Ozzy Osbourne died

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Ozzy Osbourne has passed away. The world has lost an icon. His family confirmed the news, though no further details have been shared. For many, his farewell concert last week already felt like a true goodbye from a legend.

Ozzy rose to fame as the unforgettable voice of Black Sabbath and became one of the most recognisable faces in rock music. But behind the image of the “Prince of Darkness” was a man of flesh and blood. A father, a husband, a fighter and a storyteller.

John Michael Osbourne was born in 1948 in the working-class neighbourhood of Aston in Birmingham. He grew up in a modest household with little money, but with a fierce spirit and a remarkable voice. As a teenager, he became obsessed with music, especially after hearing The Beatles. The idea that four boys from Liverpool could conquer the world sparked something in him. He decided he wanted that too. And he made it happen.

In the early seventies, together with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, he formed the band Black Sabbath. What began as a small local act quickly became a seismic shift in the music world. The heavy guitar riffs, the dark lyrics and the ominous atmosphere marked the birth of what we now call heavy metal. Ozzy’s voice wasn’t polished but raw, piercing and full of emotion, as if he were singing from a place where light and darkness battled for control.

After parting ways with Black Sabbath, he launched a solo career that embedded him even deeper into the hearts of rock fans. With albums like “Blizzard of Ozz” and “No More Tears”, he proved he could create something truly powerful on his own. Songs like “Crazy Train” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home” became instant classics. His shows were wild and often unpredictable. He once infamously bit the head off a bat on stage, a moment that would haunt and define him for years.

But behind the scandals, the chaos and the noise was a man who struggled. Ozzy always spoke openly about his battles with addiction. He knew the edge of the abyss, but kept coming back. Thanks to his own resilience, and thanks to the love of his wife Sharon. Their relationship endured its storms, but there was always a deep and unshakeable bond. Together they raised three children and built a life that may not have been easy, but was always genuine.

In the 2000s, a new audience got to know Ozzy through the reality show “The Osbournes”, where he appeared as a somewhat confused but endearing father and husband. He was funny, disarming and showed a completely different side of himself. No longer just the rock god, but also the man struggling with the coffee machine and chasing his dogs around the house.

He continued performing well into his later years, though his health became increasingly fragile. In his final years, he battled illness and pain, but remained, in his own words, “as stubborn as a rock”. He kept making music, kept giving interviews, and remained firmly in the hearts of his fans.

Today we say goodbye to a truly unique soul. Someone who never saw himself as a hero, but who was exactly that for so many. He gave voice to anger, helplessness, sorrow and hope. He was a survivor, an artist who never held back, and someone who always stayed true to who he was.

Ozzy Osbourne gave us more than music. He gave us his whole self, with all his flaws and all his greatness.

Rest in peace, Ozzy. Thank you for the sound, the madness, the courage and the humanity. We will never forget you.