Singing sensation Rod Stewart has taken to social media to honour fellow music icon Ozzy Osbourne following the death of the Black Sabbath frontman.
Osbourne, one of the most influential and recognisable figures in rock history, sadly passed away at the age of 76 on Tuesday, July 22.
Osbourne’s family broke the news of his passing in a statement, revealing that he was “surrounded by love” during his final moments.
“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,” the statement said.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Osbourne’s passing prompted a global outpouring of grief from fans and fellow artists alike. Among those was Maggie May hitmaker Rod Stewart, who delivered a moving tribute to Osbourne on social media.
“Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend,” he wrote.
“I’ll see you up there — later rather than sooner.”
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Stewart’s post quickly drew a heartfelt reaction from fans, who filled the comments with tributes to Osbourne and appreciation for Stewart’s moving words.
“Great words Sir Rod!!! And you keep on staying with us!!!!” one wrote.
“Rest in peace, Ozzy. And Rod, this is the fate of all of us, but please, find him later, much later,” commented another.
“Keep on rocking Sir Rod , RIP Prince Of Darkness.”
“What a legend & boy did he go out on a high. That last gig, he sounded fantastic & as devilish as ever. R.I.P Ozzy.”
Born December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England. Osbourne developed an early love for music that would lead him to become one of the most influential figures in rock history.
In 1968, Osbourne co-founded the band Black Sabbath, a group that would come to define the heavy metal genre. With his haunting vocals, Osbourne helped steer the band through a string of groundbreaking albums, including Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973). These records laid the foundation for heavy metal’s dark, powerful aesthetic and earned Osbourne the moniker “The Prince of Darkness.”
Osbourne remained with Black Sabbath until 1979, when he was dismissed due to escalating issues with substance abuse. Rather than fade from the spotlight, he launched a highly successful solo career with Blizzard of Ozz (1980), which featured hits like Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley. Over the following decades, he released 13 solo albums, with the first seven achieving multi-platinum status in the U.S.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath several times, most significantly in 1997. He rejoined the band for their final studio album, 13 (2013), and a farewell tour that culminated with a final performance in Birmingham in 2017.
Osbourne’s achievements extended beyond music. In the early 2000s, he became a reality television star with The Osbournes on MTV, appearing alongside his wife and manager Sharon and their children, Kelly and Jack. The show offered an unexpectedly candid and often hilarious look at rock stardom and domestic life, expanding his fan base well beyond metal audiences. He later co-starred with Jack and Kelly in Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour.
Over the course of his career, Osbourne sold over 100 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath in 2006, and again as a solo artist in 2024. He also earned stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham Walk of Stars, and received numerous honours including the MTV Global Icon Award (2014) and the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award (2015).
Despite ongoing health issues, Osbourne remained committed to his music. On July 5, 2025, he gave his final live performance at the Back to the Beginning concert event, after announcing earlier in the year that it would be his last onstage appearance.
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