Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic figure known as the godfather of heavy metal and the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, has passed away at 76. His death comes just weeks after he emotionally bid farewell to fans at his final concert at Villa Park, which featured performances by Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. This concert marked his last appearance after decades of groundbreaking music and notorious on-stage antics.
Following his death, tributes have poured in from across the globe, celebrating the monumental impact Ozzy had on music, with fellow musicians and public figures expressing their admiration and grief.
Where did Ozzy Osbourne pass away?
Ozzy Osbourne died in the United Kingdom, his homeland, as confirmed by his publicist to the BBC.
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The Parkinson’s Foundation released a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his passing.
Although Osbourne had lived in the U.S. since the early 2000s, his family kept a home in the UK, where he was born in Birmingham in 1948.
In 1980, Ozzy Osbourne kicked off his solo career with Blizzard of Ozz, a powerful debut album featuring the iconic track Crazy Train. The album was a massive success, selling over 55 million copies worldwide and solidifying Osbourne as a heavy metal solo artist.
However, with his rise to fame came wild and outrageous behavior that became legendary—infamous acts like biting the heads off a dove and a bat, snorting ants, and urinating on the Alamo while wearing his wife’s dress. His struggles with substance abuse spiraled, leading to violent episodes and legal issues, including a near-fatal incident with his wife, Sharon.
In 1982, tragedy struck when guitarist Randy Rhoads died in a plane crash. Although this loss devastated Osbourne, it didn’t stop his musical momentum. He continued to release hits like Suicide Solution, which sparked a controversial lawsuit, and Mama, I’m Coming Home, his most successful solo ballad.
After being overlooked by Lollapalooza in 1995, Sharon Osbourne created Ozzfest—a traveling festival that ran until 2018 and became a cornerstone of the metal scene. Ozzy’s solo career, marked by chaos and reinvention, was just as influential and unpredictable as his groundbreaking time with Black Sabbath.