The metal world has fallen into a moment of silence. Ozzy Osbourne, the trailblazing, award-winning vocalist of Black Sabbath and icon of the metal genre, has passed away at the age of 76. At this time, there haven’t been any reports surrounding his cause of death.

According to CNN, his family released a statement regarding his death.

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

Called by millions as “The Prince of Darkness,” he was more than just a titan of heavy metal. He was one of, if not, the forefather of metal itself. Without the creation of Black Sabbath, their 1970 self-titled album, songs like “Paranoid”, “Iron Man” and “War Pigs”, and influencing millions with their extraordinary, musical sound, the popular music genre may not have existed. His inspiration on the metal community couldn’t be understated.

Despite being fired from the band in 1979, due to his excessive drinking and drug problems, Osbourne returned to the metal scene in 1980 as a solo artist; something that would rival Black Sabbath’s popularity. His solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz, received a five-time platinum certification in the United States, with such iconic songs such as “Crazy Train” that is still being played in football stadiums to this very day. As a vocalist, there wasn’t anything like him. His bellowing, guttural, bluesy singing is something that couldn’t be simply replicated.

In January 2020, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, Osbourne persisted, issuing two more solo albums in the 2020s with Ordinary Man and Patient Number 9. However, due to declining health, he announced his retirement from touring in February 2023.

On July 5th of this year, weeks before his passing, Osbourne reunited with his former Black Sabbath band-mates—Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Terence “Geezer” Butler—in a farewell show for attending metal fans at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England. According to Metal Injection, this event was part of the “Back to the Beginning” concert; a 10-hour metal marathon made to honor Osbourne’s historical career comprised of following acts like Guns N’ Roses, Metallica and Slayer. It was also a benefit concert medical organizations such as Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice. According to The Guardian, the show itself accrued more than five million streaming viewers worldwide.

Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy lives on through his wife, Sharon, his children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, including his older children from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, Elliot, Jessica and Louis.

Photography Credit: Ross Halfin