Ozzy Osbourne, renowned figure in heavy metal music, passed away from a heart attack, according to his death certificate.
Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic heavy metal vocalist and cultural icon, passed away at the age of 76 on 22 July, surrounded by his family. The news sent shockwaves through the music world, with fans and fellow musicians alike mourning the loss of a true legend.
Osbourne, often referred to as the "Prince of Darkness," made his mark as the original frontman for Black Sabbath, a band formed in 1968 that is widely credited with inventing heavy metal. Alongside bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Osbourne helped create a new musical style characterized by ominous guitar riffs, slow tempos, and occult or socially critical lyrics, which became foundational for heavy metal.
His distinctive, haunting vocal style and his stage presence were instrumental in shaping heavy metal's identity, influencing countless artists and making the genre a powerful medium to explore darker themes like mortality, addiction, rebellion, and social anxieties. Ozzy's work with Black Sabbath, especially on seminal albums Black Sabbath (1970) and Paranoid (1970), introduced classics such as "Iron Man," "Paranoid," and "War Pigs," which remain iconic tracks within the genre and rock music in general.
Notable achievements in Ozzy Osbourne's career include being the original frontman and co-founder of Black Sabbath, releasing influential albums with the band, launching a successful solo career featuring hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley," earning two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist—and becoming known as the "Prince of Darkness," a cultural icon whose persona and music pushed artistic boundaries and challenged societal norms.
Ozzy's influence extended beyond heavy metal, inspiring artists in punk, grunge, hip hop, and pop, illustrating the broad reach of his creative impact. Thousands of fans lined the streets of Birmingham to pay their respects as Ozzy Osbourne's funeral cortege passed through the city on 30 July.
The death certificate confirms that Ozzy Osbourne died due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction. Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2003.
Black Sabbath's 1969 self-titled debut LP is often compared to the Big Bang of heavy metal, and the song "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath became the band's signature song and was voted among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. The original Sabbath line-up reunited for the first time in 20 years in July 2025 in the UK.
Ozzy Osbourne's final concert was in 2025, where he said, "Let the madness begin!" to 42,000 fans. His funeral took place in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Phil Anselmo, the Pantera singer, stated that he wouldn't be up on stage without Black Sabbath, highlighting the lasting impact that Ozzy Osbourne and his band had on the music industry.
Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne. Your music and your legacy will live on.
Celebrities from the world of music and pop-culture paid their respects to Ozzy Osbourne upon hearing about his passing, recognizing his influence on numerous artists across various genres. The death of the heavy metal icon brought attention to his groundbreaking work with Black Sabbath, a band that invented heavy metal and created a new style characterized by dark, socially critical lyrics, ominous guitar riffs, and slow tempos.
