Ozzy Osbourne, The Prince of Darkness Bows Out at 76

By Ben Liew  •  23 Jul 2025 in News

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Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of heavy metal’s most influential figures, has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed on Tuesday. Known worldwide as “The Prince of Darkness” and the “Godfather of Heavy Metal”, Osbourne’s journey from working-class Birmingham to global stardom was marked by controversy, reinvention, and enduring impact.

Osbourne rose to fame in the 1970s with Black Sabbath, pioneering a darker, heavier sound that became the blueprint for metal. Hits like ‘Paranoid’, ‘War Pigs’, and ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ tackled themes like war, mental illness, and apocalypse, backed by thunderous riffs and a macabre stage presence. His infamous onstage moment in 1982—biting the head off a bat—cemented his rebellious image, though he later claimed he thought it was a toy. Ever self-aware, he even sold plush bats with detachable heads as merch.

Over his career, Osbourne sold over 100 million records globally, spanning his work with Sabbath and his solo career. Despite criticism from conservative and religious groups, he dismissed claims of devil-worship and owned up to his wild past which includes shooting and killing 17 of his pet cats in the ’80s during a drug-fuelled rampage. “I was drinking like a fish for two years,” said the singer, “I would have been dead in two or three years if I’d carried on.” He later attributed his recovery to his wife and manager: “If it wasn’t for Sharon, I’d be long dead.”

Osbourne’s reach extended beyond music. In 2002, he became an unlikely reality TV star in The Osbournes, where his bumbling charm and candid family life won him a new generation of fans. The show humanised the myth, revealing the eccentric but lovable man behind one of rock’s most iconic voices.

Born John Michael Osbourne, he overcame dyslexia, poverty, and even prison before changing music history. In his later years, Osbourne battled Parkinson’s disease and mobility issues, performing seated at his final concert in Birmingham on 5 July 2025. Emotional tributes from artists like Elton John and James Hetfield marked the night.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told fans in his final performance. “I love you.”

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