Ozzy Osbourne Dies Aged 76, Weeks After Final Farewell Show

Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal and one of the most influential figures in the history of rock, has died at the age of 76.

The news comes just weeks after his final public performance, a farewell show held at Birmingham’s Villa Park that saw him reunite on stage with Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for the last time.

In a statement released by his family, they confirmed Osbourne passed away on Tuesday morning, surrounded by loved ones. “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.”

The Villa Park concert, held earlier this month, now stands as the closing chapter in a career that helped invent and define the sound and spirit of heavy metal. “You’ve no idea how I feel,” Osbourne told the crowd that night. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The performance, which featured appearances from Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, was billed as Osbourne’s “final bow” after years of declining health.

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, Osbourne rose to fame in the early 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath. With tracks like Paranoid, War Pigs, and Iron Man, the band laid the foundation for a genre that would stretch across generations. After leaving Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a solo career that produced hits such as Crazy Train and Bark at the Moon, as well as launching the careers of countless young musicians through his band and Ozzfest.

Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020 and facing ongoing complications from a fall in 2019, Osbourne remained determined to perform. His final show was a full-scale, hometown sendoff that reaffirmed his legacy in front of a stadium of fans.

Osbourne’s impact went far beyond music. The MTV reality series The Osbournes made him a household name once again in the early 2000s, exposing a new generation to his chaotic charisma and sardonic humour.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and his three children from a previous marriage, including Jessica and Louis. His death marks the end of a towering chapter in music history. One defined by rebellion, spectacle, and a voice that helped shape the sound of rock for over half a century.