“I’m just a dreamer, I dream my life away” — “Dreamer” (Ozzy Osbourne, 2001)
I’m still catching my breath. I can’t believe that Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocalist for Black Sabbath, bat-biter, reality TV mainstay – died on July 22 of Parkinson’s disease. He was 76.
Fans will choose to remember Ozzy in his final moment of glory, one last performance with Black Sabbath in its original line-up.
His Final Bow
On July 5th, Ozzy and the rest of BS played to an audience of over 40,000 rabid fans at Villa Park Stadium in Ozzy’s hometown of Birmingham, England. Close to 6 million viewers around the world streamed the Black Sabbath “Back to the Beginning” farewell show. Ozzy made a point of giving back to the city of his birth. The Villa Park concert was no exception; it was a charity fundraiser that netted over $200 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, according to Billboard. The event was a massive success.
Only 17 Days Later
17 days after the concert, Ozzy slipped his mortal bonds. His family noted the sad event: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away… He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Before Ozzy, There was…John Michael?
Yup. John Michael Osbourne was born in December 1948 in Marston Green near Birmingham. He rose from blue-collar roots to become the voice of doom-laden anthems like “Paranoid” and “Iron Man”. He co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968 and played a defining role in the development of heavy metal — a gritty blend of blues, darkness, and monster riffs.
Music took a back seat to Ozzy’s off-stage theatrics: the bat-biting stunt, the substance scandals, MTV’s The Osbournes, addiction, quad-bike injuries, spinal surgeries, and, finally, alas, Parkinson’s.
He sold over 100 million albums (solo + Sabbath) and earned double Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions — once with Sabbath (2006) and again solo (2024).
His success was undeniable, but not everyone was enamored of the man or his music. Rock critic Robert Christgau described Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut as: “The worst of the counterculture on a plastic platter – bullshit necromancy, drug-impaired reaction time, long solos, everything.”
The Stars Come Out to Pay Their Respects
As news of Ozzy’s death spread, tributes poured in from music industry peers such as Metallica, Elton John, and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones.
Fans on Reddit summed it up best: “He held on to go out on top… He finished his final show. His work on earth was truly done. Long live the Prince of Darkness.”
Osbourne leaves behind six children—Kelly, Jack, Aimee, Jessica, Louis—and his wife, Sharon.
The Villa Park concert is slated to be released as a film (Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow, scheduled for early 2026), and more money will be raised for charity. Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit: for a guy whose nickname was “The Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne spread a lot of light in the world.
Rock on, Iron Man.
