New York: On July 22, the Osbourne family confirmed what no rock fan wanted to believe: Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at the age of 76. He died surrounded by family, just two weeks after performing a final concert in his hometown of Birmingham — the same city where Black Sabbath was born.
“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,” his family said 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. 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… pic.twitter.com/WLJhOrMsDF
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 22, 2025
Even those who knew he was struggling with Parkinson’s and chronic spinal pain hoped he had one more surprise left. But in many ways, he already gave it: that last concert. That final howl. That unrepeatable moment when 45,000 fans stood in the rain to say goodbye — and he sang back.
Also Read: Ozzy Osbourne Closes the Curtain with Black Sabbath at Final Concert in Birmingham
He was chaos, comfort, and pure rock ‘n’ roll
Ozzy wasn’t polished. He wasn’t safe. But he was real in a way that most rockstars never quite pull off.
He could terrify you one minute — biting a bat’s head off, screaming into the abyss — and melt your heart the next, fumbling around his kitchen in The Osbournes looking for his remote.
That was Ozzy. The screaming demon. The cuddly dad. The broken man. The survivor. The soul of heavy metal.
Born in 1948 in a working-class neighborhood of Birmingham, he dropped out of school, did time in jail for burglary, and worked odd jobs — until he and a few mates created something loud, strange, and entirely new.
Black Sabbath wasn’t just a band. It was a storm. And Ozzy was the thunder inside it.
That last show was more than a concert. It was a love letter.
When Ozzy rolled onto the stage in Birmingham this July — seated, but smiling — the air shifted.
He sang “Paranoid” with a voice that cracked but didn’t break. He told the crowd, “You have no idea how I feel right now.” And we believed him.
People cried. Ozzy cried. His mascara ran, and the whole world felt like it was exhaling.
That wasn’t a show. That was closure. That was gratitude. That was a man who had nothing left to prove — but still wanted to say thank you.
“It’s so good to be on this stage. You have no idea,” he told the audience.
He performed four Sabbath classics, and then it was over. It feels different now — knowing it truly was the last time.
He gave us more than music — he gave us permission to be strange
Ozzy made space for the weirdos. The outsiders. The ones who didn’t fit in.
He screamed when we couldn’t. He stumbled when we were afraid to fall. He joked about death, danced with madness, and still found love — and a family — in the mess.
And through it all, he never pretended to be anything other than himself.
“I’ve made people smile, I’ve made people angry. But I’ve lived,” he once said. “And I think that’s what matters.”
He lived, alright. Loudly. Outrageously. Beautifully.
A few unforgettable milestones in the madness
Here’s how we’ll remember him:
- 1968: Forms Black Sabbath
- 1980: Releases Crazy Train as a solo artist
- 1982: Bites a bat’s head off on stage (thinking it was fake!)
- 2002: Becomes reality TV royalty on The Osbournes
- 2023: Retires from touring
- 2025: Gives one final performance in Birmingham
- July 22, 2025: Passes away, surrounded by family
“You didn’t just shape a culture. You defined it.”
Tributes are pouring in from around the world. Metallica posted a photo with him and a single broken heart emoji. UB40’s Ali Campbell called him “a true Birmingham legend.”
Reddit threads are full of heartbreak and gratitude:
“Ozzy didn’t just live a wild life — he made ours a little wilder too.”
“His voice was the sound of rebellion in my childhood bedroom.”
“There will never be another. Ever.”
His daughter Kelly shared a quiet post: “He gave me everything — including the ability to be myself. Goodbye, Dad.”
There’s no replacing Ozzy — but he’ll always be with us
There are rumors of a tribute documentary coming in 2026. His final concert is expected to be released as a live album and film. And Sharon has hinted that a foundation in his name may be launched soon, supporting young musicians and addiction recovery.
But more than that, he lives on every time someone cranks up “Iron Man” in a garage. Or when a teenager picks up a guitar and dares to be loud. Or when a misfit feels seen.
Ozzy Osbourne isn’t really gone.
He’s just playing somewhere louder now.
