Ozzy Osbourne has died ‘surrounded by love’ at the age of 76, a statement from his family said.
The singer had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.
As the Black Sabbath frontman, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock that took the world by storm in the 1960 and 1970s.
His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands, PA reports.
Confirming his sad passing, a statement from the singer’s family said: “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.”
After being forced to cancel shows because of his illness, Ozzy made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, while he bowed out with a gig in his hometown at Villa Park earlier this month, with performances of the Black Sabbath classics in what was dubbed a ‘farewell’ gig.
“You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Ozzy told delighted concert-goers in Birmingham.
Ozzy leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and their children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. He is also survived by Jessica and Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, as well as his grandchildren.
Tributes have been pouring in for Ozzy, including from his boyhood soccer club, Aston Villa.
They penned in a statement posted to Twitter: “Aston Villa Football Club is saddened to learn that world-renowned rockstar and Villan, Ozzy Osbourne has passed away.
“Growing up in Aston, not far from Villa Park, Ozzy always held a special connection to the club and the community he came from.
“The thoughts of everyone at Aston Villa are with his wife Sharon, his family, friends, and countless fans at this extremely difficult time.”
In 2019, Ozzy had a fall which dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a quad bike crash in 2003.
The music legend underwent multiple surgeries on his back following the incident.
The ‘second surgery’ which took place in 2023 went ‘drastically wrong’ and ‘virtually left [him] crippled,’ Osbourne told Rolling Stone.
“It’s really knocked me about. I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f***ing rod in my spine,” the singer explained.
“They found a tumour in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too.
“It’s pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f***ing up.”
RIP the Prince of Darkness.
Source: unilad.com