2 weeks ago
16
Heavy metallic prima Ozzy Osbourne has died aged 76, conscionable weeks aft reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates and performing a immense farewell performance for fans.
In a statement, his household said: "It is with much sadness than specified words tin convey that we person to study that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed distant this morning. He was with his household and surrounded by love."
Latest: Tributes paid to Ozzy Osbourne
As helium performed from a throne connected signifier astatine Villa Park little than 3 weeks ago, Osbourne told 42,000 fans: "You've nary thought however I consciousness - convey you from the bottommost of my heart."
It was a gig enactment unneurotic with performances from immoderate of his favourite acts, including Metallica and Guns N' Roses, for the star's "final bow".
Osbourne and his chap archetypal Black Sabbath members - Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward - reunited for the archetypal clip successful 20 years and were the past to look connected signifier for the Back To The Beginning performance connected 5 July.
Following his death, Metallica posted a photograph connected X of the set with Osbourne, on with a breached bosom emoji.
Ronnie Wood, of The Rolling Stones, wrote: "I americium truthful precise bittersweet to perceive of the decease of Ozzy Osbourne. What a beauteous goodbye performance helium had astatine Back To The Beginning successful Birmingham."
Black Sabbath's relationship connected X posted a photograph of Osbourne from the gig with the caption: "Ozzy Forever!"
And Ali Campbell, vocalist with Birmingham set UB40, wrote: "Rest In Peace Ozzy. The Prince of Darkness. A existent Birmingham legend. The undisputed king of dense metal. You didn't conscionable signifier a culture, you defined it. You led from the beforehand and ne'er looked back. My thoughts are with Sharon and the full Osbourne household during this time."
Sir Elton John described his "dear friend" arsenic a "huge trailblazer" who "secured his spot successful the pantheon of stone gods".
"He was besides 1 of the funniest radical I've ever met," the vocalist besides wrote connected Instagram.
Born John Michael Osbourne connected 3 December 1948 successful Aston, Birmingham, helium became known arsenic the godfather of dense metal.
The self-styled Prince of Darkness pioneered the euphony genre with Black Sabbath earlier going connected to person immense occurrence successful his ain right. He was celebrated for hits including Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train and Changes, some with the set and arsenic a solo star.
Black Sabbath's eponymous debut medium successful 1970 made the UK apical 10 and paved the mode for a drawstring of tracks.
They went connected to go 1 of the astir influential and palmy metallic bands of each time, selling much than 75 cardinal albums worldwide.
The vocalist besides recovered a antithetic benignant of fame acknowledgment to noughties MTV world amusement The Osbournes, which followed the Birmingham-raised star's somewhat chaotic beingness successful Los Angeles with woman Sharon and 2 of their children, Kelly and Jack.
And helium was besides known for the celebrated anecdotes of hellraising during his stone prima heyday - astir infamously, the communicative of however helium spot the caput disconnected a bat portion connected stage.
Black Sabbath fired Osbourne successful 1979 for his legendary excesses, similar showing up precocious for rehearsals and missing gigs.
"We knew we didn't truly person a prime but to sack him due to the fact that helium was conscionable truthful retired of control. But we were each precise down astir the situation," wrote bassist Terry "Geezer" Butler successful his memoir Into The Void.
Osbourne re-emerged the adjacent twelvemonth arsenic a solo creator with his medium Blizzard of Ozz. In 1981, helium released his 2nd medium Diary Of A Madman - some were hard stone classics that went multiplatinum.
He had Parkinson's illness and had suffered different wellness problems successful caller years, including complications from injuries sustained successful a autumn successful 2019.
After being forced to cancel circuit shows, helium made a one-off surprise quality connected signifier successful Birmingham to adjacent the Commonwealth Games successful 2022. The Villa Park gig was announced earlier this twelvemonth by Sharon, who said helium was determined to springiness fans the "perfect farewell".
Read much amusement news:
Christina Aguilera connected bringing Burlesque to the stage
Harry Potter prima talks astir JK Rowling's trans stance
During his career, Osbourne was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame - doubly for both, with Black Sabbath and arsenic a solo artist.
He besides has a prima connected the Hollywood Walk Of Fame - arsenic good arsenic successful Birmingham's Broad Street - an Ivor Novello, and 5 Grammy wins from 12 nominations.
Plus, helium received different honours specified arsenic the NME's Godlike Genius award, and Classic Rock's Living Legend prize, implicit the years.
Osbourne leaves down his wife, Sharon, and their children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, arsenic good his 2 older children, Jessica and Louis, from his archetypal matrimony to Thelma Riley, and grandchildren.
English (US) ·