Ozzy Osbourne dies aged 76, weeks after farewell Black Sabbath show

Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who played a farewell show in Birmingham earlier this month, has died aged 76.

In a statement, his family said: “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.”

Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones said he was “very sad” to learn of Osbourne’s death.

He wrote on X: “What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”

The concert, held on July 5 at Villa Park, was the highest-grossing charity concert of all time and raised £140 million for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s.

Sir Elton John said Osbourne was a “huge trailblazer” who had “secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods”.

He wrote on Instagram: “He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend.

“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To [his wife] Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”

As Black Sabbath’s lead singer, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock.

Black Sabbath with their gold discs in London, 1973. From left to right, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty)

His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the “Prince of Darkness”, marked him out as a controversial figure.

Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December, 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs, including factory work, before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands.

Ozzy Osbourne achieved renewed fame in the early 2000s with his wife, Sharon, and their family, in their reality show, ‘The Osbournes’. Pictured with Osbourne, from left, are Aimee, Sharon, Kelly, Jack and Louis (Photo: Nick Ut/AP)

Earlier this month, he bid a farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion, telling thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park, Birmingham – a stone’s throw from where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968 – that it was “so good to be on this stage” as he performed his last set from a large black throne.

Osbourne and his fellow original Black Sabbath members – Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward – were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert.

Also among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.

A post on Metallica’s social media accounts today showed a heartbreak emoji as well as a picture of the band members with Osbourne.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary and Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood said she was among those who celebrated Osbourne’s life and legacy at the concert.

She wrote on X that she was “devastated” to hear the news of his death.

“One of the greatest gifts my city gave the world,” she said.

“In Ozzy’s own words: Birmingham forever.”

Ozzy Osbourne’s most shocking moments

Ozzy Osbourne, left, performs at the 1985 Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo: AP)

Ozzy Osbourne was famed as a provocative and powerful performer on stage and a wild hedonist off it.

The Black Sabbath singer, also a successful solo artist, was known for his controversial live shows.

Drug and alcohol use often fuelled manic behaviour in front of audiences and in between shows.

These are some of the infamous moments from Osbourne’s hell-raising life.

The Alamo

In 1982, Osbourne was wearing one of his wife’s dresses for a photoshoot close to The Alamo in Texas, the site of a heroic sacrifice by the Texan troops against the invading Mexicans.

The rock star drunkenly relieved himself on a cenotaph commemorating the dead, later donating thousands to the group which maintains The Alamo.

Cats

In an alcohol and drug haze, Osbourne said that he set about slaughtering 17 cats with a shotgun.

The rocker said he was found by his wife under a piano, armed with a knife in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

Ants

Osbourne toured with Motley Crue in the 1980s, and it was during this time that he is rumoured to have shocked his fellow rockers after “spotting” a line of ants.

Bassist Nikki Sixx claimed that Osbourne took a straw and, as if snorting cocaine, hoovered the line of ants up his nose.

Bats

In 1982, Osbourne was on stage at a gig in Des Moines, Iowa, during a US tour.

A fan threw a bat on stage, and in the frenzy of performance Osbourne – believing it to be rubber – bit its head off. There remains debate as to whether the bat was alive or dead when it was thrown on stage.

Doves

Osbourne had history with the decapitation of winged creatures, beginning with an incident which stunned CBS Records executives.

Celebrating a new album in 1981, the Black Country-born rock star was intending to release two doves in a symbolic act at the record label. Instead, he grabbed a dove and bit its head off, before being thrown out of the building.