Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and pioneer of heavy metal, has died aged 76, just weeks after performing a final farewell concert in Birmingham.
A final bow in his hometown
Osbourne passed away on 22 July 2025, surrounded by his family at his Buckinghamshire home. The announcement, confirmed by his wife Sharon Osbourne, followed his last public performance at Villa Park earlier this month. The show, titled Back to the Beginning, marked the last appearance of the original Black Sabbath lineup and served as a poignant tribute to his roots, career and enduring bond with fans.
Despite declining health, including Parkinson’s disease and complications from spinal injuries, Osbourne insisted on taking the stage one last time. Performing seated, he was greeted by a sold-out crowd in his hometown — a city that shaped his identity and musical legacy.
A life that defined a genre
Born John Michael Osbourne in 1948, he grew up in the working-class district of Aston in Birmingham. In 1968, he co-founded Black Sabbath, a band whose dark, distorted sound and bleak lyrical themes laid the foundation for modern heavy metal. Songs like Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man became global anthems and redefined the boundaries of rock music.
After being dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne launched a solo career that proved equally influential. His debut album Blizzard of Ozz included the hits Crazy Train and Mr Crowley, cementing his status as a solo artist of international renown. Over his six-decade career, he sold more than 100 million records and earned a place in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the annals of cultural history.
Controversy and reinvention
Osbourne was no stranger to scandal — from biting the head off a bat on stage in 1982 to battling substance addiction and brushes with the law. Yet he was also a master of reinvention. In the 2000s, The Osbournes reality TV series turned him into a household name for a new generation, showcasing his eccentric home life and giving fans an unfiltered look at the man behind the music.
In later years, Osbourne spoke openly about his health struggles, earning admiration for his resilience and honesty. He continued to record music into his seventies, with his final studio album Patient Number 9 released in 2022 to critical acclaim.
Tributes from across the world
News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the music world and beyond. Elton John called him a “force of nature,” while Metallica described him as the “original architect of heavy metal.” Coldplay dedicated a performance of Changes to him during their Nashville concert, and Aston Villa paid homage to their famous fan with a minute of applause before training.
His legacy stretches far beyond music. For many, Osbourne was a symbol of rebellion, reinvention and endurance — a working-class lad from Birmingham who reshaped rock, survived its extremes, and remained defiantly himself to the very end.
REFH – Newshub, 23 July 2025
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