Ozzy Osbourne, who has died at the age of 76, helped forge the sound that became known as heavy metal - and on top of that, the frontman practically invented the image of the wild rock star. Ozzy Ozzy Osbourne. Actor: Little Nicky. One of the pioneers of heavy metal and one of its most commercially successful and iconic artists, Ozzy Osbourne was born in Birmingham, England, as John Michael Osbourne. After leaving school and having many odd jobs, he ended up in a band with Geezer Butler. This group then split, leading Ozzy and Geezer to join Tony Iommi and Bill Ward in a new band that Ozzy Osbourne 's cause of death is yet to be disclosed by his family. The lead singer of the band, who was known globally as the frontman of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76. His family confirmed the news through an official statement. Osbourne’s final public appearance was a farewell performance on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham. Family Confirms Ozzy Osbourne’s Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal legend who rose to fame in the pioneering group Black Sabbath, has died, his family said in a statement to CBS News. Osbourne had been on a long drinking binge and earlier that same day had drunkenly fired his entire band, including Randy Rhoads, after they had informed him that they would not participate in a planned live album of Black Sabbath songs. Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id — of heavy metal, died As Ozzy Osbourne’s longest-serving and most definitive guitarist, Zakk Wylde has been an intermittent but foundational pillar of the band for over three decades. After being fired from his band Black Sabbath, English heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne began his solo career in 1979. His initial band comprised himself, guitarist Randy Rhoads (formerly of Quiet Riot), bassist Bob Daisley (formerly of Rainbow) and drummer Lee Kerslake (formerly of Uriah Heep). Keyboardist Don Airey was brought in temporarily to record on Osbourne's first album, Blizzard of Ozzy Osbourne was the lead singer of Black Sabbath and a reality TV star alongside his family on ‘The Osbournes.’ Learn about his songs, children, and death. List of Ozzy Osbourne members Current and former members of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band performing live in 2009 (top) and 2018 (bottom) Ozzy Osbourne was an English heavy metal vocalist from Marston Green, Warwickshire. Ozzy Osbourne is a British musician who gained a loyal following as the vocalist for the 1970s heavy metal group Black Sabbath before embarking on a successful solo career in the 1980s. In between making music he appeared with his family in the popular reality TV program The Osbournes on MTV (2002–05). Ozzy Osbourne, dubbed "The Prince of Darkness," has died at the age of 76. His band Black Sabbath laid the foundation of heavy metal music and has inspired bands for five decades. As the Ozzy Osbourne tributes continue to roll in, a number of members who played with Ozzy's solo band over the years have provided their tributes. One overwhelming sentiment through a majority Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76 just weeks after his epic farewell gig at Villa Park. The concert was a fitting tribute to the rock legend as he sang for the final time in front of 40,000 The last of his nine lives might have been used up – but Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is cast in stone. As the focal point, face and frontman of the band who not only co-created the metal genre, but made it look like the best party in town, you couldn’t forget him if you tried. And the world never, ever will. John Michael ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne sold more than 100 million records worldwide between his solo career and his days as a member of Black Sabbath prior to his death in 2025. The England native got his start in 1967 After a string of health issues, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne performed with his band Black Sabbath for the last time in July 2025. Here’s everything to know about where Ozzy Osbourne is now. The band was highly influential in the development of heavy metal music, in particular their critically acclaimed releases Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973). Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to problems with alcohol and other drugs. Vocalist Tony Martin claimed that an original line-up reunion had been in the works since the band's brief reunion at Ozzy Osbourne's 1992 Costa Mesa show, and that the band released subsequent albums to fulfill their record contract with I.R.S. Records. Sharon Osbourne Says She Disinvited 1 Band from Performing at Ozzy Osbourne's Final Concert with Black Sabbath "After the show I'll let everybody know who it was. I think people will be shocked
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