Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal icon, died on July 22, 2025, at age 76 at his family home in Buckinghamshire, England. An air ambulance was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at the scene, according to Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
The helicopter arrived at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time at the family residence near Chalfont St Giles and spent two hours providing care before departing at 12:30 p.m. Medical personnel attempted to save the rock legend, but he passed away surrounded by his family. His death was not referred to the county coroner.
The Osbourne family announced his death in a statement on July 22. “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,” the statement read. The family requested privacy during this difficult time, with the message signed by wife Sharon and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.
Osbourne’s death came just 17 days after his final performance with Black Sabbath on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. The farewell concert, titled “Back to the Beginning,” marked the band’s first reunion in two decades and featured performances by Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. During the show, Osbourne performed from a throne due to mobility issues, telling the 42,000 fans in attendance about his gratitude for their support.
The rock legend had been battling Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2003, though he did not publicly reveal the condition until January 2020. His health had deteriorated significantly following a fall in 2019 that dislodged metal rods previously placed in his spine after a 2003 ATV accident. The neurodegenerative disorder affected his mobility and required him to use mobility aids in recent years.
While Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal, medical experts note it can lead to life-threatening complications. Aspiration pneumonia accounts for 70 percent of deaths among Parkinson’s patients. The condition makes swallowing difficult, increasing the risk of bacteria entering the lungs. Other potentially fatal complications include blood clots, malnutrition, sepsis from pressure ulcers, and injuries from falls.
Osbourne had openly discussed his health struggles in recent interviews. In September 2023, he described the previous five years as absolute hell for him and his family. He also mentioned experiencing blood pressure issues and blood clots in his legs, which prevented him from performing his typical energetic stage shows.
The musician’s daughter, Kelly, broke her silence on July 24, posting on social media using lyrics from the Black Sabbath song “Changes.” She wrote that she felt sad, indicating she had “lost the best friend I ever had.” Kelly and her father had previously performed this song together in 2003.
Jack Osbourne’s ex-wife Lisa Stelly also paid tribute, sharing photographs of Osbourne with his grandchildren on social media. She described him as larger than life and expressed how much they would miss him, noting that while the world knew him as Ozzy, the family knew him as “Papa.”
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, he became known as the godfather of heavy metal. He rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, whose 1970 self-titled debut album and follow-up “Paranoid” helped establish the heavy metal genre. The band sold more than 75 million albums worldwide and became one of the most influential metal acts in history.
After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse issues, Osbourne launched a successful solo career with albums “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman.” He later found renewed fame through the MTV reality series “The Osbournes,” which followed his family life in Los Angeles with his wife, Sharon, and their children, Kelly and Jack.
Throughout his career, Osbourne received numerous accolades, including induction into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist. He won five Grammy Awards from 12 nominations and received a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham’s Broad Street.
Osbourne and Sharon moved back to England in 2023, fulfilling Sharon’s longtime desire to return home. A source indicated that Ozzy’s final days were spent peacefully, surrounded by family and music in the place he called home. The couple had been together since 1982, and Sharon had been instrumental in managing his career after taking over from her father.
Tributes poured in from across the music industry following news of his death. Sir Elton John described him as a dear friend and huge trailblazer who secured his place among rock gods. Metallica, who performed at his farewell concert, posted a tribute on social media with a broken heart emoji.
