Some of the biggest names in music and entertainment are paying tribute to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, following news of his death confirmed by his family earlier Tuesday.
Osbourne, 76, passed away after a long battle with multiple health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries that had impacted his mobility in recent years. The Prince of Darkness died surrounded by loved ones, just weeks after taking the stage one final time in his hometown of Birmingham, UK, reuniting with Black Sabbath for a surprise performance that now serves as a poignant farewell.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” said a statement released by the Osbourne family.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with fellow British icons Duran Duran sharing their heartfelt condolences on Instagram. “What can you say about Ozzy? Whatever it is, it’s in a Brummie accent,” the band wrote. “Hard to imagine a world without him—Ozzy brought so much joy, humor, and raw power to the world in a life of many chapters. Ozzy was a cat who had way more than nine lives. Thanks for the ride, Ozzy. Love from the other Brummies.”
Brummies Unite
Ozzy’s death is a loss for the entire music world—but in Birmingham, it hits different. The city birthed not only Black Sabbath, but Judas Priest, Electric Light Orchestra, The Moody Blues, UB40, and, of course, Duran Duran who turned local gigs at Barbarella’s and the Rum Runner into worldwide superstardom. While Liverpool had Merseybeat and London had punk, Birmingham gave us the industrial sound of metal and the glamour of the New Romantics—two worlds that rarely overlapped, but somehow coexisted under the same cloudy skies.
Maybe that’s why the admiration ran both ways. In a 1984 Smash Hits interview, Ozzy casually praised Duran Duran’s music and named John Taylor as his favorite bassist at the time—a solid nod from one Birmingham legend to another.
A few decades later, Ozzy was still crossing paths with Duran Duran. In 2004, he shared the MTV Europe Music Awards red carpet in Rome with Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, proving that Brummie royalty comes in many forms.
Ozzy Versus Simon Le Bon
And then there’s the delightfully absurd holiday skit from 1993, the Slade in Residence Christmas special. In this episode, the rock veterans of Slade are kicking back on a cozy festive morning — until a silly Simon Le Bon character strolls in and wrecks the mood. Chaos ensues when an Ozzy Osbourne impersonator delivers a perfectly timed headbutt.
Another Duran & Ozzy Connection: Rock Legends Unite for Charity
In a collaboration that ties together some of rock’s most iconic names, Duran Duran’s former guitarist Andy Taylor joined forces with Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, and Slade’s Noddy Holder for the charity single This Christmas Time. The track supports The Cancer Awareness Trust’s new global online project, aimed at providing vital information to people living with cancer.
Produced by Matt Bond and led by the musical collective Evamore, the song opens with a moving narration by Ozzy Osbourne recounting the famous 1914 Christmas truce during World War I. This collaboration not only raises awareness and funds for cancer patients but also showcases the enduring bonds between rock royalty, united by purpose and a shared Birmingham heritage.
Thanks for the Ride, Ozzy
Osbourne rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath in the 1970s, helping pioneer the heavy metal genre with iconic albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality. His solo career cemented his legacy, spawning hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Beyond music, Osbourne became a pop culture figure thanks to The Osbournes, the MTV reality series that introduced a new generation to his offbeat charm.His death marks the end of an era for rock music—a loss not just for metalheads, but for fans of bold, boundary-breaking artistry everywhere.