By Ethan Sacks and Corky Siemaszko , NBC News | Ozzy Osbourne, the wailing Black Sabbath singer-turned-solo act who took the “Crazy Train” from a bleak childhood in working-class Birmingham, England, to heavy metal stardom, has died. He was 76. His family announced the rock legend’s passing in a statement: “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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Word of Osbourne’s demise came more than two weeks after the ailing front man reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for a triumphant final show on July 5.
It was witnessed by some 45,000 fans packing Birmingham’s Villa Park soccer stadium and by another 5.8 million metalheads around the world who watched online.
“You’ve got no idea how I feel,” Osbourne said, sitting on a leather throne because he could no longer stand, his mascara smeared by tears. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Osbourne’s wife, TV personality Sharon Osbourne, revealed in February that Ozzy was unable to walk because of Parkinson’s disease, but that the diagnosis “doesn’t affect his voice.”
Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne managed to muscle through four of Sabbath’s most iconic number: “War Pigs,” “NIB,” “Iron Man” and, perhaps the band’s biggest hit, “Paranoid.”
Bands that are direct musical descendants of Black Sabbath like Metallica, Slayer and Alice in Chains, as well as performers like Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, completed the metal marathon by cranking out covers from Black Sabbath’s catalog or Osbourne’s solo career.
It was no secret that Osbourne had been sick for some time. He Osborne opened up about his battles with Parkinson’s disease and repeated spinal surgeries in a November 2023 interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” the then 74-year-old singer said.
Osbourne acknowledged that the epic amount of drugs and alcohol he ingested early on in his career had taken a toll on his health. And he credited his wife with repeatedly saving his “arse.”
“I do count my lucky stars,” Osbourne told the magazine. “I don’t know why I’m still here and I do sometimes think I’m on borrowed time. I said to Sharon the other day, ‘What a great f—–g life we’ve had and what a great f—–g experience.’”
John Michael Osbourne was born Dec. 3, 1948, in Birmingham, the fourth of six children of a poor family. There was little to indicate that he would amount to anything — much less become an idol to millions.
Osbourne, who struggled with dyslexia, dropped out of school at 15 to work a series of menial factory jobs, including toiling in a slaughterhouse and testing car horns. He also served a brief stint in prison for burglary.
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In 2002, Osbourne told Rolling Stone magazine that he would like his my epitaph to read “just ‘Ozzy Osbourne, born 1948, died so-and-so.'”
“I’ve done a lot for a simple working-class guy,” Osbourne said. “I made a lot of people smile. I’ve also made a lot of people go, ‘Who the f— does this guy think he is?’ I guarantee that if I was to die tonight, tomorrow it would be, ‘Ozzy Osbourne, the man who bit the head off a bat, died in his hotel room … .’ I know that’s coming.
“But I’ve got no complaints. At least I’ll be remembered.”
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Go here to read more of Mr. Osbourne’s crazy train life (as if we all hadn’t heard!)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/ozzy-osbourne-pioneering-heavy-metal-singer-black-sabbath-frontman-die-rcna42423
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
Our sincerest condolences to long-time COMBO member Steve Glotzer and his family on the loss of his sister Debbie Nightengale.
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Strawbs Founder David Joseph Cousins Dies at 80
David Joseph Cousins, a British progressive rock and folk musician and singer-songwriter, died on July 13, 2025. He was best known as a founding member of Strawbs, a pioneering British band that fused folk with progressive rock.
Strawbs stemmed from a band known as the Strawberry Hill Boys, who played English and American roots music. They evolved towards folk-rock and later progressive rock.
ttps://progressiverockcentral.com/2025/07/19/strawbs-founder-david-joseph-cousins-dies-at-80/
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Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
July 2025