According to a statement from his family, Ozzy Osbourne passed away at the age of 76 “surrounded by love.”
In 2019, the singer received a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
He spearheaded the heavy metal movement, a darker and more profound subgenre of hard rock that swept the globe in the 1960s and 1970s, as the frontman of Black Sabbath.
He was a controversial character because of his dramatic stage presence, which included once biting off a bat’s head and dressing up as the Prince of Darkness.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham, in December 1948, Ozzy dropped out of school at the age of 15 and worked at several professions, including a factory, before joining multiple bands with his school mate Geezer Butler, according to PA.
Confirming his sad passing, a statement from the singer’s 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.”
Ozzy made an unexpected appearance at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games after having to postpone performances due to his illness. Earlier this month, he performed the Black Sabbath classics at a “farewell” show in his hometown at Villa Park.
“You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Ozzy told delighted concert-goers in Birmingham.
Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as Ozzy’s wife Sharon, are left behind. In addition, his grandkids and Jessica and Louis, from his previous marriage to Thelma Riley, survive him.
Ozzy has been receiving tributes from all sides, including his childhood soccer team, Aston Villa.
They penned in a statement posted to Twitter: “Aston Villa Football Club is saddened to learn that world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne has passed away.”
“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.”
After a quad bike accident in 2003, Ozzy suffered a fall in 2019 that loosened metal rods that had been inserted into his spine.
After the incident, the legendary musician had many back surgery.
Osbourne informed Rolling Stone that the “second surgery” that was performed in 2023 went “drastically wrong” and “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,” the singer explained.
“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.”
The Prince of Darkness, rest in peace.
