Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, the lead singer of British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at 76, the BBC says.

Just two weeks ago, Osbourne brought down the curtain on his stellar career with Black Sabbath on 6 July, rattling through the band's most iconic songs in front of an adoring hometown crowd in Birmingham, in England.

The 'Prince of Darkness' held court from a giant leather throne, topped with a bat, at Villa Park stadium, firstly in a five-song solo set and then with his original bandmates for the first time in 20 years, and also last time.

The stadium in Birmingham, central England, is a stone's throw from where the band formed 57 years ago, pioneering the hard-rock style that gave rise to heavy metal.

Many thousands around the world followed the concert online after tickets for the show sold out in just 16 minutes.

Earned infamy over a bat

Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of 1970s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, earned his infamy biting the head off a bat on stage and pursuing a drug-fuelled lifestyle before reinventing himself as a loveable if often foul-mouthed reality TV star.

Known to fans as 'The Prince of Darkness' and the 'Godfather of Heavy Metal', Osbourne has died at the age of 76, the BBC reported, citing a family statement.

He kicked off his career blaring out Black Sabbath's hits, from 'Paranoid' to 'War Pigs' to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. Those plus a string of solo releases saw him sell more than 100 million records worldwide.

The hard riffs and dark subject matter - from depression to war to apocalypse - combined with an instinct for Halloween theatrics. As a performer, Osbourne sprinkled audiences with raw meat and, in 1982, had his encounter with a bat thrown on stage by a fan.

He always insisted he thought it was a toy until he bit into it, realised his mistake and rushed to hospital for a rabies shot. He later sold branded bat soft toys with a removable head.

'I aint the devil'

Osbourne was a regular target for conservative and religious groups concerned about the negative impact of rock music on young people. He always acknowledged the excesses of his lifestyle and lyrics - but poured scorn on the wilder reports that he was an actual devil-worshipper.

"I've done some bad things in my time. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time," he said in a 2010 biography.

John Michael Osbourne was the fourth of six children, growing up in Aston, in the city of Birmingham in central England. He struggled with dyslexia, left school at age 15, did a series of menial jobs, and at one point served a brief prison sentence for burglary. Then came Black Sabbath.

"When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f.....g way."

It was those latter stages of his life that provided the setting for his reinvention in 2002 as the star of US TV show The Osbournes.

Cameras followed the aging rock god ambling round his huge house, pronouncing on events in his heavy Birmingham accent and looking on bemused at the antics of his family - a format that won them all legions of new fans.

Osbourne's family included wife and manager Sharon, five children including Jack, Kelly and Aimee, and several grandchildren.

'In the pantheon of rock gods' - Elton John

"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," his wife Sharon and his family said in a statement.

Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood said: "I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham."

Elton John commented: "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."

The Parkinson's UK charity said: "News of Ozzy Osbourne's death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to so many. By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson's, Ozzy and all his family helped so many families in the same situation.

"They normalised tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that's on the rise and affecting more people every day."

Singer Ali Campbell said: "The Prince of Darkness. A true Birmingham legend. The undisputed king of heavy metal. You didn't just shape a culture, you defined it. You led from the front and never looked back. My thoughts are with Sharon and the entire Osbourne family during this time."

UK MP for Birmingham Ladywood Shabana Mahmood also paid tribute. "An honour to have celebrated the extraordinary life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne just weeks ago. Devastated to hear the news of his death today. One of the greatest gifts my city gave the world. My thoughts are with his family. In Ozzy's own words: Birmingham forever."

Singer Rod Stewart said: "Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I'll see you up there - later rather than sooner."

-Reuters / AFP