Ozzy Osbourne's Legacy: A Farewell to the Prince of Darkness
The world lost a true rock icon yesterday, July 22, 2025, when Ozzy Osbourne passed away at 76, just weeks after his final Black Sabbath performance. Surrounded by his family, Ozzy left us with a legacy that’s as wild and enduring as the man himself. His family shared a heartfelt statement: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.” No official cause of death was given, but Ozzy had been open about his battle with Parkinson’s disease since 2019, which made his last show even more monumental.
That final concert, “Back to the Beginning,” took place on July 5 in Birmingham, England—Black Sabbath’s hometown. Picture this: 45,000 fans packed into Villa Park, millions more streaming online, and Ozzy, frail but fierce, singing from a bat-adorned throne. The 10-hour charity event was a love letter to his career, with Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Yungblud rocking the stage alongside him. It raised funds for causes like Cure Parkinson’s, and a film, Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow, is coming in 2026. What a way to go out—pure Ozzy, larger than life.
The tributes pouring in show just how much he meant to music. Elton John, who worked with Ozzy on “Ordinary Man,” called him “a dear friend and a true legend” who was “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.” His Black Sabbath bandmates—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—were gutted, with Iommi saying, “We’ve lost our brother.” Metallica posted a broken heart emoji with Ozzy’s picture, and Aerosmith called him “our brother in rock.” Yungblud, who got a cross necklace from Ozzy at the farewell show, wrote, “You were the greatest of all time.” Even Adam Sandler, from their Little Nicky days, chimed in, calling him the “prince of darkness” with love.
Ozzy’s story is the stuff of legend. He helped invent heavy metal with Black Sabbath’s dark, heavy sound on albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality. Then, as a solo artist, he gave us Blizzard of Ozz and No More Tears, selling over 100 million records and snagging Grammys along the way. His voice—raw, haunting, and unmistakable—could shake you to your core. But it wasn’t just the music. Ozzy was a character: biting heads off bats (accidentally or not), surviving wild antics, and charming us on The Osbournes with his chaotic family life. He was the guy who made heavy metal feel like home for millions.
Fans are leaving flowers at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and social media is flooded with stories of how Ozzy’s music got people through tough times. Alice Cooper called him an “unmatched showman,” and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready said “War Pigs” took him to “a dark universe” that shaped his own music. Jason Momoa, who hosted the farewell concert, said meeting Ozzy was a highlight of his life. It’s clear Ozzy wasn’t just a rock star—he was a cultural force, a rebel with a heart.
As we say goodbye, Ozzy’s music and spirit live on. Whether you’re blasting “Crazy Train” or rewatching The Osbournes, he’s still out there, somewhere, raising hell and making us smile. Rest in peace, Ozzy—you’ll always be the Prince of Darkness.