23/07/2025
BMG pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne – legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, singer-songwriter, groundbreaking television personality, and enduring cultural icon – who passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. A pioneering figure in heavy metal music, Osbourne leaves behind a legacy spanning more than five decades.
Born in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Osbourne rose to prominence in 1970 as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, a band whose dark, thunderous sound helped define the emerging genre of heavy metal. With iconic tracks such as “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” the band’s early albums became anthems for generations of rock fans. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1970, reached the top 10 in the UK and No. 23 in the U.S. Master of Reality (1971), their highest-charting U.S. release, peaked at No. 8, followed by Vol. 4 (1972) at No. 13 and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) at No. 11.
Ozzy Osbourne went on to launch a prolific solo career, beginning with 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz and its landmark single “Crazy Train,” ultimately selling over 55 million albums worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, and again as a solo artist in 2024. Known for his distinctive vocal style and apocalyptic stage presence, Osbourne earned the nickname “Prince of Darkness,” inspiring generations of musicians.
In the 2000s, he captivated a new audience as the unlikely star of MTV’s The Osbournes, a hit reality series that became a cultural phenomenon and offered a candid, often humorous glimpse into his family life.
Beyond music and television, Osbourne reshaped the live music landscape with the launch of Ozzfest in 1996 – a groundbreaking touring festival that championed heavy rock and metal acts for more than two decades.
His contributions to music and popular culture are immeasurable. Osbourne recently returned to the stage to perform at his final concert in July 2025. The Back To The Beginning benefit concert featured a powerful reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup in his hometown of Birmingham.
As part of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne was a valued BMG catalog and publishing client, and we are proud to continue preserving his and the band’s musical legacy. BMG extends its deepest condolences to the Osbourne family.
