This is a sad and it has brought me to tears. when I reminisce about Ozzy’s and my time together, I think about the fun, the laughs and of course what we created together musically, which will live much longer than these mortal bodies that we inhabit

Ozzy Osbourne, the wailing Black Sabbath singer-turned-solo act who took the “Crazy Train” from a bleak childhood in working-class Birmingham, England, to heavy metal stardom, has died.

He was 76.

His family announced the rock legend’s passing 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.”

Word of Osbourne’s demise came more than two weeks after the ailing frontman reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for a triumphant final show on July 5.

Shortly after Osbourne’s death was announced, a two-word tribute appeared on the official Facebook page of Black Sabath: “Ozzy Forever.”

Black Sabbath’s final show was witnessed by 45,000 fans packing Birmingham’s Villa Park soccer stadium and by 5.8 million more metalheads around the world who watched online.

“You’ve got no idea how I feel,” Osbourne said, sitting on a leather throne because he could no longer stand, his mascara smeared by tears. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Osbourne’s wife, TV personality Sharon Osbourne, revealed in February that Ozzy was unable to walk because of Parkinson’s disease, but that the diagnosis “doesn’t affect his voice.”

Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne managed to muscle through four of Sabbath’s most iconic number: “War Pigs,” “NIB,” “Iron Man” and perhaps the band’s biggest hit, “Paranoid.”

Bands that are direct musical descendants of Black Sabbath like Metallica, Slayer and Alice in Chains, as well as performers like Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, completed the metal marathon by cranking out covers from Black Sabbath’s catalog or Osbourne’s solo career.

It was no secret that Osbourne had been sick for some time. He Osborne opened up about his battles with Parkinson’s disease and repeated spinal surgeries in a November 2023 interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” the then 74-year-old singer said.

Osbourne acknowledged that the epic amount of drugs and alcohol he ingested early on in his career had taken a toll on his health. And he credited his wife with repeatedly saving his “arse.”

“I do count my lucky stars,” Osbourne told the magazine. “I don’t know why I’m still here and I do sometimes think I’m on borrowed time. I said to Sharon the other day, ‘What a great f—–g life we’ve had and what a great f—–g experience.’”