Rock ’n’ Roll Lost Its Soul

He died “surrounded by love,” his family said in a statement.

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 Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”

Osbourne has been vocal about his struggle with Parkinson’s disease since 2019, and he played a farewell concert with Black Sabbath earlier this month. He is survived by his wife Sharon and six children, three from each of his two marriages.

While their marriage of 43 years was far from perfect, there’s no denying that they were deeply devoted to each other.

THE LAST STAND

His death comes just 17 days after he played his final show in Birmingham, England on July 5, where he reunited for the first time in 20 years with Black Sabbath and joined by a star-studded roster including Metallica, Guns n’ Roses and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, among others. The concert will screen in theatres in 2026. Ozzy had announced earlier in July that a memoir entitled Last Rites will be released Oct. 7.

Outlandish exploits

His outlandish exploits included relieving himself on the Alamo, snorting a line of ants off a sidewalk and, most memorably, biting the head off the live bat that a fan threw onstage during a 1981 concert. (He said he thought it was rubber.)

Tributes pour in

Sir Elton John: “He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.”

Aerosmith: “He changed music forever. From Black Sabbath to his solo work, Ozzy redefined what it meant to be heavy.”

AC/DC: “A great loss to all that loved him.”