How Did Ozzy Osbourne Die? Iconic Black Sabbath Singer Dies 'Surrounded by Love' Aged 76 Leaving World of Heavy Metal Shattered
He passed away "surrounded by love," his family said in a statement on Tuesday. "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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
Death of a Legend
Ozzy Osbourne X
The news of Osbourne's death comes over five years after he publicly revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in January 2020. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, he earned the nickname "Ozzy" during his early school years.
Though he faced a difficult upbringing, music became a vital escape and source of expression for him. Struggling with dyslexia, learning didn't come easy for Osbourne. He also revealed that he was sexually abused by bullies at the age of 11 and remembered trying to commit suicide during his teenage years.
Ozzy Osbourne performing at his last show three weeks before his death X
Osbourne credited The Beatles—particularly their 1964 hit "She Loves You"—as the spark that ignited his passion for a career in music.
At 15, Osbourne dropped out of school and took on various manual labor jobs. By the time he was 17, he served six weeks at Winson Green prison after being unable to pay a fine for stealing from a clothing shop.
After his release, Osbourne teamed up with his friend Geezer Butler to form their first band, Rare Breed, with Ozzy taking on the role of lead singer.
Ozzy Osbourne X
In 1967, Osbourne co-founded Black Sabbath, a band widely credited with helping to shape the heavy metal genre. They produced legendary tracks such as "Paranoid," "War Pigs," and "Iron Man," which became defining songs of the movement.
Both the band and Ozzy frequently faced criticism for the dark and occasionally "satanic" nature of their lyrics and themes.
"When we started gigging way back when, as soon as we started playing this song's opening chords, young girls in the audience would f–king freak out," Osbourne told NME in 2016. "They thought we were Satan's f–king friends or something."
"That's when the whole 'Prince of Darkness' s–t started," he explained about the origin of his nickname. "When people get excited about Halloween coming around each year, all I think is, 'Well, we used to have Halloween every f–king night."
Troubled Life
In 1979, Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath due to his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction—something he later described as feeling hypocritical, given the band's own lifestyle. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel betrayed by what happened with Black Sabbath," he wrote in his 2009 memoir "I Am Ozzy."
Ozzy Osbourne X
"We were four blokes who'd grown up together a few streets apart. We were like family, like brothers. And firing me for being f–ked up was hypocritical bulls–t. We were all f–ked up."
"If you're stoned, and I'm stoned, and you're telling me that I'm fired because I'm stoned, how can that be? Because I'm slightly more stoned than you are?" he added.
That's when Sharon Arden, the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden, stepped in to take charge of Ozzy's career as a solo artist.
Ozzy went on to release 12 solo albums, featuring iconic tracks like "Crazy Train," "Mama, I'm Coming Home," and "No More Tears."
Throughout his career—both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath—he sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
In 2005, both Ozzy and Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. A year later, he was welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band.
Ozzy also gained notoriety for his outrageous antics. One of the most infamous moments came in January 1982, when he bit the head off a bat during a live performance. Just a month later, he was arrested in Texas for urinating on a monument honoring the fallen at the Battle of the Alamo while heavily intoxicated.
That same year, he married Sharon, now 72, and the couple went on to have three children: Aimee, 41; Kelly, 40; and Jack, 39.
Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath several times over the years, officially rejoining them in 2013 to record their final album, 13. He also took part in the band's farewell tour, which ran from 2016 to 2017.
Throughout his life, Ozzy battled severe substance abuse issues. He first tried cocaine in 1971 and later admitted to using LSD daily for two years during his time with Black Sabbath.
Reflecting on that period, Ozzy confessed that toward the end of his stint with the band,he " got very drunk and very stoned every single day."
In February 2021, Ozzy revealed to Variety that he had been sober for seven years.
Ozzy Osbourne with his wife Sharon Arden X
Later, in August 2022, he expressed frustration over the alarming levels of gun violence in the U.S., announcing that he and Sharon planned to relocate to the UK. However, he eventually reversed that decision, saying he preferred to remain in America.
Ozzy is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their three children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. He also leaves behind two children from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, 71—Jessica, 45, and Louis, 50.
During his marriage to Riley, which lasted from 1971 to 1982, Ozzy adopted her son from a prior relationship, Elliot Kingsley, now 59. The legendary rocker also had ten grandchildren.
