The heavy metal icon played his final concert with Black Sabbath on July 5 in Birmingham
After playing his farewell concert with Black Sabbath, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at age 76.
The heavy metal icon passed away Tuesday after battling Parkinson’s since 2019. Just three weeks ago, he reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates for a final concert that served as a farewell to the band, and Ozzy’s storied solo career. In addition to the show, Ozzy got to see his daughter – Kelly Osbourne – get engaged backstage to her longtime partner, Slipknot keyboardist Sid Wilson.
“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.”
– Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis
For the last few years, rumors have been swirling about a final Black Sabbath show featuring the band’s original lineup. Back in 2022, Ozzy Osbourne performed at the closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi joined him for Sabbath classics “Paranoid” and “Iron Man.” While it was a sight to see, it wasn’t quite full reunion fans were hoping for.
In 2023, Ozzy Osbourne was booked to headline the inaugural at Power Trip in California alongside Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Tool, and Guns N’ Roses. Unfortunately, Ozzy canceled his performance due to ongoing health issues. Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi would reveal that Power Trip organizers initially approached Sabbath about performing at the festival with the original lineup. The band declined the offer, citing Ozzy’s health as the main reason for not taking the gig. There’s also the issue of the fractured relationship between Ozzy, Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler with dummer Bill Ward. Ward did not appear on the band’s final album or take part in their final tour due to contractual issues.
“It’s hard, because Ozzy’s been going through a lot of stuff lately,” Iommi told SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation host Eddie Trunk. “He’s in hospital and out of hospital, and he’s really been fighting it; he really wants to get out there. But in my mind, it’s very difficult to sort of say yes. I’ve gotta think of the people in the band as well. I’ve gotta think of Ozzy, if he’s gonna be all right to do a show and whatever. So I wasn’t that comfortable with it, but I didn’t know Ozzy would be doing it on his own. But it’s great. I hope he can do it and that it’ll be really good. He really wants to do it. And he’s really trying to pull to get himself back. He’s had to go through such a lot of hard stuff lately. It’s such a shame, really. But he’s still fighting there.”
Despite turning down Power Trip, Iommi never ruled out the possibility of a one-off Black Sabbath reunion.
“I’ve certainly done the Commonwealth Games with Ozzy, and that sort of happened, but to do a full show, you’ve gotta make sure everybody’s in good shape because people are gonna remember you by that show. And I don’t want our reputation to go downhill all of a sudden. If something goes wrong or somebody can’t make it and we have to cancel… ‘Cause I don’t know everybody’s health; I don’t know how Bill [Ward’s] feeling these days. You just don’t know. So I’d like to be sure. If you’re gonna do anything, it’s gotta be good or not bother.”
Contrary to Iommi’s recent comments, Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler seemingly ruled out any sort of Black Sabbath reunion in the future.
In his new memoir Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – and Beyond, Butler opens up about his disconnect with Ozzy, and the band’s issues with Ward. Last week in an interview with Rolling Stone, Geezer put the cherry on top, saying of a reunion, “I don’t think Ozzy’s up for it, anyway.”
Now, the long-time dream finally came to fruition as the original lineup – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – played together for the first time in 20 years, and for the last time. The band took the stage to headline Back to the Beginning on 5 July at Villa Park.
The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning…time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Ozzy Osbourne said before the show. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Additionally, the show will featured an incredibly stacked lineup of special guests including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Lamb of God, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, and Halestorm.
All profits from the show were shared equally between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The all-day event also featured a supergroup of musicians. Artists announced so far include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.
Just days after announcing his retirement from touring, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne won two GRAMMY® Awards at the 65th annual event in Los Angeles back in 2023. He took home the hardware for Best Metal Performance and Best Rock Album. It marked the metal legend’s first solo GRAMMY® win since 1994 when he won Best Metal Performance for “I Don’t Wanna Change the World (Live & Loud).
Ozzy released his acclaimed thirteenth studio album Patient Number 9 last September. The album, produced by Andrew Watt, features an incredible cast of guest stars including Eric Clapton, Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Zakk Wylde, as well as late musicians Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters).
The record performed well commercially, peaking at No. 1 on UK Rock & Metal Albums chart and No. 2 on UK Albums. Stateside, the album hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 across Billboard’s Top Alternative, Top Rock, and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. The album’s title track – which features a stunning guest appearance by the late Jeff Beck – was also nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.
Last year, Ozzy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame as a solo artist.
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England, is one of the most iconic and influential figures in heavy metal music. Raised in a working-class family, Osbourne left school at 15 and held various menial jobs before finding his calling in music. He gained fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, a band formed in 1968 alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album, released in 1970, is often cited as one of the first true heavy metal albums. With dark, heavy riffs and Osbourne’s haunting vocals, the band established a new musical genre that would influence generations. Albums like Paranoid(1970), Master of Reality (1971), and Vol. 4 (1972) cemented their legacy, featuring classic tracks such as “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Paranoid.” However, Osbourne’s growing substance abuse problems led to his dismissal from the band in 1979.
Following his departure from Black Sabbath, Ozzy launched a highly successful solo career. His debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), featured future guitar legend Randy Rhoads and included hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” His solo work showcased a more melodic but still heavy style, and the tragic death of Rhoads in a 1982 plane crash marked a pivotal moment in Osbourne’s life and career. Despite the setback, Ozzy continued to release successful albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Diary of a Madman (1981), Bark at the Moon (1983), The Ultimate Sin (1986), No More Tears (1991), and Ozzmosis (1995). He became known not just for his music, but also for his outrageous stage antics and public persona, which earned him the nickname “The Prince of Darkness.” In 1996, he co-founded Ozzfest with his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne, a touring festival that showcased heavy metal acts and helped bring the genre to younger audiences.
Beyond music, Ozzy became a household name thanks to the reality television show The Osbournes, which aired on MTV from 2002 to 2005 and chronicled the chaotic domestic life of the Osbourne family. Despite battles with addiction, health issues—including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2020—and several serious injuries, Osbourne remained a resilient figure. He rejoined Black Sabbath several times for tours and albums, most notably for their 2013 reunion album 13, which debuted at number one in several countries. In 2020, he released Ordinary Man, his first solo album in a decade, followed by Patient Number 9 in 2022, both of which were critically acclaimed.
Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on heavy metal is immeasurable. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and received the Global Icon Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2014. Known for his distinctive voice, theatrical presence, and enduring charisma, Ozzy’s legacy as a pioneer of heavy metal and a pop culture icon remains secure. Despite decades of turbulence, he has endured as one of the most beloved and recognizable figures in rock history.
