Ozzy Osbourne, July 22, London/Los Angeles (Reuters) –
The iconic leader of Black Sabbath, a heavy metal band from the 1970s, Ozzy Osbourne, became notorious for his drug-fuelled lifestyle and for biting off a bat’s head on stage. Later, he rebranded himself as a popular reality TV personality who frequently used vulgar language.
Fans referred to Osbourne as the “Prince of Darkness” and the “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” and his family said in a statement on Tuesday that he had died at the At the age of 76, Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. “It breaks our hearts beyond what words can describe to share this news. He left us peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and an overwhelming sense of love,” the statement said.
As Black Sabbath’s lead vocalist in the early 1970s, Osbourne launched his career in music, contributing to classic singles including Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, War Pigs, and Paranoid. He sold more than 100 million records globally in addition to his solo works.
His music was renowned for its dramatic, Halloween-esque flair, heavy riffs, and dark themes that ranged from war and apocalypse to depression. During his wild stage days, Osbourne once shocked audiences by tossing raw meat into the crowd—and in a legendary 1982 moment, he famously bit the head off a bat that a fan had thrown onto the stage.
He subsequently said that until he bit into it, saw his error, and hurried to get a rabies injection, he assumed it was a toy. He eventually took advantage of the situation by marketing stuffed bat toys with heads that could be removed.
Conservative and religious organisations frequently criticised Osbourne because they were concerned about the detrimental effects of rock music on youth. He acknowledged that he exaggerated his lyrics and lifestyle, but he laughed at the ridiculous accusations that he was a Satanist.
“I’ve done some horrible things in my time. I’m not the devil, though. In his 2010 autobiography, he reflected, “I’m simply John Osbourne—a working-class lad from Aston who walked away from a factory job chasing fun and adventure.” Ozzy Osbourne
Icon of Reality TV
The fourth of six children, he was born John Michael Osbourne. He had dyslexia, quit school at 15, worked odd jobs, and even served a brief jail sentence for stealing while growing up in Aston, Birmingham, central England—until Black Sabbath altered his life.
He once remarked, “I wouldn’t have bet on myself if you had put me up against the other kids on my street and asked who would make it to 60 with five kids, four grandkids, and homes in Buckinghamshire and California.”
Birmingham MP and British Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood posted on X (previously Twitter) to express dismay at the news: she wrote, “One of the greatest gifts my city gave to the world.” Ozzy Osbourne
Osbourne captured a brand-new fanbase in 2002 when he stepped into the spotlight of American reality television with The Osbournes. The eccentric rock star captivated viewers as he wandered around his opulent Beverly Hills home, mumbling in his thick Birmingham accent, frequently confused by his family’s antics.
In addition to his five children overall and numerous grandkids, he is survived by his wife and manager, Sharon, and his children, Jack, Kelly, and Aimee.
Although Osbourne announced in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which had significantly affected his mobility, no official cause of death was given. Ozzy Osbourne
Osbourne performed sitting seated for his last performance in Birmingham on July 5 and occasionally seemed to have trouble speaking. Thousands of fans, some of whom were clearly moved, thanked him.
Following his performance, rock and pop icons including Elton John, James Hetfield of Metallica, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith paid their respects on stage and on stadium screens.
Osbourne expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m truly grateful to everyone who’s stood by me through the years.“ With all my heart, thank you. “My love goes out to every single one of you,” he said warmly.
This article was written by Elizabeth O’Leary, with contributions from Jasper Ward, reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles and Katrina Demony in London, and editing by Andrew Heavens and Rosalba O’Brien. Ozzy Osbourne