Ozzy Osbourne 1948-2025: A life in pictures
, who has
died at the age of 76
, was best known as the frontman of Black Sabbath.
At the forefront of the heavy metal scene, Osbourne had a theatrical stage presence, once biting off the head of a bat and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness.
Black Sabbath's eponymous debut album in 1970 made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records.
They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.
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Earlier this month Osbourne bid farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion, telling thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park, Birmingham that it was 'so good to be on this stage' as he performed his last set from a large black throne.
Here is a selection of photographs capturing his music career and life.
Black Sabbath, 1970s: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne. Photograph: Chris Walter/WireImage
Ozzy Osbourne with his wife, Sharon, and children Kelly and Jack. Photograph: Ian West/PA Wire
Ozzy Osbourne on stage with Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard during the Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Ozzy Osbourne arriving for the UK Music Hall Of Fame in 2005. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire.
Ozzy Osbourne performing during the Black Sabbath The End Tour in August 2016. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
Ozzy Osbourne performing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. Photograph:Ozzy Osbourne with his wife, Sharon, and children Kelly, Jack and Aimee at the Kerrang Awards 1997 in London. Photograph: Neil Munns/PA Wire
Ozzy Osborne with his wife, Sharon, and Ant McPartlin (left) and Declan Donnelly (right) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, 2004. Photograph: Myung Jung Kim/PA Wire
Ozzy Osbourne with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Kelly arriving at the Hertfordshire home David Beckham and his wife Victoria for their pre-World Cup party in 2006. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
Geezer Butler, Tommy Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath in 2013. Photograph: Ian West/PA Wire
Ozzy Osbourne and Kermit the Frog backstage for a concert to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Photograph: Peter Jordan/PA Wire
Ozzy Osbourne performing in 2022 in Birmingham. Photograph: David Davies/PA Wire
- Additional reporting PA, AP
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The Journal
37 minutes ago
- The Journal
What is your favourite Black Sabbath song?
THE FUNERAL PROCESSION of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne is due to take place in Birmingham today. Widely credited as pioneers of heavy metal music, the band played a farewell gig in the city earlier this month. Advertisement Osbourne was behind some of the band's most well-known tracks, including Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man. Today, we want to know: What is your favourite Black Sabbath song? Poll Results: I don't have one (999) Paranoid (989) War Pigs (609) Iron Man (201) None of the above(let us know in the comments) (199) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (112) The Wizard (82) Black Sabbath (82) N.I.B (77) Paranoid War Pigs Iron Man N.I.B Sabbath Bloody Sabbath The Wizard Black Sabbath None of the above(let us know in the comments) I don't have one Vote
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ozzy Osbourne fans gather in Birmingham to honour star who was ‘like family'
Ozzy Osbourne fans have gathered in Birmingham to honour the heavy metal star who was like a 'family member' to his admirers. A cortege, along with the Osbourne family, is expected to stop at the Black Sabbath bench, where thousands of tributes, balloons and flowers have been left. The Black Sabbath frontman, who played a farewell gig in the city earlier this month, died at the age of 76 last Tuesday. One Osbourne fan called Goose told the PA news agency that they discovered heavy metal as a teenager. Fans arrived early to get their spot near the Black Sabbath Bridge in Broad Street, Birmingham (Jacob King/PA) 'That's when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us,' they said. 'We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence. 'Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people's lives.' Evie Mayo, from Wolverhampton, said the heavy metal star had inspired her and everyone in Birmingham as she waited by the Black Sabbath Bridge for his cortege to arrive. She told PA: 'I think he was so influential, he was such an inspirational person. I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well. 'Now that he's not here any more, you can feel the impact of it. He inspired a lot of people and he was a great person.' She added: 'He inspired me by… I love his music, absolutely love his music. I'm learning guitar so that I can learn some of his songs.' The hearse carrying Osbourne will make its way down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath Bridge from around 1pm on Wednesday. Fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes around the city, including at the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street, to honour the heavy metal star who was born in the Aston area of Birmingham. Members of the public have also signed a book of condolence, opened by Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, which is currently holding an exhibition titled Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero. While organising the procession, Birmingham City Council collaborated with the Osbourne family, who funded all the associated costs. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, said: 'Ozzy was more than a music legend, he was a son of Birmingham. 