Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne dies aged 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of Black Sabbath and one of the most legendary figures in rock music, has died at the age of 76.

A statement issued by his family confirmed on Tuesday (22 July) that Osbourne died “surrounded by love”.

The news comes just weeks after Black Sabbath played their ‘Back To The Beginning’ farewell show at Villa Park in Birmingham, close to where the band originally formed back in 1968.

The singer had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, and performed his final four-song set set from a large black throne, Osbourne thanked the sold-out crowd of metal fans by saying: “Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts”. 

Black Sabbath's farewell show at Villa Park, Birmingham. Credit: Tom Pallant (press)

Black Sabbath scored their first UK Number 1 album with 1970’s Paranoid and went on to set an Official Chart record for the longest gap between Number 1 albums when their 2013 comeback album, 13, took pole position on the Official Albums Chart some 43 years later.

As well as scoring two Number 1 albums with Black Sabbath, Ozzy departed the band in 1978 to record solo project Blizzard of Ozz, which saw its eventual release in 1980. Ozzy Osbourne also invented Ozzfest, an annual festival in 1996, and after Black Sabbath were billed to play in 1997, he rejoined the band periodically until a proper reunion took place in 2011.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ozzy Osbourne (@ozzyosbourne)

Ozzy later branched out into reality television with the MTV show The Osbournes in 2002, and a year later, age 55, scored his first UK Number 1 single with his daughter Kelly Osbourne thanks to a duet of Black Sabbath’s Changes. The chart-topping hit came a whopping 33 years and 3 months after Ozzy's debut chart appearance, making it the second longest journey to the top of the Official Singles Chart in history. 

MORE: The oldest artists to score a UK Number 1 single

Earlier this month at the Black Sabbath farewell show, YUNGBLUD captivated Sabbath fans with his own cover of Changes. The Doncaster singer is pictured gifting Ozzy Osbourne a custom cross before the show. Speaking about the significance of the moment, YUNGBLUD said, "Back in 2022 on the video shoot for ‘The Funeral’, Ozzy gave me his gold cross and said 'I hope this brings you luck'. I thought, on this monumental moment for him and Sabbath, it was time for me to return the favour and let him know what he and the band means to me." 

Yungblud and Ozzy Osbourne, July 2025. Credit: Tom Pallant (press)

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and their children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, as well his two older children, Jessica and Louis, from his previous marriage, and grandchildren.

Rest in peace, the Prince of Darkness.

Image: Getty