Ozzy Osbourne, whose gleeful “Prince of Darkness” image made him one of the most iconic rock frontmen of all time, died on the morning of July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. A family statement confirmed he was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
“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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” No cause of death was given, though Osbourne had experienced various forms of ill health in recent years.
The news comes just weeks after Osbourne performed with Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham, England, where he reunited with bandmates, including bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi. The show was a concert event called Back to the Beginning and marked Black Sabbath’s first performance in two decades. It was billed as Osbourne’s “final bow,.”
John Michael Osbourne was born at Maternity Hospital in Marston Green on December 3, 1948, and grew up in the Aston area of Birmingham.
Upon hearing the first hit single of the Beatles at age 14, he became a fan of the band and credited their 1963 song “She Loves You” with inspiring him to become a musician. In the 2011 documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, Osbourne said that the Beatles made him realise that he was going to be a rock star the rest of his life.
Osbourne left school at the age of 15 and was employed as a construction site labourer, trainee plumber, apprentice toolmaker, car factory horn-tuner, and slaughterhouse worker. At the age of 17, he was convicted of robbing a clothes shop, but was unable to pay the fine; his father also refused to pay it to teach him a lesson, resulting in Osbourne spending six weeks in Winson Green Prison.
Osbourne, alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham, England, in 1968 (initially as Polka Tulk Blues Band and then Earth).
The band’s self-titled debut album, released in February 1970, is considered a landmark in the birth of heavy metal. It established their signature sound of dark, heavy riffs, ominous atmosphere, and occult-themed lyrics.
Throughout the early to mid-1970s, Black Sabbath released a string of highly influential albums with Ozzy on vocals, including: Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) and Sabotage (1975).
Ozzy’s eerie, almost wailing vocal style was a crucial element of Black Sabbath’s sound, perfectly complementing Tony Iommi’s heavy riffs and Geezer Butler’s dark lyrics.
He cultivated a rebellious and sometimes shocking persona, earning him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” This image, coupled with the band's dark themes, often drew criticism from conservative groups, which only fueled their popularity with their young male fanbase.
As the decade progressed, Ozzy’s struggles with alcohol and drug abuse intensified, impacting the band’s dynamics and creative output. Albums like Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978) were met with mixed reviews, and the band faced challenges in recording new material.
Ultimately, Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath in April 1979 due to his erratic behavior, marking the end of his initial tenure with the band that he helped define.
Ozzy Osbourne, as the voice of Black Sabbath in the 1970s, had an immeasurable impact on music. He was at the forefront of a new genre that would explode in popularity. The band’s innovative sound, dark lyrical themes, and Ozzy’s unique delivery laid the blueprint for countless heavy metal, hard rock, and even grunge bands that followed. While his solo career would take off in the 1980s, the 1970s were the crucial period where he, alongside Black Sabbath, forged the very foundation of heavy metal.
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