'Having recently been awarded the freedom of the city and following his celebrated appearance at the Back To The Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city in giving him the farewell he deserves.' Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (PA) Broad Street will be closed to through traffic from 7am and buses and trams will be diverted during this time before the road re-opens when the event finishes. Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates – Terence 'Geezer' Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward – were recently given the freedom of the city of Birmingham, which recognises people's exceptional service to the city. The group, which formed in 1968, is widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans when he appeared in the noughties reality TV series The Osbournes, starring alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack. The music star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, performed his last gig on July 5 in a concert that also saw performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ozzy Osbourne's little-known son from 1st marriage makes rare appearance to say goodbye to rock legend dad
OZZY Osbourne's rarely seen son from his first marriage made a rare public appearance at the rock legend's funeral procession. Louis, the son Ozzy shared with his first wife Thelma Riley, was pictured 7 Louis - pictured in a purple tie - joined Jack, Sharon, Aimee and Kelly as the funeral cortege travelled through Birmingham Credit: Simon Jones 7 Ozzy with his children Louis and Jessica in 1978 Credit: Getty 7 Louis appeared in a purple tie, matching the vibrant flowers in his father's hearse The 50-year-old stood side-by-side with Jack , 39, , 40 and , 41, as the family followed behind the Black Sabbath icon's hearse through the streets of Birmingham. Before tying the knot to Sharon, Ozzy had married his first wife Thelma Riley in 1971 after meeting her in a Birmingham nightclub. Together, they welcomed children Jessica and Louis, who have been largely away from the limelight. But today Louis - who works as a DJ - appeared front and centre in a purple tie as he joined the Osbournes to pay respects to his late father. Read more on Ozzy His tie matched the vibrant flowers in Ozzy's hearse, as well as the family's purple floral tributes for the late rock star. Brave Sharon hugged daughter Kelly and held son Jack's hand as she broke down in tears while laying flowers and reading heartfelt messages penned by fans. Thousands gathered to pay their respects to the Black Sabbath legend earlier today. Stoic Sharon and Aimee waved to the emotional crowd and gave peace signs to fans. Most read in Celebrity Chants of "Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy" rang out, with many shouting messages of support for Sharon. One could be heard saying "we love you Sharon" as she laid flowers next to the cortege. The procession was lead by a live brass band formed with local musicians from Bostin' Brass in honour of Ozzy's legacy. The Jaguar hearse carrying the singer's coffin went by his childhood home, where tributes also mount, just before 1pm. Ozzy Osbourne funeral plans revealed It was accompanied by six Mercedes funeral cars, police motorcycle riders and a police car, on Lodge Road, before making its way to Broad Street. Fans began gathering from early this morning, with touching floral tributes left by the Black Sabbath bench in the centre of the city. Some have displayed hand-painted banners, while others are holding Prince of Darkness themed balloons. Many in the crowd are showing off their Ozzy tattoos in honour of the late rock legend. The singer, who A source said: 'Sharon and the family want to celebrate Ozzy's life with his fans, with plans for the cortege to travel through Birmingham. 'Tomorrow they will have a closed service at a church in Gerrards Cross, Bucks." Black Sabbath fan Goose said they discovered heavy metal as a teenager. "That's when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us," they said. "We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence. "Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people's lives." Fellow fan Evie Mayo said the heavy metal star inspired her and everyone in Birmingham. She said: "I think he was so influential, he was such an inspirational person. I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well. "Now that he's not here any more, you can feel the impact of it. He inspired a lot of people and he was a great person." 7 Vibrant purple flowers featured in the hearse 7 The tributes have been pouring in for the rock icon 7 Visibly emotional, Sharon was supported by her children She added: "He inspired me by, I love his music, absolutely love his music. I'm learning guitar so that I can learn some of his songs." There will be a closed service on Thursday at a church in Gerrards Cross, Bucks, where singer, a friend of the Osbourne's, Ozzy died at home in his stunning mansion in Welders, Buckinghamshire "surrounded by love". He last graced the stage in July when he reunited with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward and played a The legend cemented his place in rock history early in his career with controversial displays such as Although his wild behaviour would have been enough to see some artists blacklisted, Ozzy became a loveable rogue who captured fans' hearts across the globe. In 2001, Ozzy appealed to a whole new audience after appearing in Born He was raised by his parents Lilian and John, with three older sisters and two younger brothers, in a humble two-bed house. Ozzy became entangled with petty crime and served two months in prison for burglary. The singer then pursued his love of music after hearing The Beatles hit She Loves You in 1963. Ozzy joined bassist Geezer Butler in their first group in 1967 at the age of 19, and would later go on to form Black Sabbath. 7 A black, bat shaped balloon for the Prince of Darkness Credit: PA
