"It is with profound sadness that we must announce the passing of our cherished Ozzy Osbourne this morning. He was surrounded by his family and enveloped in love. We kindly request that everyone respects our family's privacy during this difficult time," stated a family announcement. In 2020, he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after experiencing a fall.
Whether dressed in black or without a shirt, the singer frequently became the focus of criticism from parental groups due to his provocative imagery and once sparked outrage by biting the head off a bat. Subsequently, he would reveal a more endearing side as a doting father on the reality television series "The Osbournes."
Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album released in 1969 has been compared to the Big Bang of heavy metal. It emerged during the peak of the Vietnam War and disrupted the hippie movement, exuding an aura of menace and foreboding. The album cover featured a haunting figure set against a desolate landscape. The music was loud, dense, and filled with anger, signifying a transformation in rock ’n’ roll.
The band’s second album, "Paranoid," featured iconic metal tracks such as "War Pigs," "Iron Man," and "Fairies Wear Boots." Although the song "Paranoid" only peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100, it ultimately became the band’s defining anthem. Both albums were recognized as among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine.
"Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal. Anyone who is serious about metal will affirm that it all traces back to Sabbath," remarked Dave Navarro of the band Jane’s Addiction in a tribute published in Rolling Stone in 2010. "There is a direct lineage that connects today’s metal, through Eighties bands like Iron Maiden, back to Sabbath.
In 1979, Sabbath dismissed Osbourne due to his notorious excesses, such as arriving late for rehearsals and failing to attend gigs. "We understood that we had no real option but to let him go because he was simply too uncontrollable. However, we were all quite disheartened by the situation," bassist Terry "Geezer" Butler recounted in his memoir, "Into the Void."
The following year, Osbourne made a comeback as a solo artist with the release of "Blizzard of Ozz," followed by "Diary of a Madman" the subsequent year, both of which are regarded as hard rock masterpieces that achieved multi-platinum status and produced timeless hits like "Crazy Train," "Goodbye to Romance," "Flying High Again," and "You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll." Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice — first with Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo performer.
The original lineup of Sabbath reunited for the first time in two decades in July 2025 in the U.K. for what Osbourne declared would be his final performance. "Let the madness begin!" he exclaimed to an audience of 42,000.
Metallica, Guns N Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Anthrax, Rival Sons, and Mastodon all performed sets. Notable appearances were made by Tom Morello, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Billy Corgan, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Sammy Hagar, Andrew Watt, Yungblud, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Nuno Bettencourt, Chad Smith, and Vernon Reid. Actor Jason Momoa served as the host for the event.
"Black Sabbath: we would all be different individuals without them, that is the reality," stated Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo. "I know I wouldn’t be standing here with a microphone in my hand if it weren’t for Black Sabbath."
Osbourne epitomized the excesses associated with metal music. His outrageous antics included urinating on the Alamo, snorting a line of ants off a sidewalk, and, most infamously, biting the head off a live bat that a fan tossed onto the stage during a concert in 1981. (He claimed he believed it was a rubber bat.)
In 1987, Osbourne faced a lawsuit from the parents of a 19-year-old who took his own life while listening to his track "Suicide Solution." The case was ultimately dismissed. Osbourne defended the song, stating it was intended to highlight the perils of alcohol, which had led to the demise of his friend Bon Scott, the lead vocalist of AC/DC.
In 1990, then-Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York asserted that Osbourne’s music was responsible for demonic possession and even suicide. In response, the artist remarked, "You are ignorant about the true meaning of my songs. You have also insulted the intelligence of rock fans all over the world."
During Osbourne's performances, audiences could expect to be mooned or spat upon by the artist. He frequently encouraged them to sing along, yet the Satan-invoking Osbourne typically concluded the shows by sending the crowds home with ringing ears and a hearty "God bless!"
In 1996, he initiated an annual tour called Ozzfest after being excluded from the lineup of what was then the premier touring music festival, Lollapalooza. Ozzfest has since featured bands such as Slipknot, Tool, Megadeth, Rob Zombie, System of a Down, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park.
Osbourne’s appearance has remained largely unchanged throughout his life. He sported long hair, heavy black eye makeup, and round glasses, often adorned with a cross around his neck. In 2013, he reunited with Black Sabbath for the somber and raw album "13," which achieved the No. 1 position on the U.K. Albums Chart and reached No. 86 on the U.S. Billboard 200. In 2019, he made a return to the Top 10 with his feature on Post Malone’s "Take What You Want," marking Osbourne’s first Top 10 hit since 1989.
