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Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and solo artist known as the "Prince of Darkness," has died at age 76. He passed away peacefully on the morning of July 22, surrounded by his family. His wife Sharon and children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis asked for privacy during this time.
Osbourne had publicly battled Parkinson's disease since 2019, revealing in a Good Morning America interview that the illness had been "terribly challenging." Sharon Osbourne clarified he had PRKN 2, a non-lethal yet degenerative form of Parkinson's.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Ozzy grew up in difficult circumstances. He struggled with dyslexia, abuse, and mental health issues, including a suicide attempt as a teen. He credited The Beatles' "She Loves You" as the inspiration that led him to music.
In 1968, he co-founded Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The band quickly became synonymous with heavy metal, fueled by Ozzy's haunting vocals and their dark sound. Tracks like "Iron Man" and "War Pigs" became genre-defining anthems. However, drug and alcohol abuse led to his dismissal from the group in 1979.
His career was revived under the management of Sharon Arden, who guided his solo path. Collaborations with guitarist Randy Rhoads launched a second wave of hits, including "Crazy Train" and "No More Tears." He sold over 100 million records across his solo and group careers.
In 2002, The Osbournes reality show brought Ozzy into millions of living rooms, revealing a softer side behind the metal persona. Despite controversy, most famously, the 1982 bat-biting incident, he remained a beloved and eccentric public figure.
Osbourne was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. He reunited with Black Sabbath in 2013 for their final album, 13, and toured until health setbacks began in 2019.
