that ran for years.
Here's what you may not know about his personal struggles
Ozzy married Sharon in 1982, and they had three children: Kelly, Jack, and Aimee. He had two other children, Jessica and Louis, with his first wife Thelma.
In 1989, he was arrested for attempting to strangle Sharon while under the influence. "I woke up in this little single cell… 'You're charged with attempting to murder Mrs Sharon Osbourne,'" he recalled in 2007. The couple later reconciled.
He also survived a quad bike accident in 2003 and numerous health challenges, including Parkinson's, which he revealed in 2020. "You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong," he told The Guardian in May 2025.
Just weeks before his death, Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning farewell concert on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham. Performing from a bat-themed throne, he told the cheering crowd, “I am Iron Man: go fucking crazy!”
The event also featured Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Elton John, who paid tribute, saying, “He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer…one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly.”
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