On July 23, a wave of tributes was paid to heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne after his passing. His fellow Black Sabbath members expressed their grief over the loss of their legendary frontman, while emotional fans placed flowers in Birmingham, the town where he grew up, just weeks following an epic reunion concert there.
Osbourne, known as the “Prince of Darkness,” and infamous for once biting a bat during a live performance, passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, according to his family.
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The heavy metal legend, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, died shortly after performing at a sold-out show in Birmingham, central England, a little over two weeks prior.
Mourning his death, fans laid flowers at a mural dedicated to Black Sabbath in his honor.
“Words can’t express this loss. Thank you for everything, including all the incredible music,” one tribute read.
“Even at your last concert, you brought us immense joy; it’s hard to believe,” another fan remarked.
Nigel O’Connell, 63, who visited the mural with his grandson, shared his sorrow with AFP, noting that he wasn’t surprised by Osbourne’s death given his rock and roll lifestyle.
“Ozzy was an icon of the city – a lovable rogue,” he added, acknowledging the pride Osbourne had brought to Birmingham.
The original bandmates, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward led the tributes to one of the city’s most renowned figures.
Iommi described Osbourne’s passing, coming so soon after their highly successful musical reunion, as a “terrible shock.”
He emphasized that the concert had been “brilliant for Ozzy” as he felt at ease in Birmingham, adding, “We didn’t realize it would be our last.”
Various celebrities, including Rod Stewart, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, and Elton John, praised Osbourne, with Elton referring to him as a true legend.
US rock star Alice Cooper lauded him as “an unmatched showman and cultural icon.”
Ozzy Osbourne played a crucial role in shaping heavy metal, leading Black Sabbath to commercial success in the 1970s and ’80s after the band formed in Birmingham in 1968.
Their self-titled debut album in 1970 reached the UK top 10 and paved the way for numerous hits, including their signature song “Paranoid.”
Black Sabbath went on to sell over 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was also recognized as a solo artist in 2024.
Rock musician Rick Wakeman expressed that Osbourne was “more musically astute” than many realized, stating, “There was so much more to him musically than just being the frontman of a heavy metal band.”
Jim Simpson, Black Sabbath’s first manager, noted that Osbourne’s health had been deteriorating for a while.
“He even remarked beforehand that he expected to die on stage at the July 5 show,” he said at Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham. “The world has lost an extraordinarily kind, grounded individual.”
Osbourne was known for his outrageous antics, many of which were fueled by his heavy drug and alcohol use. In 1989, he was arrested for drunkenly attempting to strangle his wife Sharon, a detail he once recounted in a 2007 interview.
His wild live performances are legendary, particularly the 1982 concert in Des Moines, Iowa, when he famously bit the head off a bat on stage.
Osbourne believed a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat, and he only realized it was real after taking a bite.
“I can tell you that the rabies shots I had to endure afterwards were no fun,” he told US television host David Letterman in 1982.
His public image underwent a transformation with the reality TV series The Osbournes in the 2000s, which documented the ups and downs of his life with Sharon, whom he married in 1982, and two of their three children. He has three additional children from his first marriage.
Osbourne, who reportedly passed away at his mansion near London, publicly revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020.
Caroline Rassell from the charity Parkinson’s UK stated that the family’s transparency regarding the diagnosis had provided support to many in similar circumstances.
“They helped normalize difficult discussions and made others feel less isolated,” she said.
Osbourne concluded his remarkable career on July 5, when Black Sabbath performed their most beloved songs before an audience of 40,000 passionate fans at Villa Park football stadium in Birmingham.
Stylish to the end, he presided over the occasion from a large leather throne adorned with a bat.
