Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and one of rock music’s most influential and controversial figures, has died at the age of 76.
The announcement was confirmed by his family in a statement issued Monday morning.
“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,” the statement read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
Osbourne’s death comes just weeks after a surprise final performance in his hometown of Birmingham, England, where he joined his former bandmates on stage in what many fans are now calling a fitting farewell.
Known around the world as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne redefined what it meant to be a rock star. From his pioneering work with Black Sabbath in the 1970s to his outrageous solo career and reality TV fame, Osbourne remained an unpredictable force in music, pop culture, and, notably, activism.
While much of the public remembers him for wild stunts – including infamously biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert in Des Moines, Iowa – Osbourne was also a staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community, standing up for queer rights during times when it was far from popular to do so.
An Unexpected Ally in Rock
Throughout his five-decade career, Osbourne was more than just a heavy metal icon – he was an unexpected but vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
In the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS crisis – a time when much of the world turned its back on the queer community – Osbourne took a firm and public stance. After one of his guitarists made a homophobic comment during a concert, Osbourne responded not with silence, but with action.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Osbourne made donations to AIDS Long Beach and other LGBTQ+ organizations in the wake of the incident. His support was not performative; it was financial, public, and deeply appreciated by queer fans who often felt unwelcome in rock spaces.
Decades later, Osbourne continued to speak out. In 2010, he publicly condemned the hate group Westboro Baptist Church after they used his song “Crazy Train” during one of their anti-gay protests.
“I am sickened and disgusted by the use of ‘Crazy Train’ to promote messages of hate and evil by a church,” Osbourne said in a statement at the time. “I do not condone or support any form of discrimination, especially the sort being propagated by the WBC.”
At a time when many of his peers stayed silent, Osbourne’s stance as a visible and consistent ally set him apart in the world of rock music.
A Complicated, Legendary Life
John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England. He rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, often cited as one of the originators of heavy metal. The band’s doomy, distorted sound and dark lyrical themes introduced a new kind of music – one that gave voice to alienation, anger, and rebellion.
Osbourne’s haunting vocals helped define songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs.” But his time with the band was turbulent. He was fired in 1979 due to substance abuse and erratic behavior, only to go on to have a wildly successful solo career.
His solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz, was a commercial hit and introduced classics like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Over the years, Osbourne became known as much for his controversies as his music. Alongside unforgettable music, there were hotel-trashing incidents, public feuds, and the notorious bat incident – which he later claimed happened because he believed the bat was rubber.
Despite the chaos, Osbourne always returned to the music. He released over a dozen studio albums, headlined countless tours, and helped launch Ozzfest, a heavy metal festival that became a cornerstone of rock culture in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
In 2002, a new generation was introduced to him through the MTV reality series The Osbournes, which starred Ozzy, his wife Sharon, and two of their children. The show was a massive hit, showing a softer, more humorous side of the rock legend and making him a household name far beyond the music world.
Health Battles and Final Performances
In 2019, Osbourne revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder. Over the years, his health continued to decline, leading him to cancel several tours and public appearances.
Still, he remained determined to perform, even announcing his retirement multiple times only to return for surprise shows.
His final performance took place earlier this summer in Birmingham, where he joined Black Sabbath for a one-night-only set. Fans described the moment as “electric,” with many calling it a long-overdue homecoming for the group that changed music forever.
A Legacy That Transcends Music
Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is one of contradictions: chaos and compassion, darkness and defiance. To queer fans and communities, he wasn’t just a metal icon – he was a rare rock star who extended his platform in defense of LGBTQ+ lives.
At a time when many artists avoided engaging with LGBTQ+ issues, Osbourne stood his ground, refusing to let bigotry go unchallenged — whether it came from fellow musicians or extremist groups.
He once said in an interview, “I’m not a hero. I’m a survivor.” And perhaps that’s what made him so beloved. Osbourne didn’t present himself as perfect, but his actions – especially those in support of marginalized communities – revealed a heart that beat loudly beneath the leather and eyeliner.
