Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and heavy metal icon, died Tuesday morning, July 22, at age 76 at his Buckinghamshire mansion, surrounded by his family. His death comes just weeks after performing what was billed as his final concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
A family statement signed by wife Sharon Osbourne and children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis expressed their grief. “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 statement read. The family indicated he was with his loved ones and surrounded by love at the time of his passing.
Sources close to the family described Osbourne’s death as unexpected in its timing, though his declining health had been apparent. The rock legend had been living with Parkinson’s disease, which he publicly disclosed in January 2020, but had actually been diagnosed with in 2003. His daughters Aimee and Kelly had flown in from Los Angeles and were present at the family home during his final days, with Kelly visiting frequently in the week leading up to his death.
Osbourne’s farewell concert at Villa Park on July 5 featured performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Yungblud, with approximately 40,000 fans in attendance. The ailing rocker performed from a black throne, telling the crowd he felt grateful for their support. The concert was later announced to be captured in a feature-length film titled “Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow,” scheduled for theatrical release in early 2026.
Born John Michael Osbourne, the musician rose to fame as co-founder of Black Sabbath in 1968, helping pioneer the heavy metal genre with hits like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.” After departing the band in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, he launched a successful solo career beginning with the 1980s album “Blizzard of Ozz,” which featured his hit track “Crazy Train.”
Osbourne became widely known for his controversial stage persona, most infamously biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert in Des Moines, Iowa. He later received a rabies shot following the incident. His wild antics also included biting the head off a dove during a 1981 meeting with record company executives and various other shocking performances that earned him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.”
Beyond music, Osbourne found mainstream success through the MTV reality show “The Osbournes,” which ran from 2002 to 2005 and documented his chaotic family life with wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack. The show revealed both his struggles with substance abuse and his more vulnerable, human side, making him a household name beyond the metal community.
His musical achievements include two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions – with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. He released 13 studio albums throughout his solo career and won five Grammy Awards. Black Sabbath was also awarded the freedom of Birmingham in June 2025, recognizing their exceptional service to the city.
Tributes poured in from across the music world following news of his death. Sir Elton John described him as a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods and called him one of the funniest people he had ever met. Metallica posted a tribute on social media with a broken heart emoji, while Aerosmith referred to him as their brother in rock who changed music forever.
His Black Sabbath bandmates also paid their respects. Co-founder Tony Iommi indicated the band had lost their brother, while bassist Terence “Geezer” Butler remembered their final performance together. Drummer Bill Ward shared a photo of the band members together as a tribute to their fallen frontman.
Osbourne had struggled with various health issues in recent years, including a 2019 fall that exacerbated his condition. Despite his declining health, he managed to fulfill his commitment to perform the farewell concert, which many viewed as a remarkable display of dedication to his fans.
The rocker is survived by his wife Sharon, whom he married in 1982, and six children from two marriages. His first marriage to Thelma Riley produced three children, including son Louis, while his marriage to Sharon produced daughters Aimee and Kelly, and son Jack. Sharon had spent approximately two years preparing their Buckinghamshire home for Osbourne’s final days after they returned to England from Los Angeles.
An unusual internet phenomenon also emerged following Osbourne’s death, as social media users revived the “Trisha Paytas baby theory.” The bizarre conspiracy theory, which began in 2022, humorously links the births of influencer Trisha Paytas’ children with the deaths of major public figures. Paytas had given birth to her third child on July 22, the same day as Osbourne’s death, causing the theory to go viral once again across social media platforms.
