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Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath and global symbol of heavy metal rebellion, has died at the age of 76.
His family confirmed the news Monday, saying he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had suffered years of serious health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries.
With his haunting vocals, chaotic stage presence, and unapologetically wild behavior, including famously biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert, Osbourne helped define the genre of heavy metal. Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” he was as much a cultural phenomenon as he was a musical one.
And his legend wasn’t lost on Cyprus. Local rock fans followed his career for decades, with Ozzy's music blasting through local bars, clubs, and beachside festivals. His appearances with Black Sabbath and his solo career remained staples on Cypriot rock radio, and his infamous antics were the subject of stories passed down from one generation of fans to the next. In a country that has long embraced both Eastern and Western musical traditions, Ozzy's sound struck a raw and rebellious chord, especially with younger fans growing up in the '80s and '90s.
Born in Birmingham, England, in 1948, Osbourne rose from working-class roots to rock stardom with Black Sabbath, whose heavy, distorted sound and grim lyrics mirrored the industrial world they came from. Albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality helped launch a new era in rock, giving voice to darker themes and paving the way for countless bands across Europe and beyond, including in Cyprus.
After being fired from Sabbath due to substance abuse, Osbourne reinvented himself as a solo artist, producing multiple platinum albums and remaining a touring powerhouse for decades. His fame reached new heights in the 2000s with The Osbournes, a hit MTV reality show that turned his quirky family life into must-watch television.
Though his career was filled with controversy, including a near-fatal ATV accident and personal struggles with addiction, fans around the world, and here on the island, embraced him for his authenticity, his humor, and the raw emotion in his music.
Ozzy’s final performance came just weeks ago at Back to the Beginning, a farewell concert in Birmingham that reunited him with his original Black Sabbath bandmates. Sitting on a bat-winged throne, he told the crowd: “I am Iron Man, go f***ing crazy!”
He leaves behind his wife Sharon, children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and a generation of fans from London to Limassol who saw in his music not just noise, but an anthem for the outsiders.
*With information from The Guardian
