Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman known as the “Prince of Darkness,” died on July 22, 2025, at age 76, just weeks after performing his farewell concert in Birmingham, England. The heavy metal icon’s death occurred at his family home in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, where he was surrounded by loved ones.
An air ambulance was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at Osbourne’s residence on the morning of July 22. Thames Valley Air Ambulance confirmed their helicopter arrived at 10:30 a.m. local time and spent approximately two hours providing medical assistance before departing at 12:30 p.m. Despite the emergency response, Osbourne passed away that morning.
The Osbourne family announced his death in a statement released the same day. “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 statement read. The family, including wife Sharon and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, requested privacy during their time of grief. No official cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Osbourne’s final performance took place on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham during the “Back to the Beginning” concert. The event marked Black Sabbath’s first reunion in 20 years, with original members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward joining Osbourne on stage. The farewell show was billed as his “final bow” and drew 42,000 fans to witness the historic performance.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, he rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, widely credited with pioneering heavy metal music. The band’s 1970 debut album reached the UK top 10, launching a career that would span more than five decades. Black Sabbath sold over 75 million albums worldwide and became one of the most influential metal bands in history.
Osbourne’s health had been declining for years due to multiple conditions. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003 but didn’t publicly reveal the diagnosis until January 2020. The progressive neurological disorder affects movement and can lead to life-threatening complications. According to medical experts, aspiration pneumonia accounts for 70 percent of deaths among Parkinson’s patients, as difficulty swallowing increases the risk of bacteria entering the lungs.
In addition to Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne suffered complications from a 2019 fall that dislodged metal rods previously placed in his spine following a 2003 ATV accident. These health issues forced him to cancel numerous tour dates and limit his public appearances in recent years.
Following Osbourne’s death, his daughter Kelly broke her silence on social media, sharing lyrics from the Black Sabbath song “Changes.” Kelly wrote that she felt unhappy and sad, expressing that she had lost her best friend. The emotional tribute was her first public statement since the family’s official announcement.
In the years leading up to his death, Osbourne and Sharon had relocated to Buckinghamshire in 2023, fulfilling Sharon’s longtime desire to return to England. Sources close to the family indicated that the move allowed the couple to spend their final chapter together in peace at home. Osbourne’s last days were spent surrounded by family and music in the place he considered home.
The rock legend’s career extended beyond music into television, where he gained a new generation of fans through MTV’s reality show “The Osbournes” in the early 2000s. The program followed his chaotic family life in Los Angeles with Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack, introducing his personality to mainstream audiences.
Osbourne’s legacy includes induction into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist. He earned five Grammy Awards from 12 nominations and received numerous other honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s Broad Street.
Tributes poured in from across the music industry following news of his death. Artists ranging from Elton John to Metallica honored Osbourne’s contributions to rock music and his influence on multiple generations of performers. The farewell concert had raised $190 million for several UK charities, including Cure Parkinson’s.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, whom he married in 1982, and five children from two marriages: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack with Sharon, and Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. He also leaves behind several grandchildren who knew him affectionately as “Papa.”
Sources:
https://people.com/ozzy-osbourne-death-air-ambulance-called-advanced-critical-care-provided-11778219
https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/846439/sharon-osbourne-poignant-photo-before-ozzy-osbourne-death-breaks-hearts/
https://nypost.com/2025/07/24/health/ozzy-osbournes-death-parkinson-disease-fatal-complications-revealed/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kelly-osbourne-breaks-silence-dad-ozzy-death-1235393715/
https://news.sky.com/story/ozzy-osbourne-dies-just-weeks-after-farewell-show-13400248
