“For him to have been that close to death on July 5 and still get up there and perform like he promised… Wow! That puts him in a category of his own,” Sammy Hagar, the lead vocalist of Van Halen who also played at the farewell concert for Osbourne, wrote on Instagram.
AC/DC posted, external that Osbourne’s death was a “great loss to all that loved him”, while Kiss bassist Gene Simmons told NBC News that behind the outgoing stage persona was a “loving father” and “dedicated husband”.
Sir Elton John posted on Instagram:, external “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.”
Foo Fighters wrote that “Rock and Roll would not be as loud or as fun, external” without Osbourne; while Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant said, external he had “truly changed the planet of rock”.
Others shared fond memories of Osbourne’s larger-than-life character.
Variety magazine’s senior entertainment editor Jem Aswad recalled the first time he met Osbourne, he was “nervous” to meet the prince of darkness.
“It was just this sort of really bizarre scene,” Aswad told the BBC.
Osbourne entered the room near noon in a bathrobe, having “just woken up”, wearing loads of jewellery and accessories and “a lot of gold”, Aswad said, though adding that Osbourne was “perfectly nice, perfectly friendly”.
Meanwhile, fans gathered at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, where they laid flowers on the star dedicated to Osbourne.
“Osbourne was more than a rock legend – he was a cultural icon who reshaped music and defied expectations,” said Ana Martinez, the venue’s producer.
Black Sabbath were pioneers in the heavy metal genre of music, writing classic tracks like Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man.
After leaving the band in 1979 over rising tensions with its other members, Osbourne had a lengthy solo music career releasing more than a dozen albums. His debut single released the next year, Crazy Train, is arguably one of his most famous songs.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and six children, three from each of his two marriages.