Mark Savage
Music correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Those of us who watched The Osbournes - Ozzy's pioneering reality TV show - will remember the star as a permanently-bewildered father of three, with a halting walk and a hunched posture.

Although fans were concerned for his wellbeing, the beginning of his health problems really began in 2003, when he crashed an all-terrain vehicle damaging his spine.

The injury was exacerbated by a late-night fall in 2019 that required several rounds of extensive surgery.

Osbourne later suggested the fall could have been an early indication of Parkinson's, which he was diagnosed with later the same year.

The condition eventually robbed him of the ability to walk but, speaking earlier this year, he put a positive spin on his deteriorating health.

“I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive,” he told the US rock radio station Ozzy's Boneyard.

"I may be moaning that I can’t walk, but I look down the road, and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it."

Peter Gillibrand
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Jessica Osborne

Jessica Osborne and her family are self-proclaimed “metal heads” and she tells BBC Newsbeat they were all devastated.

“It’s strange to feel so strongly about someone that you don't personally know,” she says.

"I think you'd struggle to find someone that didn't know who he was," Jessica adds.

Jessica comes from Wolverhampton and says “it adds to the emotion” that Ozzy Osbourne was a local lad.

She was also at Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert earlier this month, which saw Ozzy sat on a throne in his home city of Birmingham. She felt it was his last hurrah.

“To know that was towards the end of his life. It’s very emotional to think about it. Especially now to say that I was there.”

“For Ozzy to witness everybody around the world… you know, that outpouring of love from the crowd and from the world. How amazing must that have been for him?”

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

The singer was famously captured from all angles on MTV reality TV show The Osbournes. While it was entertaining for millions, it was not always entirely flattering.

He was often seen swearing, muttering and bumbling around his house as he was filmed with his wife Sharon, and two of his three children - Jack and Kelly. Their third daughter, Aimee, chose not to take part.

But as for the fame that resulted from the show's success, he wasn't keen.

"I didn't like it because it got too crazy," he told the BBC in 2017.

"I remember stopping at McDonald's with my kids one day and it turned into a lunatic asylum.

"But that is a level of fame you cannot sustain," he added. "It's like people started chipping at you, you know. With that reality thing, people would come up to me and give me advice on how to take care of my dogs and people would start yelling at me.

"It's weird. You become a prisoner of your own success but it's all part of the trip."

Image source, Getty Images

In our previous post we brought you a tribute to Ozzy from Black Sabbath's co-founder Tony Iommi, now we're hearing from the band's bassist.

Terence “Geezer” Butler says he is “so glad” he was able to perform a final time with bandmate Ozzy Osbourne - referring to the band's reunion on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham.

In a social media post, Butler writes: “Goodbye dear friend – thanks for all those years- we had some great fun. Four kids from Aston- who’d have thought, eh?

“So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”

Image source, Getty Images

Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi says "I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park".

He adds that Ozzy's death is "such heart-breaking news that I can’t really find the words... Geezer (Butler), Bill (Ward) and myself have lost our brother.

"My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz. Tony.”

Donna Ford and Sue Peters were in The Old Still pub in Wolverhampton when they heard the news of Ozzy Osbourne's death.

They said the pub stopped the karaoke, played the Black Sabbath song Changes and held a minute's silence, with everybody raising a glass.

They've just bought some flowers and brought them down to the pub.

MTV, where reality TV show The Osbournes aired, has sent condolences to Ozzy's "family, loved ones and many dedicated fans".

"We know his legacy will live on through music-lovers around the world," the post on Instagram reads.

Image source, Getty Images

Osbourne has had many aliases over the years, but one that has been the most longstanding is the "Prince of Darkness".

It is another name for the devil used in works like "Paradise Lost" but the nickname was started by fans after the release of some of his "scarier" songs.

In an interview with NME in 2016, Osbourne said the song "Black Sabbath" originally freaked out some concert attendees.

"They thought we were Satan’s [expletive] friends or something," Osbourne said. "That’s when the whole Prince of Darkness [expletive] started."

Image source, Getty Images

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has paid tribute to Osbourne, posting on social media about the singer's last performance.

“So sad to hear of Ozzy's passing. His last appearance at Villa Park was a glorious way to say goodbye – the love in that place for him was gigantic."

May said he was "grateful" that he was able to have "a few quiet words" with Osbourne after the show, and happy to know he passed peacefully with his loving family close by.

“But the world will miss Ozzy’s unique presence and fearless talent. My heartfelt consolations to Sharon and their great family.

“And to Bill (Ward) and Geezer (Butler) and my dear friend Tony (Iommi) – for this is family – I know only too well. REST IN PEACE dear Ozzie. Bri.”

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ozzy Osbourne was inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just last year, having been given the same honour in 2006 as part of Black Sabbath.

