Ozzy Osbourne, a founding member of Black Sabbath and one of the most influential vocalists in the history of music died Tuesday after complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 76.

His death was confirmed by the BBC.

Ozzy recently played his final concert ever at the Back to the Beginning Festival in Birmingham, UK. He played a medley of his solo songs first and then finished up with several songs from Black Sabbath. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in January 2020 and then announced in February of 2023 that he was retiring from touring due to the disease and spinal injuries he sustained in a 2018 accident.

The Osbourne family had this to say 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.”

Ozzy started off with Black Sabbath in 1969 and was their lead singer from then until 1979. He then went on a solo career, returned to Black Sabbath, and made music all the way into the 2020s. The band and his trademark vocals birthed the heavy metal genre. You can HEAR the genre being born on the track “Black Sabbath” off their debut record.

Their early albums serve as the bedrock for everything that came after them in the genre.

His solo career helped create star guitarists like Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde.

Later in his career, he even became a reality TV star years before it was cool for celebrities. The show The Osbournes introduced Ozzy and his family to a new generation of people and fans.

His career was filled with great music, and even bigger tales of excess and substance abuse and addiction. He caused a riot after no-showing a Black Sabbath show, he bit the head off of a live dove in a meeting with CBS record executives in 1981, and there’s always the famous story of him biting the head off a bat that was on stage.

Ozzy was born James Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3rd, 1948. His life would change at the age of 19 when he joined forces with his friend Terence “Geezer” Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, and drummer BIll Ward. From there, the formerly known as Earth became Black Sabbath.

Albums like their debut, Paranoid, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Master of Reality and others are what heavy metal is all about. His solo career was launched by the album Blizzard of Oz and includes classics like Diary of a Madman, No More Tears, and Bark at the Moon.

Through it all, even with health issues, Ozzy continued to make music through the 2020s, finishing with Patient Number 9 in 2022.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his five children.

RIP Ozzy.