Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne dead aged 76

AFP | London

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Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of heavy metal group Black Sabbath, died on Tuesday at the age of 76, his family said, just weeks after he gave an epic farewell concert.

The hell-raising singer, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, passed away just over a fortnight after playing a final gig before a sold-out crowd in his home city of Birmingham, England.

“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” said a family statement.

“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Tributes poured in for the notorious figure nicknamed the “Prince of Darkness”, who once bit off the head of a bat while on stage.

His original bandmates posted tributes on social media, with guitarist Tony Iommi saying, “there won’t be another like him”, and bassist Geezer Butler saying “So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”

Drummer Bill Ward said Osbourne would forever be in his heart and signed off his post with “Never goodbye. Thank you forever”. Music icon Elton John praised Osbourne as “a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods -– a true legend”.

“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly,” John wrote on Instagram. Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood said he was “very sad” to learn of Osbourne’s death.

Osbourne was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal -- an offshoot of hard rock -- as Black Sabbath enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1970s and 80s after forming in Birmingham in 1968.

Black Sabbath’s eponymous 1970 debut album made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records, including their most famous song “Paranoid”.

“It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. A great escape,” Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready posted on X. “Thanks for the music, Ozzy it makes our journey in life better.”