The world has lost a true mensch. He was the godfather of heavy metal, the ‘prince of darkness’, demon-invoking lead singer of Black Sabbath. But Ozzy Osbourne was more than his music. He was a true friend of Israel, an antisemitism warrior. Osbourne may have been raised in the Church of England, but his marriage to Sharon Osbourne (née Levy), put Judaism at the heart of the home for the pair and their family.
Ozzy, born John Michael Osbourne, died surrounded by his family, just three weeks after his farewell concert, Back to the Beginning. The musician was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020. In a statement released by his loved ones, the family asked for privacy as they grieve their loss.
“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,” the statement said. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
On their Instagram page, Black Sabbath shared a photo of Osbourne, captioning it simply with ‘Ozzy forever’.
There has been an outpouring of grief from those in the metal and broader music world, including Elton John who posted on social media, describing his friend as “a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend”.
In a documentary about his life, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, the musician admitted that it was the Beatles who made him realise that he was going to be a rock star, crediting She Loves You with inspiring him to become a musician. But perhaps it was his father who foreshadowed his success. When Osbourne left school at 15, he recalled his father saying to him when he was young: “I’ve got a feeling about you, John Michael Osbourne. You’re either going to do something special or you’re going to go to prison”.
Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at the age of 76. I still can't believe it.
A few weeks ago he was giving his final concert. I hope you came home, Ozzy ❤️pic.twitter.com/XLcxWz4MqC
— ???? Rock History ???? (@historyrock_) July 22, 2025
And while he did end up in prison at one stage, he did indeed also do something special.
He began his music career in 1967, joining Rare Breed, a band formed by Geezer Butler. While Rare Breed only played two songs before disbanding, Butler and Osbourne remained bandmates, recruiting Tony Iommi and Bill Ward to form Polka Tulk Blues, before renaming themselves Earth. However, as the hilarious story goes, they were accidentally booked for a show instead of a different band with the same name.
And so, they became Black Sabbath.
Black Sabbath was highly influential in the development of heavy metal music, with Osbourne providing lead vocals from their eponymous debut studio album in 1970 to Never Say Die! in 1978. Their breakthrough came with their self-titled debut album in 1970, followed by the critically acclaimed Paranoid (1970), which solidified their place in rock history.
The classic lineup released eight studio albums, considered by many as their most fundamental output. These albums established the dark, heavy sound that would define heavy metal for decades to come.
Osbourne’s career was not without controversy. Not only was he often the target of many parent groups due to his dark and frightening imagery – he once caused a big uproar for biting the head off a bat.
In 1979, Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath largely for unreliability due to substance abuse. While all band members struggled with drugs, Osbourne’s usage had become particularly problematic for the band’s functioning.
However, this setback became the launching pad for his solo career. In 1980, he released Blizzard of Ozz, his solo debut recorded with established musicians including former Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads. The album became one of the best-selling albums of the decade establishing Osbourne as a successful solo artist and cementing his status as the prince of darkness in rock music.
But, behind it all, Osbourne was, at his heart, a doting father and a loving family man, dedicated to those he loved, including his wife’s religion.
In an interview with The Jewish Chronicle last year, Sharon Osbourne recalled her husband’s fondness for Judaism, saying he wanted to understand all the hate that many Jews face and noting that the rocker was confused as to why antisemitism was so rife.
Ozzy played in Israel several times. His first show was headlining Ozzfest in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park, prior to which Ozzy and Sharon spent a day visiting Jerusalem’s Old City, the Kotel and Yad Vashem. Eight years later, the musician was back again on his No More Tours 2 farewell tour, performing in Rishon LeZion.
More than this though, Ozzy was a fierce defender of Israel and the Jewish people. In 2025, he and Sharon joined more than 200 figures in the entertainment and business world, signing an open letter demanding an inquiry into “systematic bias against Israel” at the BBC.
He also came out against Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) for using an unauthorised Black Sabbath sample on a new song. On X, Osbourne refused to grant the rapper permission because of his antisemitic views.
“@KANYEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF “IRON MAN” FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY,” he wrote. “HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!”
Osbourne has sold more than 100 million albums with Black Sabbath and through his solo work. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – first as a member of Black Sabbath and then again as a solo artist in 2024. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His voice stood out from all the others, and his energy levels were definitely something else.
When looking back at his career in 2008, he acknowledged his differences. “Nobody else in the world f***ing sounds like me,” he said. Indeed, his vocal range and skill were what made Black Sabbath and Ozzy so successful.
Following his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, Osbourne was often seen walking with assistance from his family members, and at times with a cane.
In July 2025, Black Sabbath reunited for the first time in 20 years for what Osbourne said would be his final concert. “Let the madness begin!” he told 42,000 fans, before paying tribute to his supporters, especially those who had supported him from the beginning.
“I don’t know what to say, man. I’ve been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Osbourne said. “You’re all … special. Let’s go crazy, come on.”
The world may have known Ozzy as a rock star, but he was also a straight-talking, no-nonsense, and all-round charismatic guy, who fought for what was right.
Osbourne is survived by his wife and children.
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