'King of Heavy Metal' Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76

Active as an Original Member of Black Sabbath
Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2019

Ozzy Osbourne, known as the 'King of Heavy Metal,' who had been suffering from Parkinson's disease, passed away at the age of 76 on the 22nd (local time).

'The King of Heavy Metal,' Ozzy Osbourne, passed away at the age of 76 on the 22nd (local time). Photo by AP News

According to the BBC, Osbourne's family said, "Our beloved Osbourne passed away this morning," adding, "He was surrounded by love with his family." The bereaved family described his passing as "an indescribable sadness" and requested, "Please respect the family's privacy during this time."

Born in Birmingham, England in 1948, Osbourne was a founding member of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath in 1969. According to AP News, Black Sabbath's self-written debut album is compared to the Big Bang of heavy metal. Their music, filled with loud and densely packed rage, shook up hippie culture and marked a turning point in rock and roll.

The song "Paranoid," included in the band's second album, reached number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but in many ways became the band's signature song. Both albums were ranked among the top ten greatest heavy metal albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine readers.

Black Sabbath dismissed Osbourne in 1979 after he repeatedly exhibited inexplicable behavior, such as showing up late to rehearsals or missing performances. The following year, Osbourne reemerged as a solo artist, releasing songs that have remained beloved by fans, including "Crazy Train," "Goodbye to Romance," "Flying High Again," and "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll."

He released a total of 13 studio albums and 5 live albums through 2022, including his debut album "Blizzard of Ozz," which featured "Mr. Crowley." Even during his solo career, his bizarre behavior continued; in 1981, he caused controversy by biting the head off a live bat thrown onto the stage by a fan during a concert.

Osbourne also gained popularity through the family reality show "The Osbournes," which aired on the American cable channel MTV.

He was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2006, respectively, as a member of Black Sabbath, and last year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a solo artist. In 2014, he also performed in Seoul.

Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, and as his symptoms recently worsened, he became unable to walk on his own. For this reason, at his farewell concert held at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on July 4, he sang while seated on a black throne placed at the center of the stage. At the farewell concert, all original members of Black Sabbath performed together on stage for the first time in 20 years.

In a pre-concert interview at the time, Osbourne said, "Today is a farewell as a performer," adding, "I couldn't imagine a better way to say goodbye."