British heavy metal singer, frontman of Black Sabbath and famously known as the 'Prince of Darkness,' Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76.

 

• Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died in the UK at the age of 76

• Black Sabbath have "lost our brother", says the band's co-founder Tony Iommi, while bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler remembered their final gig and drummer Bill Ward shared a photo of them together

• Osbourne's death comes just weeks after the band played their farewell gig in his home city of Birmingham

• Queen's Brian May, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Metallica, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood and Yungblud all pay tribute

• Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2019, was known for energetic and controversial live shows - while many fans also got to know him through reality TV show The Osbournes

We are now pausing our live coverage of tributes to Ozzy Osbourne. If you're just joining us, here's a recap:

• Osbourne, the lead singer of heavy metal group Black Sabbath, has died in the UK at the age of 76
• His family announced the news, saying: "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."
• Tributes have poured in, including from other members of Black Sabbath. The band posted a photo of Osbourne with the caption "Ozzy forever"

• Other celebrities - like Elton John, David Beckham, and Rod Stewart - also paid their respects
• Osbourne has been vocal about his struggle with Parkinson's disease since 2019, and he played a farewell concert with Black Sabbath earlier this month

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Some Black Sabbath fans got commemorative tattoos after the band's final show in Birmingham this month.

40,000 fans turned out at the venue in Birmingham, which saw Ozzy singing with his fellow founding fathers of heavy metal while seated on a black throne.

"You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

At his farewell concert earlier this month, Osbourne received a video message from celebrity friend Dolly Parton. The decorated country star celebrated the metal singer's final show, saying "I love you".

"Are we supposed to be seeing farewell to you? Well, I don't think that's gonna happen. Why don't we just say good luck, god bless you and we will see you somewhere down the road," she said.

She added that she's going to miss him on stage, but "I wouldn't be surprised if you don't show up somewhere else — and I'll be there".

Aerosmith: Osbourne 'changed music forever.'published at 09:07

09:07

More condolences are coming in from musicians inspired by Ozzy Osbourne.

American rock band Aerosmith calls him "our brother in rock", saying he "changed music forever."

"From Black Sabbath to his solo work, Ozzy redefined what it meant to be heavy," the band has written on X. "He did it all with heart, grit, and that wild spirit only he could bring.

"Our love goes out to Sharon, his family, his band, and the millions around the world who felt his fire."

He performed 'like he promised' while 'close to death', says Sammy Hagarpublished at 08:43

08:43

Sammy Hagar, the lead vocalist of Van Halen, has paid tribute to Osbourne on social media.

Hagar played at the farewell concert for Osbourne earlier this month.

Posting on Instagram, Hagar says Osbourne "was and will always be a one of a kind true rock legend."

"For him to have been that close to death on July 5 and still get up there and perform like he promised... Wow! That puts him in a category of his own."

"Talk about commitment and loyalty to your fans. Nobody's going to out-do that ever!" he adds. "RIP my brother, you did it all."

Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and six children, three from each of his two marriages.

Sharon, the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden, and Ozzy married in 1982 after the end of his first marriage to Thelma Riley.

But their marriage was at times tumultuous.

In 1989, Ozzy woke up in jail to be told he had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for strangling Sharon. He could not remember anything about it. She dropped the charges.

Sharon attempted to help Ozzy control his intake of alcohol and drugs. There were periods when he appeared to have quit those addictions - though he often fell off the wagon.

"If it wasn't for Sharon," he told writer Bryan Appleyard, "I'd be long dead."

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