Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Frontman and Heavy Metal Legend, Dies at 76

Ozzy Osbourne, a founding father of British heavy metal, a latter-day solo star and a new-millennium reality TV luminary, died Tuesday after a yearslong struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 76.

via: BBC

Fans, musicians and former bandmates have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who has died aged 76.

Black Sabbath have "lost our brother", says the band's co-founder Tony Iommi, while bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler remembered their final gig and drummer Bill Ward shared a photo of them together.

The music icon's death on Tuesday, announced by his family, came just weeks after his band played their farewell gig in his home city of Birmingham.

"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," his family said. "He was with his family and surrounded by love."

American rock band Aerosmith called him "our brother in rock", saying its love "goes out to... the millions around the world who felt his fire".

Less than three weeks ago, the self-styled "prince of darkness" performed in Birmingham supported by many of the musicians he had inspired, including Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses.

Billy Corgan, lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins - one of the many bands that performed alongside them - said: "Some of the biggest musical artists in the world travelled from all over the world to be there literally to celebrate the legacy of this band.

"It's one of the greatest musical moments of my life," added Corgan, who spoke to BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight.

"For him to have been that close to death on July 5 and still get up there and perform like he promised... Wow! That puts him in a category of his own," Sammy Hagar, the lead vocalist of Van Halen who also played at the farewell concert for Osbourne, wrote on Instagram.

Others shared fond memories of Osbourne's larger-than-life character.

The official social media accounts for Rob Zombie posted a carousel of images of Osbourne, adding “Goodbye Ozzy. Thanks for everything. It was always a blast being around you. 🦇 You will be missed.”

Elton John said: “So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away. 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 Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”

Questlove shared on Instagram, “Long Live The Oz” and “Rest In Melody.”

British rock singer Yungblud paid tribute to Osbourne, who he last saw at Black Sabbath’s final concert in July. Yungblud presented Osbourne with a cross necklace that he had custom made, returning the gesture, since Osbourne had previously gifted him the cross off his neck.

Yungblud wrote: “I didn’t think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. But as it is written with legends, they seem to know things that we don’t. I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. You took us on your adventure – an adventure that started it all.

Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones said in a tweet he was “very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne.” He continued, “What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”

Nancy Sinatra said on X: “So sad for all of you. His energy will soar through the Universe and live on forever.”

Flavor Flav shared an image of himself with Osbourne and country star Jelly Roll, writing, “Man, real heart broken over the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, we go way back and it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year. Sending my love and prayers to Sharon and his kids and whole family. RIP.”

Variety magazine's senior entertainment editor Jem Aswad recalled the first time he met Osbourne, he was "nervous" to meet the prince of darkness.

"It was just this sort of really bizarre scene," Aswad told the BBC.

Osbourne entered the room near noon in a bathrobe, having "just woken up", wearing loads of jewellery and accessories and "a lot of gold", Aswad said, though adding that Osbourne was "perfectly nice, perfectly friendly".

Meanwhile, fans gathered at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, where they laid flowers on the star dedicated to Osbourne.

"Osbourne was more than a rock legend - he was a cultural icon who reshaped music and defied expectations," said Ana Martinez, the venue's producer.

Black Sabbath were pioneers in the heavy metal genre of music, writing classic tracks like Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.

After leaving the band in 1979 over rising tensions with its other members, Osbourne had a lengthy solo music career releasing more than a dozen albums. His debut single released the next year, Crazy Train, is arguably one of his most famous songs.

Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and six children, three from each of his two marriages.

To check out the tribute to Ozzy from members of Black Sabbath, you can read that article here.