Legendary rocker and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, sparking an outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow musicians, and industry icons.
The music icon passed away on Tuesday, July 22, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, which had significantly impacted his health in recent years.
Just weeks before his death, Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne had helped him to fulfill his final wish: to return to his native England for one last performance.
The couple, who had spent decades living in the United States, made the move back to the UK earlier this year.
Sharon, 72, helped organize a benefit concert titled Back to the Beginning, held at Villa Park in Ozzy’s hometown of Birmingham on July 5.
The emotional event saw Ozzy take to the stage one last time alongside his Black Sabbath bandmates, delivering a powerful final performance that brought the crowd of 42,000 to its feet, according to Sky News.
The concert raised an impressive $189 million for various charities and featured legendary support acts including Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax.
In an interview with Music Business Worldwide, Sharon explained the significance of holding the concert at Villa Park. “The only place we could do it was Aston, that’s where Ozzy was born and grew up, right near the Villa ground,” she said.
“I thought of inviting all the bands he’s ever had relationships with to perform Sabbath and Ozzy songs. It became a celebration of the music. All the generations Ozzy and Sabbath have influenced came together.”
The couple had planned to retire at their home in Buckinghamshire, with Sharon sharing in earlier interviews how much Ozzy was looking forward to coming home.
“He was very happy to be coming back and very emotional about it,” she told The Sun in February. “Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, it’s not something you can stabilize. It’s affected his legs, but his voice is still as strong as ever.”
Sharon also hinted that she, too, was ready to step back from the public eye. “I’ve been doing this since I was 15, and I’m done,” she told Billboard. “We just want to live our lives without following an itinerary.”
Ozzy’s family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt statement released on July 22: “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 privacy at this time.”
Tributes quickly flooded in from across the world. Sir Elton John wrote, “So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer… a true legend. One of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly.”
Sir Rod Stewart added: “Bye, Bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there, later rather than sooner.”
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi also shared his grief, via AP News: “I just can’t believe it. My dear, dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. There won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and I have lost a brother. Rest in peace, Oz.”
Osbourne’s death marks the end of an era, but his legacy as one of rock’s greatest and most influential figures will endure for generations.