Ozzy Osborne, ‘Prince of Darkness’, Dies at 76 Weeks After Final Concert

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary heavy metal icon and frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76. His family announced the heartbreaking news on Tuesday, just weeks after the rockstar gave what would be his final performance before a roaring home crowd in Birmingham, England.

“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,” the family said in a statement.

“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, delivered his last concert in early July, marking the end of an unforgettable career that spanned over five decades. Fans packed the stadium to witness the historic “Back to the Beginning” show — his first time performing with all original Black Sabbath members in 20 years.

Tributes quickly poured in for the man known to millions as the “Prince of Darkness.” Music legend Elton John called him “a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods — a true legend.”

“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly,” John wrote on Instagram.

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood also expressed his sorrow, saying he was “very sad” to hear of Osbourne’s death.

Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3, 1948, rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential figures in rock history. After leaving school at 15 and working various jobs, he teamed up with school friend Geezer Butler, eventually leading to the formation of Black Sabbath in 1968.

The band’s 1970 self-titled debut catapulted them into stardom, with their signature track “Paranoid” becoming a global hit. Over the decades, Black Sabbath sold over 75 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was later inducted a second time, as a solo artist, in 2023.

Beyond his music, Ozzy was infamous for his outrageous onstage antics. Most notably, during a 1982 performance in Des Moines, Iowa, he bit the head off a live bat — a moment that became one of the most bizarre legends in rock history.

“I can assure you the rabies shots I went through afterwards aren’t fun,” he later joked to David Letterman.

Other wild tales followed — from snorting a line of ants to urinating on a cenotaph — all of which only added to his mythos.

Yet, Osbourne showed another side in the 2000s with the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which offered fans a glimpse into his chaotic but loving family life with wife Sharon and their children. He and Sharon had been married since 1982.

Health struggles in his later years forced him to slow down. A serious fall in 2019 worsened injuries from a 2003 quad bike accident, and in 2023, he retired from touring after undergoing major spinal surgery.

Still, he managed to release two final albums — Ordinary Man in 2020 and Patient Number 9 in 2022 — both of which charted in the UK’s top three.

On July 5, Osbourne brought the curtain down in spectacular fashion. Performing at Villa Park stadium, home of Aston Villa, he reunited with Black Sabbath co-founders Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler for a nostalgic and emotional farewell show.

Perched on a giant leather throne adorned with a bat, Ozzy delivered his final words to the crowd:

“It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle… Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he said after ending the set with “Paranoid.”

And with that, the Prince of Darkness took his final bow — not in silence, but in the thunder of applause.