Ozzy Osbourne has passed away aged 76 after a long health battle.
His family shared the tragic news on Facebook, 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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Ozzy changed heavy metal forever
Ozzy led Black Sabbath back when heavy metal was still a new thing. He didn’t just play the music, btu actually helped shape the whole sound. The darker, heavier side of rock? That was Ozzy’s lane.
He had a wild stage presence too. At one point, he really bit the head off a bat during a show. He wasn’t trying to be safe or polished. Just went full Prince of Darkness, and people never forgot it.
Growing up in Birmingham left a mark on him
He was born John Michael Osbourne in December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham. Left school at 15.
Took on a few different jobs, mostly factory stuff, just trying to get by. Later on, he linked back up with an old school mate, Geezer Butler. They started playing in bands together, and that’s where it all kicked off.
Health problems took a serious toll on him
He got diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. Not long after that, he had a bad fall that messed with the metal rods already in his spine from a quad bike accident years earlier.
That whole situation spiraled into more surgeries. One in 2023 went seriously wrong. Ozzy told Rolling Stone it “virtually left [him] crippled.”
“It’s really knocked me about. I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f***ing rod in my spine,” he said.
“They found a tumour in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It’s pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f***ing up.”
Final performance meant a lot to fans
Even with all the health issues going on, Ozzy still pulled off a surprise appearance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. People didn’t expect it.
And just recently, he had what was basically a farewell concert at Villa Park in his hometown. Played some Black Sabbath classics, gave it everything he had left.
“You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd.
His bond with Birmingham never faded
He never really lost that connection to his roots. After he died, Aston Villa, the football club he grew up loving, posted a tribute.
“Aston Villa Football Club is saddened to learn that world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne has passed away.
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“Growing up in Aston, not far from Villa Park, Ozzy always held a special connection to the club and the community he came from.
“The thoughts of everyone at Aston Villa are with his wife Sharon, his family, friends, and countless fans at this extremely difficult time.”
The Prince of Darkness had a larger-than-life image
Ozzy never toned it down on stage. He was all in. Wild outfits, creepy props, crazy antics. That whole Prince of Darkness thing? He ran with it.
People might’ve been shocked by him, but they also couldn’t look away. That’s what made him such a huge figure in rock.
He leaves behind a big family who loved him
Ozzy’s survived by his wife, Sharon, and their kids Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
He also had two kids, Jessica and Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. And grandkids too. A big, blended family that loved him deeply.
Rest easy, Prince of Darkness.
