The Prince of Darkness, who shaped the sound of heavy metal as Black Sabbath’s fearless frontman, passed away at 76 at his UK estate, surrounded by his loved ones on July 22. It came only 17 days after he stood on stage for what would become his final performance with the original Black Sabbath lineup, marking their first reunion in 20 years—a bittersweet farewell, given his ongoing health battles.
Ozzy had been living with Parkinson’s since 2019 and faced several health challenges, though his official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
One of the last glimpses fans got of Ozzy’s humor came on July 9, when Kelly Osbourne shared a TikTok capturing a family moment that quickly went viral. The clip showed Kelly’s fiancé, Slipknot’s Sid Wilson, proposing to her in front of their family and close friends. As Sid began his heartfelt speech with, “Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world…” Ozzy, never one to miss the perfect moment for a laugh, interrupted, quipping, “F**k off, you’re not marrying my daughter.”
@kellyosbourneyo The biggest surprise! I’m so so happy!
The room exploded with laughter, and as Sid slipped the ring on Kelly’s finger, Ozzy could be seen grinning, that familiar glint in his eyes, enjoying the joy around him. It was a moment that perfectly captured Ozzy’s essence—fierce, funny, and fiercely devoted to his family.
In the announcement of his passing, the Osbourne family shared, “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’s privacy at this time.”
Ozzy’s journey began in Birmingham in 1968 with Black Sabbath, a band that didn’t just play heavy metal but redefined it, turning it into a global force that would shape generations. His wild stage antics, including the infamous bat incident, and his self-styled image as the Prince of Darkness made him a legend in rock history.
Yet behind the theatrics and controversy was a devoted family man whose reality show, The Osbournes, revealed a softer, hilarious, and deeply relatable side to the world.
As the world says goodbye to Ozzy, we remember a man who, until his final days, was never too tired to make people laugh, never too unwell to show love, and never too far from the music that made him a legend. Rest easy, Ozzy. You will be missed, but your spirit will forever echo through every riff and every roar that heavy metal brings to the world.
