The world has mourned the loss of a genuine rock legend. Ozzy Osbourne, the former Black Sabbath rocker who later became a reality TV star with The Osbournes, passed away peacefully on July 22nd, as confirmed by his family. At the age of 76, his absence leaves a void that is immeasurable.
"With a heart heavier than words can express, we announce the passing of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne this morning," his family, comprising his wife Sharon Osbourne and their children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and Louis Osbourne, stated in a heartfelt message shared with E! News. "He was embraced by his family's love during his final moments. We humbly request everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time."
Ozzy's departure follows closely after his final performance with his band on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. That night marked his farewell to the stage, with his wife Sharon expressing his excitement about returning to the microphone one last time. "He was thrilled about it," she shared with the BBC in February. "Reuniting with his bandmates and friends was exhilarating for everyone involved." She further added, "Ozzy never got the chance to bid farewell to his friends and fans properly. This was his final curtain call."
Just days prior to his passing, Kelly Osbourne addressed online rumors concerning her father's health, vehemently denying speculations of a suicide pact between her parents. "He's not dying," Kelly declared on her Instagram Stories on July 11th. "Yes, he has Parkinson's, and his mobility has changed drastically, but he's not dying. What's wrong with people?"
Throughout the years, Ozzy battled numerous health issues, including his ongoing struggle with Parkinson's disease. In June 2022, Sharon revealed that her husband was undergoing a crucial surgery that would significantly shape the rest of his life.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, Ozzy faced challenges in school but always knew that his destiny lay under the spotlight. As he reminisced in the 2020 documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, "Music was the only thing I was passionate about."
That unwavering passion catapulted him to superstardom. In 1968, Ozzy, alongside Tony Iommi, Terry "Geezer" Butler, and Bill Ward, formed Black Sabbath. The band's name, inspired by Tony's observation of the public's fascination with horror movies, marked a pivotal turning point in Ozzy's life, as he once told Rolling Stone, "It was the fucking game-changer for me."
Shortly after the band's meteoric rise with their self-titled debut album and its sequel, Paranoid, Ozzy's life took another turn as he met and wed his first wife, Thelma Riley. Together, they welcomed two cherished children, Jessica and Louis, into their world (Thelma also had a son, Elliot Kingsley, from a prior relationship). Meanwhile, amidst the band's soaring success, Ozzy began to realize that the rock star lifestyle was not all it was glamourized to be. "Money became my alcohol and drugs," the musician confessed in Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, "and I behaved poorly."
By 1979, Ozzy found himself ejected from the band, grappling with the sorrow of losing his father and soon, the dissolution of his marriage. "That marked one of the darkest chapters of my life," he recounted. "Yet, my life was on the brink of transformation."
Indeed, change was upon him. Ozzy embarked on a solo journey, with his debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz, released in 1980, followed by Diary of a Madman the very next year. However, it wasn't just his music that grabbed headlines; his outrageous onstage antics, such as biting a bat during a 1982 concert, also captured the public's imagination. "I mistook it for a rubber bat," Ozzy recalled in the documentary, "and I popped it into my mouth, crunching down. I bit into it, being the clown I was, only to realize, 'Oh no! It's real!'"
Personally, Ozzy officially parted ways with Thelma in 1982 and soon after tied the knot with Sharon, who also doubled as his manager. They welcomed three more children into their fold: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. "She's the only one I've ever loved," the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee professed about Sharon in the documentary. "She's my soulmate."
Their decades-long marriage was a blend of joy and strife, including Ozzy's struggle with addiction, his 1989 assault on Sharon, her 2002 battle against colon cancer (she was declared cancer-free in 2003), and their 2016 separation (followed by renewing their vows in 2017).
Some of the family's highs and lows were chronicled in The Osbournes, a reality TV series that aired on MTV from 2002 to 2005, featuring Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. "He transcended boundaries," Jack remarked in Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne. "He leaped from being the poster boy in a teenage boy's bedroom to the guy on TV in the family living room, loved by mom and dad in a whole new way."
Prince of Darkness, TV star, husband, and father – Ozzy had worn many hats. "I never anticipated coming this far," Ozzy told Rolling Stone in 2018, reflecting on his career. "Fifty years is a long stretch. I don't comprehend why I'm still alive after those wild years. Maybe whoever's up there, if there is anyone, wants me around."
