Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and icon of British heavy metal, dies aged 76

[6Foot2]

Link: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and icon of British heavy metal, dies aged 76 | Ozzy Osbourne | The Guardian

 

Quote

Ozzy Osbourne, whose gleeful “Prince of Darkness” image made him one of the most iconic rock frontmen of all time, has died aged 76.

 

A statement from the Osbourne family reads: “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.” No cause of death was given, though Osbourne had experienced various forms of ill health in recent years.

 

Osbourne was one of the most notorious figures in rock: an innovator whose eerie wail helped usher in heavy metal, a showman who once bit the head off a bat on stage, an addict whose substance abuse led him to attempt to murder his wife, and latterly, a reality TV star much loved for his bemusement at family life on The Osbournes.

 

His death comes less than three weeks after his retirement from performance. On 5 July, Osbourne reunited with his original bandmates in the pioneering group Black Sabbath for the first time since 2005, for Back to the Beginning: an all-star farewell concert featuring some of the biggest names in metal. “I’ve been laid up for six years, and you’ve got no idea how I feel,” he told the crowd that night, referring to extensive health issues including a form of Parkinson’s and numerous surgeries on his spine. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”...

 

[tom_newton]

An absolute legend - never really took to much of his solo stuff despite "crazy train" being a favourite, but his voice absolutely defined Sabbath... so many good tracks. Just unbelievable. Out on a high note.

[DalekSec]

This has hit me hard, Ozzy's music defined a lot of my teenage years, along with my depression era.

 

Blasting out Sabbath and Ozzy this morning in the office while wearing metal t shirts (music not the material). 🤘

[MartinT]

Was sad to hear about this.  I first saw Sabbath in 1975 and, while never being a metal head, they have always had a place in my heart.

 

Ozzy was a force of nature.

[Dos_Box]

Very sad, Ozzy was a huge part of my youth, and, TBH I'm impressed he made it this far.
He's left a very big mark in rock music history and I'll be raising a glass to him tonight.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I always kind of expected Ozzy to go on forever, but all things come to an end sooner or later.

His influence on music will outlast us all though!

 

Farewell, Ozzy!  

[Slarty66]

Sad but with his lifestyle I was amazed he reached 76!!

I was lucky to see him perform at the OzzFest 1998 at Milton Keynes with his band and Black Sabbath 

 

 

Only regret is I didn't go to the first Blizzard of Oz gig in Glasgow 1980, I turned down going...doh!

R.I.P.