Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at the age of 76

Legendary heavy metal singer and reality TV starOzzy Osbourne has died. He died on Tuesday at the age of 76, his family announced. Just a few weeks ago, Osbourne, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, gave a much-acclaimed farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham.

In a statement from his family, reported by several British media outlets, it read: "It is with more sadness than words can express that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love," it read. The family asks for privacy.

The world of pop and rock mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne. Elton John praised him as "a true friend and a gigantic trailblazer who has secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods." The news made him very sad, Elton John wrote, posting a photo of the two stars side by side. Rod Stewart posted a tongue-in-cheek message. "Bye, bye Ozzy, sleep tight, my friend. See you up there—later rather than sooner." Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood wrote on the messaging service X: "I am so saddened by the news of Ozzy Osbourne's passing." The concert a few weeks ago in Birmingham was a wonderful farewell for the singer.

Osbourne rose to international fame in the 1970s as the energetic frontman ofBlack Sabbath . The influential heavy metal band was founded in 1968 in Birmingham, where Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948, in a working-class neighborhood.

With their dark, heavy sound, hard guitar riffs, and cynical lyrics, Black Sabbath became pioneers of the genre. Their most famous songs include "Paranoid," "Iron Man," and "War Pigs."

Osbourne's distinctive, nasal voice, along with Tony Iommi's dark guitar sound, was the defining element of the music. On stage, the showman acted like a madman alongside the rather introverted lead guitarist and the almost stoic bassist Geezer Butler, jumping around on stage and clapping his hands wildly. Due to drug and alcohol problems, the band fired him in 1979.

With the help of his manager, Sharon Arden, whom he later married, Osbourne launched a solo career. With hits like "Crazy Train," "Mr. Crowley," and "I Don't Know," his debut album, "Blizzard of Ozz" (1980), was an immediate commercial success. The notorious rock star is said to have sold approximately 100 million records.

His wild appearance, his play with provocation and horror elements thrilled fans, but frightened conservative and religious groups, especially in the USA.

The musician repeatedly caused scandals. At one concert, he bit off the head of a bat that a spectator had brought onto the stage, mistaking it for a rubber toy. He was repeatedly accused of being a devil worshipper, but Osbourne always denied this, saying he had nothing to do with black magic.

To younger audiences, he is best known as the eccentric family man in the award-winning docu-soap "The Osbournes." In 2002, the world was able to witness his marriage and his crazy life with his equally colorful children, Kelly and Jack, up close when the Osbournes filmed themselves day and night for MTV. This also helped his musical career.

He also reunited with Black Sabbath several times. In 2013, the band rocketed back to the top of the charts with their comeback album "13," before saying goodbye to their fans with their "The End Tour" in 2016 and 2017. Shortly thereafter, Ozzy Osbourne began his own farewell tour as a solo artist, which he had to cut short due to health reasons.

In recent years, the legendary frontman, whose real name was John Michael Osbourne, has struggled with numerous health issues. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. At the time, he was combative. "This is not the end of Ozzy Osbourne, I promise you," he told the Guardian at the time.

And indeed, he fulfilled a long-held dream and performed one last time on July 5. At Villa Park Stadium in his hometown of Birmingham, he gave a big farewell concert with his last remaining strength, where he was only able to sing a few songs and performed his performance sitting down.