Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary “Prince of Darkness” and a towering figure in heavy metal, has d**d at the age of 76.
His family confirmed the news in a statement to The Sun on Tuesday, saying, “With more sadness than words can express, we share that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. He was surrounded by his family and deeply loved. We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time — Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.”
Osbourne’s passing comes over five years after he publicly revealed his battle with Parkinson’s disease in January 2020.
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, rose to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, a band widely credited with pioneering heavy metal. With his haunting vocals and dark lyrical themes, he helped define a genre and gained the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy launched a wildly successful solo career, releasing hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.”
Known as much for his wild lifestyle as his music, Ozzy became a symbol of rock and roll excess. His infamous antics included biting the head off a bat during a live show and being banned from San Antonio for urinating on a historical monument.
Known for his outrageous onstage antics and turbulent personal life, Ozzy became a pop culture icon, later starring with his family in the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which introduced him to a new generation. Despite numerous health struggles, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, he remained active in music until his d**th. Married to Sharon Osbourne since 1982, he had five children. Ozzy’s legacy lives on as one of rock’s most influential and unforgettable figures.