Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic heavy metal vocalist who helped to pioneer the genre as the frontman of Black Sabbath and went on to launch a successful solo career, the influential traveling music festival Ozzfest, and the reality TV sensation The Osbournes, has died. As the BBC reports, Osbourne’s family issued a statement today confirming his passing after a yearslong battle with Parkinson’s Disease: “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.” Osbourne’s death comes just weeks after he performed with Black Sabbath one last time in his native Birmingham at a high-profile farewell concert. He was 76.
