Birmingham, UK – July 22, 2025 – Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath and a pioneering figure in heavy metal, passed away at the age of 76, just weeks after delivering a heartfelt farewell performance at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham, England. His family announced his death in a statement: “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. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” No specific cause of death was provided, though Osbourne had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2019 and faced ongoing health challenges following a 2018 spinal injury.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5, 2025, marked Osbourne’s final performance, reuniting him with original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005. The sold-out event, attended by 45,000 fans and viewed by 5.8 million online, featured tributes from metal giants like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and Alice in Chains. Performing from a throne due to his mobility issues, Osbourne delivered classics like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid,” telling the crowd, “You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The concert, which raised $190 million for charity, is set to be immortalized in a 2026 documentary, Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow.
Osbourne’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes across social media, particularly on Reddit’s r/Music community, where a post by u/Blithe17 garnered 1,185 votes and 197 comments. Fans expressed awe at Osbourne’s resilience, with u/Blithe17 noting, “Holy fuck so it really was farewell,” while others remarked on the emotional weight of his final show: “You could see how emotional he was during the whole set. Really glad I paid $40 to watch it.” Many hailed him as a legend, with comments like, “In the world of music, nobody ever gets a legendary send off like he did. RIP king.” Some reflected on his improbable longevity given his decades of substance abuse, with one user writing, “The fact Ozzy fucking Osborne outlived my father is insane to me. That dude was tethered to life by the darkness.”
Tributes from musicians underscored Osbourne’s monumental influence. Metallica posted a photo with a broken heart emoji, while Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones wrote, “I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had.” Elton John called him a “huge trailblazer” and “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.” Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi expressed disbelief: “It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him.” Geezer Butler added, “Goodbye dear friend – thanks for all those years – we had some great fun. Four kids from Aston – who’d have thought, eh?”
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, Osbourne rose from humble beginnings to become the “Prince of Darkness.” With Black Sabbath, formed in 1968, he helped define heavy metal with albums like Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971), selling over 75 million records worldwide. His solo career, launched with 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz, produced hits like “Crazy Train” and earned him a second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024. Infamous for antics like biting the head off a bat in 1982, Osbourne also gained mainstream fame through MTV’s The Osbournes (2002-2005), revealing a softer, family-man side alongside wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly.
Despite controversies, including a 1989 arrest for attempting to murder Sharon while intoxicated, Osbourne’s legacy as a genre innovator and charismatic showman remains unchallenged. Reddit users on r/Music and r/unitedkingdom praised his impact, with one writing, “Few people can say they pioneered an entire new genre,” and another noting, “I can’t think of a single facet of worldwide pop culture in the last 50 years which wasn’t in some way touched by Sabbath and Ozzy.” His death marks the end of an era, but his music and larger-than-life persona ensure his influence will endure.
