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Ozzy Osbourne Passes Away at 76, Family Says He Was ‘Surrounded by Love’ [WATCH]

Ozzy Osbourne, the British singer and founding frontman of Black Sabbath, died Monday at the age of 76.

According to a statement released by his family, Osbourne passed away “surrounded by love.”

“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.

“He was with his family and surrounded by love.”

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Osbourne’s final public performance occurred less than three weeks before his death, when he joined his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward on stage at Villa Park in Birmingham.

It marked the first time since 2005 that the original group had performed together.

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During the concert, Osbourne addressed fans, saying, “You’ve no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, Osbourne grew up in a working-class household.

He was one of six children and often spoke about the financial hardships and family struggles of his youth.

He experienced sexual abuse at the age of 11 and later attempted suicide at 14. He struggled with ADHD and dyslexia and left school at 15.

After a stint in jail for theft, Osbourne formed his first band, Rare Breed, with bassist Geezer Butler.

They later joined forces with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward to form Black Sabbath in 1968.

Originally named Earth, the band changed its name the following year, inspired by a horror film.

Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album, released in 1970, introduced their signature dark themes and sound.

Their follow-up album, Paranoid, produced several of the band’s most recognized tracks, including “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Paranoid.”

The band went on to release five consecutive platinum-selling albums in the U.S. within three years.

Osbourne’s on-stage and off-stage antics became infamous. He bit the head off a dove during a record label meeting and later bit the head off a bat thrown on stage by a fan.

In 1982, he urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph in San Antonio while wearing Sharon Osbourne’s dress, resulting in a decade-long ban from the city.

He was dismissed from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his drug use and erratic behavior.

Shortly after, he launched a solo career, releasing Blizzard of Ozz, which featured hits like “Crazy Train.” Osbourne continued his solo success throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1982, Osbourne married Sharon Arden, daughter of music manager Don Arden.

The couple had three children together: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. He also had three children from his previous marriage to Thelma Riley.

In 1989, Osbourne was arrested after attempting to strangle Sharon while under the influence of drugs.

She declined to press charges, and Osbourne entered rehabilitation. He later credited Sharon with saving his life and career.

The family became the focus of the MTV reality series The Osbournes in the early 2000s, which featured Sharon, Kelly, and Jack, but not Aimee.

The show ran from 2002 to 2005 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Programme.

Osbourne rejoined Black Sabbath in 1997.

The band’s final studio album, 13, was released in 2013, and they concluded their farewell tour with a final show in Birmingham in 2017.

Osbourne continued to perform solo, releasing Ordinary Man in 2020.

Osbourne suffered multiple health setbacks later in life, including a serious quad bike accident in 2003 and spinal issues that required surgery.

In January 2020, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He underwent additional surgeries in 2022 and 2023, including what he called his “last procedure.”

In a 1996 interview, Osbourne reflected on how he might be remembered. “The thing is, whatever else I do, my epitaph will be ‘Ozzy Osbourne, born December 3, 1948. Died, whenever. And he bit the head off a bat.’”

Osbourne’s family, including wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack, have not announced any funeral arrangements.

Tributes from fellow musicians and public figures began circulating shortly after the family’s announcement.


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