Ozzy Osbourne, the pioneer of the heavy metal genre, passed away at the age of 76 on the 22nd (local time).
Osbourne's family stated in a statement that "our beloved Ozzy has peacefully departed this world in the arms of his family," adding, "His death is an unimaginable sorrow."
Born in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Osbourne entered the music scene in 1969 as part of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.
The band is credited with opening the origins of the new genre of "heavy metal" through their self-titled debut album in 1970. The Associated Press noted, "The somber and heavy sound of Black Sabbath was a shock in an era dominated by hippie culture," stating, "Their music marked a turning point in rock history."
The song "Paranoid" from the band's second album, also titled "Paranoid", reached 61st on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although its chart performance was low, it is regarded as a song that established the band's identity.
However, Osbourne repeatedly exhibited inexplicable behavior, such as arriving late to rehearsals and skipping performances, and eventually left the band in 1979.
Afterward, Osbourne re-emerged as a solo artist the following year, solidifying his presence among fans with hits such as "Crazy Train", "Goodbye to Romance", "Flying High Again", and "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll."
His antics continued during his solo career, including biting a live bat thrown onto the stage by a fan during a concert in 1981.
However, in the 2000s, he gained popularity through the MTV family reality show The Osbournes, and in 2005 and 2006, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, respectively, as a member of Black Sabbath. In 2024, he entered the Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, Osbourne's health rapidly declined, and on the 4th, he performed for the first time in 20 years alongside all the original members of Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
At that time, he stated, "Today is a farewell in terms of performance," adding, "I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful exit."