Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at 76 years old, it was announced Tuesday.
The legendary rocker, who was recently touted with an all-star celebration in his hometown of Birmingham, England, left an indellible impression on the world of Rock N Roll, crossing all ages and types of music fans.
Osbourne’s family released a statement to The Sun that the rocker was “surrounded by love” at the time of his passing. “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… We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
It was revealed in January of 2020 that Osbourne was suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
With Geezer Butler Osbourne founded the band Rare Breed, which featured Osbourne as frontman and in 1967 he was a co-founder of Black Sabbath, the leader in the heavy metal genre. After he left Black Sabbath he released albums on his own, featuring well-known hits like “Mama I’m Coming Home” and “Crazy Train.”
Osbourne developed a reputation as a wildman after allegedly biting the head off a live bat in the early 1980s. But he is much more than an outrageous showman. In the book “I Am Ozzy,” which was released in 2009, the prolific rock star tells of his youth and his impressive musical career.
Ozzy, Sharon and his family had a surprisingly popular stint on TV with the show “The Osbournes,” which grabbed the viewers’ collective attention and was one of the first shows to depict the real day-to-day life of a celebrity in their home. The show lasted from 2002-2005.
Osbourne is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has sold millions of records worldwide.