LONDON/LOS ANGELES: Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of the 1970s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who shocked audiences by biting the head off a bat on stage and later endeared himself to millions as a foul-mouthed but lovable reality TV star, has died at the age of 76, his family announced on July 22.

Known globally as "The Prince of Darkness" and "The Godfather of Heavy Metal," Osbourne's death was confirmed 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."

Osbourne launched his music career in the early 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, delivering powerful vocals on tracks such as "Paranoid," "War Pigs," and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath." These, along with his solo work, helped him sell over 100 million records worldwide. His sound—marked by heavy guitar riffs and lyrics exploring depression, war, and apocalypse—was paired with theatrical, horror-tinged performances that became his trademark.

Among the most infamous was the 1982 incident in which he bit the head off a bat that had been thrown onstage by a fan. Osbourne later explained that he thought the bat was a toy and rushed to the hospital for a rabies shot after realizing the truth. The incident became rock lore and inspired Osbourne to sell soft toy bats with detachable heads.

His onstage antics and dark themes made him a frequent target of criticism from conservative and religious groups, who accused him of promoting satanism. Osbourne acknowledged his wild lifestyle and provocative lyrics but dismissed the more extreme claims. "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," he wrote in his 2010 autobiography.

Born John Michael Osbourne in Aston, Birmingham, he was the fourth of six children. He struggled in school due to dyslexia, left at 15, and worked a series of menial jobs before a short stint in prison for burglary. His fortunes changed when he joined forces with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward to form Black Sabbath, inventing a new genre of music in the process.

Reflecting on his unlikely success, Osbourne once said: "When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no fucking way."

Tributes poured in following news of his death. Shabana Mahmood, Britain's Justice Secretary and an MP representing Birmingham, said on X, "One of the greatest gifts my city gave the world."

In 2002, Osbourne reached a new generation of fans through the reality TV show The Osbournes, which followed his daily life in Beverly Hills. With his thick Birmingham accent and befuddled commentary, he became a surprising cultural icon once again. The show also starred his wife and longtime manager, Sharon, his children, Jack, Kelly, and Aimee, and several grandchildren.

Though no cause of death was given, Osbourne had publicly revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which later left him unable to walk.

His final public performance took place in Birmingham on July 5. Seated and occasionally struggling to speak, he thanked an emotional hometown crowd during a tribute-laden concert featuring messages from rock royalty including Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Metallica's James Hetfield, and Elton John.

"Thanks for your support over the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you," said Osbourne.