LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and pioneer of heavy metal music, has died at the age of 76. His family confirmed Tuesday that he passed away in the United Kingdom, surrounded by loved ones.

Known worldwide as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne changed the sound of rock forever with his unique voice and larger-than-life persona. His career spanned over five decades and included chart-topping albums, outrageous stage antics, and unforgettable moments in music history.

Osbourne died just weeks after performing his final concert in Birmingham, England—his hometown. The July 5 show at Villa Park brought together heavy metal legends like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and Pantera. The event was a grand farewell for a man who helped create the heavy metal genre.

“You’ve no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Osbourne told the crowd from a black throne on stage. Nearly 6 million people streamed the concert online.

Osbourne had battled health problems for years. He revealed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2020 and had undergone multiple surgeries following a serious ATV accident and a fall in 2019.

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1949, he dropped out of school at 15. After a brief time in prison for burglary, he turned to music. In the late 1960s, he joined forces with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward to form Black Sabbath.

The band’s 1970 self-titled debut marked a turning point in rock. Songs like “Paranoid,” “War Pigs,” and “Iron Man” became metal anthems. Rolling Stone once called their sound “the Big Bang of heavy metal.”Black Sabbath was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne earned his own solo induction in 2024.

In 1979, Sabbath fired Osbourne due to his drug and alcohol abuse. He quickly launched a successful solo career with his debut album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. Hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” cemented his status as a solo rock star.

Osbourne’s on-stage antics added to his fame. In 1982, he bit the head off a live bat during a show in Iowa, thinking it was a toy. He also infamously urinated on the Alamo in Texas. He later apologized and visited the site in 2015 to show respect.

Despite controversies, Osbourne became a beloved figure in pop culture.

In the early 2000s, Osbourne starred in MTV’s The Osbournes with his wife Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack. The show revealed a different side of the rock icon—a loving, if chaotic, family man.

“All the stuff onstage, the craziness—it’s all just a role that I play,” Osbourne said in 1992. “I am not the Antichrist. I am a family man.”Stars from across the music world paid tribute to Osbourne after his death. Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi said, “We’ve lost our brother.” Geezer Butler added, “Thanks for all those years—we had some great fun.”

Elton John called him “a true legend,” and Queen’s Brian May praised his “fearless talent.” Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day wrote, “No words. We love you Ozzy.”Pantera’s Phil Anselmo summed it up best during the final show: “We would all be different people without Black Sabbath.”

Osbourne’s impact on rock and heavy metal is undeniable. He launched the popular Ozzfest tour in the 1990s, introducing a new wave of metal acts. He never stopped creating music, releasing albums into his seventies, including collaborations with Post Malone, Elton John, and Eric Clapton.

Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. He also leaves behind three children from a previous marriage: Jessica, Louis, and Elliot, along with several grandchildren.

His voice, image, and influence will live on through generations of fans. Osbourne once sang, “I don’t wanna die an ordinary man.” He didn’t.