'There will never be another Ozzy': Tributes pour in for heavy metal icon

Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of Black Sabbath and a towering figure in heavy metal, has died aged 76, sparking an outpouring of grief and admiration from fellow musicians, fans and industry legends.

Tributes have flooded in for Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of Black Sabbath and one of rock music's most influential figures, following news of his death at the age of 76.

His former bandmates in Black Sabbath expressed deep sorrow, with co-founder Tony Iommi calling it a loss of “our brother”, and bassist Geezer Butler reminiscing about their final show together. Drummer Bill Ward shared a touching message, reflecting on their long-standing friendship and the bond they shared as "four kids from Aston".

The music world reacted with collective mourning and celebration of Osbourne’s impact. Metallica described him as a “hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend”, while Aerosmith called him “our brother in rock”.

Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins hailed the band’s recent farewell gig in Birmingham, held just weeks before Osbourne’s death, as one of the greatest musical moments of his life. Sammy Hagar added that Osbourne’s determination to perform despite his health challenges placed him “in a category of his own”.

Global icons such as Sir Elton John, Robert Plant, Gene Simmons, and Alice Cooper praised Osbourne not only for his musical legacy but also for his personality, humour and authenticity.

Sir Elton remembered him as “a huge trailblazer” and “one of the funniest people I've ever met”, while Gene Simmons remarked, “There will never be another Ozzy.”

Artists across genres and generations, from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong to Iron Maiden and Yungblud, also shared their respect and affection. Foo Fighters and AC/DC joined in, with Foo Fighters stating that “rock and roll would not be as loud or as fun” without him.

Fans gathered at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a mural in Birmingham, laying flowers and paying respects.

Ozzy Osbourne rose to fame as the voice of Black Sabbath, the band that helped define heavy metal with tracks such as Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man. After departing the group in 1979, he carved out a highly successful solo career, with hits such as Crazy Train.

In the 2000s, Osbourne became a household name through The Osbournes, a reality show that softened his wild image by showing him as a bemused family man.

He is survived by his wife Sharon and six children. His family described his final moments as being surrounded by love.

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