Just weeks after playing a farewell show with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne has died at 76. Best known as the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne fronted the heavy-metal pioneers with style, conviction, and supreme theatricality.
News of Osbourne’s death arrived today (July 22) through a short statement from his family, which confirmed that the vocalist passed away earlier this 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. He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Other details on Osbourne’s passing have not yet been revealed, with the family requesting “everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
His death follows Black Sabbath’s epic “Back to the Beginning” farewell show in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, U.K. — a night where Osbourne reunited with the band’s classic lineup to perform songs together for the first time in years. He also played a handful of hits from his equally legendary solo catalog.
In addition to Ozzy and Sabbath’s performances, the eight-hour-plus event boasted a historic lineup of famous fans and friends assembled by Music Director Tom Morello, including Metallica, TOOL, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Lamb of God, and other heavyweights who all played electric mini-sets, each including a Sabbath cover. A rotating supergroup — billed as “Tom Morello’s All Stars” and featuring members of Disturbed, the Smashing Pumpkins, Ghost, Sleep Token, and many more — also performed a variety of rock and metal classics, leaning hard into the Ozzy canon.
A documentary titled No Escape From Now is currently in production at Paramount+. The film, described as “a deeply personal portrait of the rock legend’s harsh new realities,” had been shooting footage at the “Back to the Beginning” event. It’s set to cover Osbourne’s legendary music career, while also detailing his various health struggles stemming from a back surgery and his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
This article was originally published on RevolverMag.com and has been edited by Alternative Press.