Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal pioneer who transformed chaos into art and vulnerability into spectacle, has died at 76.
Known as the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne rose from the gritty streets of Birmingham to become a global icon. With Black Sabbath, he helped invent a genre; solo, he turned madness into melody, giving us tracks like Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, and No More Tears. His music was a sanctuary for the misfits, the bold, and the beautifully strange.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020, Ozzy continued to perform—often seated on a throne, surrounded by love, fans, and fellow legends. Just weeks ago, he delivered what would become his final performance in his hometown, backed by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and a chorus of voices that owed him their sound.
His last public image, a simple hallway labeled “Back to the Beginning,” spoke volumes. No caption. Just Mr. Crowley playing in the background. A quiet nod to a legacy built on volume.
Tributes are flooding in from across the music spectrum—Elton John, Questlove, Metallica—all echoing a common truth: Ozzy wasn’t just metal. He was myth.
From all of us at It’s Not You It’s Me:
“Ozzy wasn’t just the voice of a generation—he was the sound of resistance. An innovator, a survivor, and a brother in brilliance. He gave permission to be loud, weird, and real. We’ll carry that torch. Always.”
