Ozzy Osbourne has died, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He took to the stage for the final time earlier this month.
His family shared a statement. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with family and surrounded by love.”
Black Sabbath, which was formed by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ozzy Osbourne in 1968, took the blues-rock style of many bands of the late 1960s, slowed the tempos, tuned the guitars down, and injected dark themes into the lyrics.
As a result, they planted a seed that would later grow into heavy metal. Today, many subgenres, including doom metal, sludge metal, and stoner metal, build upon the sound Sabbath laid down with their first three albums.
Ozzy Osbourne’s substance abuse issues, forced him to leave the Black Sabbath in 1979. He then embarked on a solo career.
Osbourne released his debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz. It was the first of many commercially successful releases. Over the next four decades, he released 13 studio albums. His final LP, Patient Number 9, was released in 2022.
Osbourne reunited with black Sabbath in 2013 to record their 13th Album. The band had floated the idea of recording one more album with the original lineup after the massive success of their reunion concert.
