Shocking news from the music world as the legendary front man of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne has died. The announcement from Osbourne's family comes mere weeks after his farewell show in which he performed, seated, with his Black Sabbath bandmates and in a solo set.
The 76-year old Osbourne has been battling health issues for a few years and had stopped performing live up until the massive farewell show in his hometown of Birmingham, England. It was show put together with performances from some of his favourite acts, including Metallica and Guns'n'Roses, and was meant to be a "final bow" for the aging heavy metal icon.
In a statement, his family 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."
Osbourne and his Black Sabbath mates were pioneers of the heavy metal genre, literally launching every band from Judas Priest to Metallica and beyond in the heavy genres of rock music.
A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - with Sabbath and his solo career - Osbourne relaunched his career after being booted from Black Sabbath in 1979.
He became one of metal's biggest stars in the 80s before finding even more success on reality TV of all things. "The Osbourne's" on MTV became one of television's surprise hits in the 90s and 2000s, following Ozzy, his wife Sharon and their two kids Jack and Kelly in their seemingly chaotic Los Angeles home.
He had Parkinson's disease and had suffered other health problems in recent years, including complications from injuries sustained in a fall in 2019.
In addition to Sharon, Kelly and Jack, he has a daughter Aimee as well his two older children, Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.