Ozzy Osbourne, the founding frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed 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," they said.
The day before his death, Osbourne shared a poignant Instagram post featuring a backstage photo from his recent farewell show. The image showed a poster with his name above his three original bandmates: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward. The caption referenced "going back to the beginning."
The concert, titled "Back to the Beginning," took place in Birmingham, the city where Black Sabbath was formed. The 10-hour charity event featured performances from Slayer, Tool, Gojira, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses, while Osbourne performed his solo hits from a black winged throne. Proceeds benefited Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's.
Osbourne had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. In a 2022 interview, he vowed to return to the stage, saying: "If I have to crawl up there, I will do it. You ain't seen the last of Ozzy Osbourne." He had also survived a quad-biking accident in 2003, a fall in 2019, and a bout of Covid.
