Ozzy Osbourne, legendry singer of the British ‘heavy metal, dies at 76

Photo: Ozzy Osbourne AP

The iconic Black Sabbath leader dies less than three weeks after his last farewell concert. Ozzy Osbourne, one of the most influential and controversial figures in rock history, died on Tuesday at 76 years of age. The artist born as John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham (3 December 1948 – 22 July 2025) ends a trajectory marked by musical innovation, scandal, addictions and an unexpected longevity that led him to the stage to television with the reality show The Osbournes. His death occurs less than three weeks after his retirement concert, Back to the beginning held on July 5 in Birmingham, England. He founded the heavy metal band Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.  Black Sabbath revolutionized British music with its homonymous debut in 1970 and fundamental works such as Paranoid and Master of reality. Iron Man and War Pigs They became hymns of the metal. After being expelled from Black Sabbath in 1979 for his growing dependence on drugs and alcohol, Osbourne undertook a solo career that began with Blizzard of Ozz album that reached five platinum albums in the United States. Throughout his solo career he released 11 studio albums, including Ordinary man (2020), Diary of a Madman (1981), Bark at the Moon (1983) No more tears (1991), Ozzmosis (1995).  He earned the nickname "Prince of Darkness". He reunited with Black Sabbath in 2013, when the band released its final studio album, “13. Black Sabbath offered his last concert in February 2017 in Birmingham. The album 13 (2013), with the return of Osbourne, reached number one in the United Kingdom and the United States. Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. The influence of the band – and of Osbourne as a central figure – remains fundamental for heavy metal as Osbourne is considered an icon of hard rock music, and one of the founders of heavy metal music through his work with Black Sabbath.