His place in the metal scene was secured many years ago, after the band's early success, and Ben Reidy wrote about their importance in Headbangers Haven, external.

"Metal music has become like a tree, with multiple branches representing the different areas and sounds that the genre can supply. Yet it all originated with these four men from Birmingham," he said."

"There are very few cases where one band has been responsible for pioneering an entire genre by themselves. You would have thought that with time, fresher and newer Metal acts would take over and become more popular, but despite Sabbath’s retirement, the band remains as one of the most popular Metal bands to this day."

He said their influence, stemming mostly from their first five albums, has "stood the test of time".

"Ozzy Osbourne’s vocal style and skill was an integral part to what made Black Sabbath so successful," he added.

In Birmingham, where Ozzy Osbourne was born and Black Sabbath formed, people have been placing flowers on a bench in his memory.

As we mentioned earlier, he played Black Sabbath's farewell gig in the city on 5 July.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

As frontman of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne is credited with inventing heavy metal, thanks to songs like Iron Man and Paranoid.

Less than three weeks ago, the self-styled "Prince of Darkness" performed a farewell concert in his hometown, supported by many of the musicians he had inspired, including Metallica and Guns ‘n’ Roses.

Born John Michael Osbourne, he dropped out of school aged 15, holding several low-paid jobs and spending a short spell in prison for burglary before embarking on his musical career.

After singing with several local bands, he joined Black Sabbath alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward in the late 1960s.

They developed a unique sound, inspired by the blues but slower, louder and more sinister - with frequent references to the occult.

• You can read on in my news story

Image source, Reuters

Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne are continuing to come in from around the world.

David Beckham said he was "so sad to see Ozzy leave us. Thank you for entertaining us. Sending love to Sharon, the kids & the family".

Rod Stewart said: "Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I'll see you up there - later rather than sooner".

UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, MP in Osbourne’s home city of Birmingham, said Osbourne was "one of the greatest gifts my city gave the world. My thoughts are with his family. In Ozzy’s own words: Birmingham forever".

Journalist and media personality Piers Morgan described Osbourne as "one of the greatest rock stars in history and a wonderful character. Truly one of the funniest people I’ve ever known".

Boxer Frank Bruno said Osbourne was "a character, a funny man and a legend who we will not see the likes of ever again".

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts reporter

Image source, Ross Halfin

It's hard to believe it was only just over two weeks ago that Ozzy was on stage for his final concert - his and Black Sabbath's farewell show - in front of 40,000 devoted fans at Aston Villa football stadium in Birmingham.

He'd had a series of long-running health problems and no-one quite knew what physical state he would be in, and indeed how well he was still capable of singing.

When he appeared, he rose from below the stage on a giant black throne and remained seated throughout - he was obviously a bit frail, but he appeared better than I feared, and his voice still had more force than I expected.

He sang nine tracks in total, five from his solo career and four with his reuinted Black Sabbath bandmates.

And he was clearly loving being back in the spotlight - clapping, waving his arms and pulling wild-eyed looks, just like old times.

His performance came after an all-day line-up of fellow rock legends had paid homage to his and Sabbath's influence.

"Without Sabbath there would be no Metallica," the US band's James Hetfield told the crowd. Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose ended their set with the cry: "Birmingham! Ozzy! Sabbath! Thank you!"

It was a joyful day - and fortunate in hindsight that he was able to go out on such a high.

Image source, Instagram/BradWilk

Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk, who also played the drums on Black Sabbath's 2013 album '13', has posted this photo of a young Ozzy Osbourne on Instagram.

The photo was accompanied by a black heart and sad face emoji.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Ozzy Osbourne's music publicist confirmed to the BBC's Mark Savage that the star died in his home country - the UK - having lived in the US since the early 2000s.

The family still had a base in Britain, where he was of course born in 1948.

Image source, yungblud/Instagram

Singer Yungblud, who performed a cover of Changes at Ozzy's farewell concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham weeks ago, is the latest to pay tribute.

In a post on Instagram he writes:

He continues by saying "the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room".

"But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don't," Yungblud adds.

"You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough."

Image source, Reuters

Elton John says he was "so sad to hear the news" of Osbourne's death.

"He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend," he wrote in an Instagram post.

"He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."

Image source, blacksabbath/Instagram

Ozzy's band Black Sabbath has just posted a photograph of Osbourne, external from his farewell gig on 5 July.

The caption reads "Ozzy Forever."

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Although he was known as the wild frontman of Black Sabbath, many fans also got to know him through MTV reality TV show The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005.

The Birmingham-born star had relocated from the UK to the US and the fly-on-the wall showed his family life with his wife, Sharon, alongside their children, Jack and Kelly.

It included a lot of colourful language, laughing and small dogs, and it became a cult hit, and won a Primetime Emmy.

It simply showed the family eating, pottering around their house and being themselves - and audiences loved them for it. It also showed just how popular reality TV could be.