Heavy Metal Icon Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76
<p><strong>Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal Legend, Dies at 76</strong></p><p><strong>London:</strong> Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of <strong>Black Sabbath</strong> and one of heavy metal’s most influential figures, has died at the age of <strong>76</strong>, according to reports by the BBC.</p><p>Dubbed the <strong>“Prince of Darkness”</strong> and later revered as the <strong>“Godfather of Heavy Metal”</strong>, Osbourne rose to fame in the 1970s with Black Sabbath, delivering genre-defining tracks such as <i>Paranoid</i>, <i>War Pigs</i>, and <i>Sabbath Bloody Sabbath</i>. His music, marked by heavy riffs and dark themes, sold over <strong>100 million records worldwide</strong> across both band and solo projects.</p><p>Osbourne became infamous for his wild stage antics, most notably in <strong>1982</strong> when he bit the head off a bat thrown on stage — an act he later claimed he believed was a toy. He later embraced the moment in popular culture, selling plush bats with detachable heads.</p><p>Despite personal struggles with addiction and controversy, Osbourne reinvented himself in the <strong>2000s</strong> as a reality TV star on <i>The Osbournes</i>, gaining a new generation of fans beyond the music world.</p><p>Born <strong>John Michael Osbourne</strong> in Aston, Birmingham, he grew up in a working-class family and left school at 15. After time in jail for burglary, he found his calling in music, rising from factory floors to global stardom. In his 2010 autobiography, he wrote: “I’ve done some bad things in my time. But I ain’t the devil. I’m just John Osbourne: a working-class kid from Aston who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time.”</p><p>Osbourne is survived by his wife and longtime manager <strong>Sharon</strong>, their children <strong>Jack, Kelly, Aimee</strong>, and grandchildren. His influence endures through generations of fans and the heavy metal movement he helped pioneer.</p>