Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath and beloved solo artist, has passed away at the age of 76.
According to reports from AP, BBC, and other foreign media on the 22nd (local time), Ozzy Osbourne's family released a statement saying, "Our beloved Ozzy passed away this morning surrounded by family and love."
The family added, "We are experiencing a sadness that cannot be expressed in words," and requested respect for their privacy during this time.
The exact cause of Ozzy Osbourne's death has not been disclosed. He had been hospitalized several times in recent years and revealed in 2020 that he was battling Parkinson's disease. His health reportedly deteriorated significantly, making it difficult for him to walk independently.
Ozzy Osbourne, hailing from Birmingham, England, is a legendary heavy metal rocker known as the 'Prince of Darkness.'
He was a founding member of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath, which formed in 1969. The song "Paranoid," from Black Sabbath's second album of the same name, gained significant attention, reaching number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains one of the band's signature songs.
Rolling Stone magazine announced that Black Sabbath's debut album and second album were ranked among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time, as chosen by readers. However, Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to erratic behavior, including being late for rehearsals and missing performances.
Afterward, he transitioned to a solo career, producing hits such as "Crazy Train," "Goodbye to Romance," "Flying High Again," and "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll."
Ozzy Osbourne continued to attract attention for his antics during his solo career. In 1981, during a concert, he gained notoriety for biting the head off a live bat thrown onto the stage by a fan.
He was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2024.
On the 4th, he held a farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, bidding his final goodbye to fans. All original members of Black Sabbath reunited on stage after 20 years, and Osbourne sang while seated on a black throne set up in the center of the stage.
In a pre-concert interview, he expressed, "Today is my final farewell as a performer," adding, "I don't think I could leave in a more magnificent way."
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
