Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness” and iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at age 76, his family announced on Friday, February 9, 2024. The news prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the music world.
Osbourne passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles,California,surrounded by his wife,Sharon,and family,following a recent bout of pneumonia. Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1947, in Aston, Birmingham, England, he rose to fame with Black Sabbath, pioneering the heavy metal genre in the late 1960s and 1970s. The band, formed in 1968 with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, released seminal albums like Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971).
Following his departure from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne embarked on a accomplished solo career, releasing 13 studio albums, including Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and no More Tears (1991). He also starred in the reality television show The Osbournes (2002-2005) alongside his wife and children, Kelly and Jack, which garnered critical acclaim and a large audience.
Tributes have flooded social media from fellow musicians and fans alike. Coldplay performed a cover of Black sabbath’s “Changes” during a concert in Austin, Texas, as a tribute. French metal band Gojira dedicated their song “Flying Whales” to Osbourne and Black Sabbath during a performance in Silver Spring, maryland. former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee shared a touching final text message he received from the singer.
Fans have launched campaigns to honour Osbourne’s legacy, including petitions to rename Birmingham Airport as “Ozzy Osbourne International Airport” and to dedicate a stage at the Download Festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire, to the singer.The Change.org petition for the airport renaming has already surpassed 57,000 signatures.
In othre news, Rod Stewart recently performed in the legends slot at Glastonbury 2025 on June 22nd, joined by special guests Mick Hucknall (Simply Red), Lulu, and Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones). NME gave the performance a four-star review, praising Stewart’s vocal performance and stage presence despite a less energetic crowd than typically seen for the legends slot.
