Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of the popular 70s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76, his family announced.
"He passed away this morning surrounded by his family and love," the family said in a statement.
In 2020, he announced that he was suffering from Parkinson's.
He was known by his fans as the "Prince of Darkness" and the "Godfather of Heavy Metal."
He began his career performing Black Sabbath hits such as Paranoid, War Pigs and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. These, along with a number of solo albums, have earned him over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
Osbourne, who had struggled with drug problems throughout his life, sparked controversy during a concert in 1982 when a fan threw a bat on stage, which bit him on the head. He has always insisted he thought it was a toy, but realised his mistake and later went to hospital to receive a vaccine against the poison.
Osbourne was often the target of attacks from conservative and religious groups concerned about the negative influence rock music had on young people. He had always acknowledged the exaggerations of his lifestyle and lyrics, but had rejected the more extreme reports that portrayed him as a devil worshipper.
"I've done bad things in my life. But I'm not the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working-class lad from Aston who left his factory job and went off to have a good time," he said in a 2010 biography.
Osbourne was born in Aston, England, and struggled with dyslexia, leaving school at the age of 15. He then worked odd jobs, including a conviction for theft. Then came Black Sabbath.
In 2002, he and his family launched an American television show called "The Osbournes."
Cameras followed him everywhere in his home, and this television format enabled the entire family to create new fans.
Osbourne was married to Sharon, who was also his manager. They have five children and several grandchildren.
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