2. Helen Bushby
3. Culture reporter
4. Image source, Getty Images
5. Although he was known as the wild frontman of Black Sabbath, many fans also got to know him through MTV reality TV show The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005.
6. The Birmingham-born star had relocated from the UK to the US and the fly-on-the wall showed his family life with his wife, Sharon, alongside their children, Jack and Kelly.
7. It included a lot of colourful language, laughing and small dogs, and it became a cult hit, and won a Primetime Emmy.
8. It simply showed the family eating, pottering around their house and being themselves – and audiences loved them for it. It also showed just how popular reality TV could be.
11. Ozzy Osbourne is renowned for energetic lives shows. here are some striking pictures of the heavy metal frontman in action over the decades.
12. Image source, Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns/Getty Images
13. Image caption,
14. The full Black Sabbath line up performing in Amsterdam in 1971
15. Image source, Michael Putland/Getty Images
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17. The band’s live shows were rarely boring, with high-energy Osbourne known for entertaining crowds with his antics
18. Image source, Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images
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20. Osbourne was known for his trademark long hair, eyeliner and intense facial expressions – like this classic 1997 example
21. Image source, Ireland/Classic Rock Magazine/Future via Getty Images
22. Image caption,
23. He once again fronted the band to headline Download music festival in 2012
24. Image source, Getty Images
25. Image caption,
26. Ozzy kept audiences entertained in the weeks before his death, at a Black Sabbath reunion on 5 July in Birmingham
29. Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood says he is “so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne”.
30. “What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back to the Beginning in Birmingham.”
31. As we’ve reported, Osbourne performed his final gig in his hometown on 5 July.
32. Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne are coming in thick and fast, stay with us for the latest.
35. Image source, Getty Images
36. Image caption,
37. Osbourne performs in with Black Sabbath in August 1978
38. Alongside his musical output, Ozzy Osbourne was famed as one of rock’s wildest frontmen.
39. In a crowded field, he stood out for his extravagant stage persona and willingness to push the envelope – particularly where it concerned wild stunts and the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
40. At a 1982 concert he infamously bit the head off a bat, something he claimed he did as he thought it was a toy and which he had to receive a rabies shot for.
41. Despite his wild ways, he managed to outlive many of his 1970s rock contemporaries – enjoying a number of career revivals. He was sober from 2006 onwards.
44. Ali Campbell from another Birmingham band, UB40, says Osbourne was a “true Birmingham legend”.
45. In an Instagram post, external paying tribute to the Black Sabbath frontman, Campbell said: “You didn’t just shape a culture, you defined it. You led from the front and never looked back.”
46. He added: “My thoughts are with Sharon and the entire Osbourne family during this time.”
49. Image source, Metallica/X
50. US heavy metal band Metallica have posted a photograph, external on their social media account in tribute to Osbourne.
51. The photograph shows the band with Osbourne, captioned with a broken heart emoji.
54. Helen Bushby
55. Culture reporter
56. The Black Sabbath star went out in style at his final live performance, but the singer, who had Parkinson’s disease, remained seated throughout.
57. BBC reporter Ian Youngs said his voice “wavered a bit but still packed a fair punch”.
58. After playing five songs from his solo career, he was joined by his Sabbath bandmates – guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward – for four more, finishing with 1970 classic Paranoid.
59. “Are you ready? Let the madness begin,” he called, clearly revelling in the moment.
60. “It’s so good to be on this stage. You have no idea,” he told the crowd, who responded by chanting his name.
63. Media caption,
64. Ozzy Osbourne leads Black Sabbath singalong at final gig
65. Ozzy Osbourne, also known as the Prince of Darkness, performed his final concert with Black Sabbath for the first time in 20 years on 5 July.
66. The band’s final gig was hosted at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, where Osbourne hails from.
67. Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before forming several bands with school friend Geezer Butler.
68. The band performed a string of their hits for 40,000 people in the stadium and millions on a livestream. They were joined on stage by a string of rock royalty, including Billy Corgan, Steven Tyler, Tom Morello, Ronnie Wood and Yungblud.
69. Their final performance raised £140m for charity, according to the event’s musical director Tom Morello.
70. A concert film celebrating the legacy of Osbourne and Black Sabbath is set to be released in 2026.
73. We can now bring you more details of a statement released by Osbourne’s family announcing his death.

Quote Message

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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Osbourne family

3. Image source, PA Media
4. Image caption,
5. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne pictured together in 2007 at an awards ceremony
6. Ozzy Osbourne was a music icon, who rose to prominence as founding member and lead singer of Black Sabbath in 1968.
7. The band were pioneers in the heavy metal genre of music, writing classic tracks like Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.
8. After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979 over rising tensions with its other members, Osbourne had a lengthy solo music career releasing more than a dozen albums. His debut single released the next year, Crazy Train, is arguably one of his most famous songs.
9. The Birmingham-born performer was known for energetic and controversial live shows, including the time he mistakenly bit the head off a bat which the singer thought was rubber in a 1982 show.
10. By the early 2000s, Osbourne and his family would become reality TV stars after launching the Osbournes.
11. The programme, which also included his wife Sharon, their daughter Kelly and son Jack, showcased their chaotic lives in Los Angeles.
14. Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, his family has announced.
15. A statement said: “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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
16. We’ll bring you more on this breaking news story – stick with us.