Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, his family has announced.<\/p>\n
A statement from his family said: \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
“Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.\u201d<\/p>\n
He had been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease in 2019.<\/p>\n
As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene \u2013 a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock.<\/p>\n
Ozzy Osbourne posing before a concert at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, March 4, 1984 (Image: Paul Natkin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure.<\/p>\n
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he left school at 15 and did odd jobs including factory work before teaming up with school friend Geezer Butler in several bands.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month he bid a farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion, telling thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park, Birmingham \u2013 a stone\u2019s throw from where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968 \u2013 that it was \u201cso good to be on this stage\u201d as he performed his last set from a large black throne.<\/p>\n
Osbourne and his fellow original Black Sabbath members \u2013 Tony Iommi, Terence \u201cGeezer\u201d Butler and Bill Ward \u2013 were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert.<\/p>\n
Also among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N\u2019 Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n
Black Sabbath\u2019s eponymous debut album in 1970 made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records.<\/p>\n
Black Sabbath, 1970: Bill Ward, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler (Image: Chris Walter\/WireImage)<\/p>\n
They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.<\/p>\n
The group were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and Osbourne was added for a second time last year.<\/p>\n