--- description: Osbourne has been credited with helping “invent” heavy metal with Black Sabbath. He went on to star in hit reality tv show “The Osbournes.” title: Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal Icon, Dies at 76 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfe528e7199b0827e/6998c88b93610c1a25c2fd8f/ozzy-osbourne.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [remembrance](/tag/remembrance/) ## remembrance Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Singer and Heavy Metal Icon, Dies at 76 by [Chantelle Lee](/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Jul 22, 2025 7:00 PM CUT  Ozzy Osbourne, 1991. Ozzy Osbourne, 1991.Martyn Goodacre—Getty Images by [Chantelle Lee](/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Jul 22, 2025 7:00 PM CUT [Ozzy Osbourne](https://time.com/archive/6690623/10-questions-for-ozzy-osbourne/ "undefined"), the lead singer of the British rock band Black Sabbath, died Tuesday at the age of 76. “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,” his family said in a statement [posted](https://x.com/OzzyOsbourne/status/1947731442622206170 "undefined") on X. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.” Osbourne, who publicly shared his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, [played](https://apnews.com/article/ozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath-farewell-concert-5ad32c2e2457e5862d8f3eef646f5711 "undefined") a farewell show just a few weeks ago. Osbourne has been [credited](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/arts/music/ozzy-osbourne-dead.html "undefined") with helping invent heavy metal with Black Sabbath. He later went on to star in the hit MTV reality show, “[The Osbournes](https://time.com/collection/reality-tv-most-influential-seasons/6197760/the-osbournes/ "undefined"),” which first aired in 2002 and focused on his life with his wife and two of their children (Osbourne and his wife have another child, Aimee, who opted out of participating in the show). Black Sabbath, dubbed “the Beatles of heavy metal” by Dave Navarro of the band Jane’s Addiction in 2010, released its self-titled debut album in 1970\. The band fired Osbourne in 1979, citing instances of him turning up to rehearsals late and missing performances. But Osbourne continued performing as a solo artist, releasing 13 of his own albums. He earned the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” Osbourne built a reputation for outlandish behavior; in one memorable instance, he bit the head off of a bat that a fan had tossed onto the stage while he was performing in 1981. He reunited with Black Sabbath in 2013, when the band released its final studio album, “13.” Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. The band reunited on stage just weeks before Osbourne’s death for a farewell show. Bands ranging from Metallica to Guns N Roses performed as well, and video tributes were [featured](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/arts/music/ozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath-final-show.html "undefined") from artists including Dolly Parton and Elton John. Actor Jason Momoa, a heavy metal fan, hosted the event. The band’s official account on the social media platform X [posted](https://x.com/BlackSabbath/status/1947735412572885204 "undefined") a photo of Osbourne with the caption “Ozzy Forever!” following news of the singer’s death. Metallica also paid tribute to Osbourne on Tuesday, [sharing](https://x.com/Metallica/status/1947725712510590998 "undefined") a photo of the late musician with a broken heart emoji in the caption. John posted a tribute to Osbourne on Instagram as well, offering his condolences to the late musician’s family. “So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away,” John said. “He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly.” Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones [shared](https://x.com/ronniewood/status/1947728765439905873 "undefined") a photo of Osbourne on X, saying he was “so very sad” to hear the news and praising the “lovely goodbye concert” Osbourne had done. Singer Rod Stewart [said](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMa9I4XxyiU/ "undefined") in an Instagram post, “Bye, bye, Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there—later rather than sooner.” Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss also expressed his condolences on social media, [writing](https://x.com/genesimmons/status/1947726738378961202 "undefined") on X that Osbourne “was a giant. Admired and loved by millions of fans worldwide.” Rapper Ice-T [paid](https://x.com/FINALLEVEL/status/1947731451278946778 "undefined") tribute to Osbourne as well, as did Flavor Flav, who [said](https://x.com/FlavorFlav/status/1947724508015821125 "undefined") in a post on X that he was “real heart broken” over Osbourne’s passing and that “it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7304618/ozzy-osbourne-death/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7304618/ozzy-osbourne-death/"},"headline":"Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Singer and Heavy Metal Icon, Dies at 76","datePublished":"2025-07-22T19:00:15.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-11T01:28:44.550Z","description":"Osbourne has been credited with helping “invent” heavy metal with Black Sabbath. 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