Ozzy Osbourne has passed at the age of 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the howling singer, madcap showman and self-anointed “prince of darkness” who helped pioneer heavy metal’s thunderous, earsplitting sound as the front man for Black Sabbath, has died.

His passing comes just weeks after he reunited with his bandmates for a farewell concert in England.

He was 76.

The Osbourne family said 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. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.

"Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."

Ozzy revealed earlier this year that he could no longer walk amid his years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

However, he still managed to reunite with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward for their final gig earlier this month.

Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, and dropped out of school at the age of 15.

After serving two months in prison for burglary, he decided to pursue his love of music and by 1970 Black Sabbath had gained a huge following in the US and UK with the release of their first album.

Ozzy quit the band in 1978 and divorced his first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with, four years later, amid his ongoing substance abuse problems.

He went on to marry second wife Sharon Osbourne, who helped him transform into a successful solo artist and the couple had three children together.

Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family’s reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001.

He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children, Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.

He went on to marry second wife Sharon Osbourne, who helped him transform into a successful solo artist and the couple had three children together.

Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family’s reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001.

He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children, Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.

Tributes have poured in for Ozzy from his his fellow celebrities.

Sir Elton John wrote: “So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away.

"He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend.

"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. Elton xx."

Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, also wrote on Instagram: “I didn’t think you would leave so soon 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. I will never forget you - you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage.

'Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. 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.

“You took us on your adventure - an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time.”

Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood referenced Ozzy’s final Black Sabbath performance, which took place just weeks ago in Birmingham, as he wrote on X: “I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne

“What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”

Smashing Pumpkins wrote on X: “We 'love' you too, Ozzy.”

Metallica shared a throwback picture on Instagram and captioned it with a broken heart emoji.

Bang! Showbiz and republished with edits and permission