Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and known as the “Prince of Darkness,” has died at age 76. According to his family, he passed away “surrounded by love.”
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy left school at 15 and worked various jobs before starting his music career with schoolmate Geezer Butler. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a pioneer of heavy metal, known for his dark stage persona—once even biting off a bat’s head.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, Ozzy battled ongoing health issues. A 2003 quad bike crash and a 2019 fall led to multiple back surgeries. He told Rolling Stone that one surgery in 2023 “drastically went wrong” and “virtually left [him] crippled,” also revealing a tumor was removed from his spine.
Despite health struggles, Ozzy gave a surprise performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and played a farewell show in Birmingham this month, telling fans, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
He is survived by his wife Sharon, children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, Louis, and his grandchildren. Aston Villa, his beloved hometown football club, paid tribute, calling him a “world-renowned rockstar and Villan.”
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