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International Business Times
05-08-2025
- International Business Times
Ozzy Osbourne Cause of Death Revealed: Iconic Black Sabbath Singer Died Aged 76 'Surrounded by Love' Leaving World of Heavy Metal Shattered
Ozzy Osbourne's cause of death has been revealed. The iconic Black Sabbath lead singer suddenly died at the age of 76 on July 22 from cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease, according to a death certificate obtained by The Sun on Tuesday. The document was filed by his daughter, Aimee Osbourne, at a registry office in London, according to The New York Times. Ozzy's family had earlier confirmed his death in a statement. "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 heartbreaking statement from his family read. Was Suffering from Multiple Ailments Ozzy Osbourne X "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis," the statement added. The legendary musician was buried last Thursday near the lake at his home in Buckinghamshire. Around 110 guests attended the private ceremony, including family members, music industry figures, and his longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde, who led the somber procession. Ozzy Osbourne performing at his last show three weeks before his death X "The day was incredibly emotional," a source told the Sun. "Pictures of Ozzy were dotted throughout the house and a photograph of him was given to everyone who attended to take home with them." "Ozzy wanted his final place of rest to be at home and he is buried at a beautiful point on the lake," the source added. A emotional funeral procession was held the day before the ceremony, winding through the streets of Ozzy's hometown, Birmingham, England. His widow, Sharon, 72, along with their children—Kelly, 40, Jack, 39, Aimee, 41—and his son Louis, 50, joined thousands of fans in paying their final respects to the legendary heavy metal figure. Ozzy Osbourne X Ozzy's grieving family members wore all-black outfits, each adding personal touches to honor his memory. Photoes from the procession captured an emotional Sharon embracing Kelly and holding Jack's hands as she wept before a memorial dedicated to Ozzy, where the family placed purple flowers. Sharon and the children walked closely behind as the hearse transporting the Prince of Darkness' body made its way along Birmingham's well-known Broad Street, stopping briefly at the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge. A Star Is Gone Ozzy's death came over five years after he publicly revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in January 2020. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, he earned the nickname "Ozzy" during his early school years. Ozzy Osbourne X Though he faced a tough upbringing, music became a vital escape and source of expression for him. Struggling with dyslexia, learning didn't come easy for Osbourne. He also revealed that he was sexually abused by bullies at the age of 11 and remembered trying to commit suicide during his teenage years. Osbourne credited The Beatles—particularly their 1964 hit "She Loves You"—as the spark that ignited his passion for a career in music. At 15, Osbourne dropped out of school and took on various manual labor jobs. By the time he was 17, he served six weeks at Winson Green prison after being unable to pay a fine for stealing from a clothing shop. Ozzy Osbourne with his wife Sharon Arden X After his release, Osbourne teamed up with his friend Geezer Butler to form their first band, Rare Breed, with Ozzy taking on the role of lead singer. In 1967, Osbourne co-founded Black Sabbath, a band widely credited with helping to shape the heavy metal genre. They produced legendary tracks such as "Paranoid," "War Pigs," and "Iron Man," which became defining songs of the movement. Both the band and Ozzy frequently faced criticism for the dark and occasionally "satanic" nature of their lyrics and themes. Twitter / Ozzy Osbourne "When we started gigging way back when, as soon as we started playing this song's opening chords, young girls in the audience would f–king freak out," Osbourne told NME in 2016. "They thought we were Satan's f–king friends or something." "That's when the whole 'Prince of Darkness' s–t started," he explained about the origin of his nickname. "When people get excited about Halloween coming around each year, all I think is, 'Well, we used to have Halloween every f–king night." In 1979, Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath due to his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction—something he later described as feeling hypocritical, given the band's own lifestyle. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel betrayed by what happened with Black Sabbath," he wrote in his 2009 memoir "I Am Ozzy." "We were four blokes who'd grown up together a few streets apart. We were like family, like brothers. And firing me for being f–ked up was hypocritical bulls–t. We were all f–ked up." Ozzy Osbourne X "If you're stoned, and I'm stoned, and you're telling me that I'm fired because I'm stoned, how can that be? Because I'm slightly more stoned than you are?" he added. That's when Sharon, the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden, stepped in to take charge of Ozzy's career as a solo artist. Ozzy went on to release 12 solo albums, featuring iconic tracks like "Crazy Train," "Mama, I'm Coming Home," and "No More Tears."
Straits Times
05-08-2025
- Straits Times
Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack, death certificate shows
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE — Ozzy Osbourne performs during a 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert, at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Oct. 30, 2009. Osbourne, the heavy metal and reality television star, died of a heart attack and had suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's, according to a death certificate filed at a registry in London. (Chad Batka/The New York Times) EDINBURGH, Scotland – Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal and reality television star , died of a heart attack and had suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's, according to a death certificate filed at a registry in London. The document, which was submitted by Osbourne's daughter Aimée Osbourne, lists cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes, noting that he had Parkinson's disease. Osbourne's occupation is recorded as 'Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend.' The certificate says Osbourne died of '(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes).' The New York Times obtained the document on Aug 5. On July 22, the day of Osbourne's death, an air ambulance flew to the singer's home near the village of Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire, England. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Air Ambulance service said in an email that its team had been 'dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident near Chalfront St. Giles on July 22,' but gave no further details. After stopping near the singer's home, the ambulance flew about 13km south-west to Harefield Hospital, in Uxbridge, a London suburb, according to Flightradar24, a company that collates data on aircraft movements. The helicopter spent 'about an hour' at the hospital with its engines running, a Flightradar24 spokesperson said. When Osbourne's family announced his death on July 22, they did not state a cause, although the 76-year-old singer had received treatment for numerous health problems in recent years, including a variant of Parkinson's and spinal damage. He told a radio station in February that he could no longer walk. Many heavy metal fans had feared this year that Osbourne was reaching the end of his life, especially after his wife, Sharon, announced in February that he would perform what the family expected to be his last concert. That performance, held July 5 at a soccer stadium in Birmingham, England, was staged just a few minutes' walk from Osbourne's childhood home. (From left to right) Ozzy Osbourne's son Louis, daughter Aimee, son Jack, widow Sharon and daughter Kelly arrive to lay flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham, England on July 30. PHOTO: AFP At that concert, called 'Back to the Beginning,' Osbourne performed two brief sets: one of his solo music and a second with Black Sabbath, the band he formed in 1968 with three fellow Birmingham musicians. During those performances, Osbourne had referred to his health problems. 'I've been laid up for six years,' he told the cheering crowd at one point. 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' As Black Sabbath's frontman, Osbourne was widely considered one of the creators of heavy metal music. Heavy metal acts like Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax have cited him as an influence. In the 2000s, Osbourne achieved a second bout of fame as a reality TV star thanks to the MTV show The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005 and documented the singer and his family's daily lives in comic fashion. On July 30, throngs of his fans flocked to Birmingham for a funeral procession in which his coffin was carried through the city in a hearse, before a private funeral. NYTIMES
AsiaOne
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- AsiaOne
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