Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 22, 2025 · Entertainment

Ozzy Osbourne's Last Bow: The Final Photo of a Metal Icon

The final photo of Ozzy Osbourne before his death at the age of 76 has been released

OZZY OSBOURNE: THE WILD ONE'S FINAL BOW

The news of Ozzy Osbourne's passing at 76 has sent shockwaves through the music world, but even more remarkable is the final photo of the metal icon, taken just weeks before his death. The pic shows Ozzy beaming on stage during a farewell concert at Villa Park Stadium, the home of his beloved Aston Villa, where he reunited with all his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005.

The snap captures Ozzy in all his glory, dressed in black and sitting on a throne, surrounded by adoring fans. Looking emotional, he told the crowd: "You have no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart." Little did anyone know that this would be one of Ozzy's last performances.

The star pictured leaving hospital on June 16, 2022, after a major back operation

A LIFE FULL OF CONTROVERSY AND CHAOS

Ozzy's life was a rollercoaster ride of controversy and chaos, but it was also marked by incredible success and redemption. The star's family released a statement after his passing: "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."

TRIBUTES ROLL IN

As news of Ozzy's passing spread, tributes poured in from around the world. Metal giants like Metallica posted a photo of Ozzy on their X account, captioned with a broken heart emoji. Sean Lennon, son of Beatles legend John, tweeted: "One of the greatest of all time. @OzzyOsbourne R.I.P." The Smashing Pumpkins also paid homage, posting: "We ❤️ you too, Ozzy" along with a video of Sharon talking about her husband.

A LIFE OF REDEMPTION

Despite his hell-raising antics off-stage, Ozzy found redemption through his music and reality TV stardom. He relaunched himself as a TV star in the early 2000s after getting clean from drink and drugs with the help of his wife Sharon. The couple's children, Kelly and Jack, became stars in their own right on their reality show, while their daughter Aimee declined to appear.

A COMING OF AGE

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, Ozzy grew up poor in Birmingham with three older sisters and two younger brothers. His family struggled financially, leading Ozzy's parents to fight frequently about money. As a result, Ozzy rebelled against his home life by engaging in petty crime and later joining Black Sabbath.

A ROCKSTAR BORN

Ozzy's early days in music were marked by controversy and chaos. He bit the head off a bat during a solo performance, thinking it was made of rubber! He also urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph in Texas, leading to a decade-long ban from San Antonio.

A TROUBLED MARRIAGE

Ozzy's marriage to Sharon was marked by physical and mental abuse. He admitted to being "abusive" to his first wife Thelma Riley, saying: "I hit her big time and I was a complete idiot." However, with Sharon's help, Ozzy got clean from drugs and found redemption through their reality TV show.

Tributes started pouring in for the heavy metal pioneer in the moments after his family announced his death

A FIGHT FOR LIFE

In recent years, Ozzy's health struggles took center stage. He underwent major spinal surgery in 2022 and had to cancel shows due to a fall. In 2020, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but continued to perform despite his challenges. His final operation in September 2023 marked the end of an era.

A LEGACY THAT WILL LIVE ON

The singer, who sold more than 100million records, will forever be synonymous with the heavy metal band he formed in his home city of Birmingham with Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler in 1969. Above: Osbourne (far right) with Butler (left), Iommi (second from left) and Ward in the 1970s

As we say goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne, we remember the wild one who left an indelible mark on music history. His legacy will live on through his iconic songs like "Iron Man" and "Paranoid," as well as his reality TV shows that brought laughter and tears to millions.

Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne. You may be gone, but your legend will never fade.

Osbourne and his wife Sharon and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack, are pictured at their US home in 1987. He and Sharon married in 1982

Osbourne relaunched himself as a reality tv star in The Osbournes in the early 2000s, after getting clean from drink and drugs with the help of Sharon. It saw two of his and Sharon's children, Kelly and Jack, become stars in their own right, whilst their other daughter Aimee declined to appear. Above: Osbourne with Sharon, Jack and Kelly

Osbourne recovered from his drink and drug problems with the help of his wife Sharon. Pictured: The pair at the Grammy Awards in January 2020

Ozzy Osbourne is pictured as a child

Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, the singer was raised by his parents Lilian and John with three older sisters and two younger brothers in a small two-bedroom home in Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne is pictured in 1970, the year after he formed Black Sabbath. The band was initially named Earth but its name was changed to Black Sabbath soon after

Osbourne is seen above on his wedding day in 1982 with Sharon, her parents Hope (far left) and Don Arden and his mother Lillian (second from right) and sister Jean

After having daughter Aimee, now 38, in 1983, Osbourne and Sharon went on to have Kelly, 37, in 1984, and Jack, 36, in 1985. Above: The family are pictured shortly after the birth of Jack

A portrait of Ozzy Osbourne, dressed as a 1950s housewife, ironing his daughter Aimee in 1983. Aimee is now less high-profile than her siblings Jack and Kelly, after refusing to appear in reality TV hit The Osbournes

Osbourne has two older children from his marriage to first wife Thelma Riley. Above: Osbourne with son Louis in 2009

Prior to his union with Sharon, Osbourne had been married to first wife Thelma Riley for 11 years, from 1971 until 1982. The pair had children Jessica and Louis together, whilst Osbourne also adopted Thelma's son Eliot (pictured right)

Osbourne with daughters Kelly and Aimee, wife Sharon and son Jack in 2002 - the year that the family's show The Osbournes began

Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne attend the Pride of Britain awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on September 28, 2015 in London

Osbourne with Butler (left) and Iommi in the 1970s. Black Sabbath revolutionised the heavy metal genre, making themselves popular with millions of fans

Osbourne with Black Sabbath bandmates Iommi, Butler and Ward in 1976, the year that the band released album Technical Ecstasy

Osbourne infamously bit the head off a bat during a performance in Iowa in 1982

Osbourne during solo performances in 1985

A Daily Mail article from 1984 delved into the singer's antics at the time, including how he had been banned from six American cities

Osbourne's troubles with alcohol and drugs reached crisis point in 1989, when Osbourne attempted to strangle Sharon and he was arrested

Sharon came up with the idea for the fly-on-the-wall documentary about her family that was filmed at their Beverly Hills home. It proved a major hit for US network MTV, running between 2002 and 2005. Aimee however refused to take part and criticised her parents for their antics, despite the fact that the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Programme

The show covered the aftermath of Osbourne's quad bike crash at his UK home in 2003. His heart stopped beating and he also broke his collar bone, eight ribs and neck vertebra

The Daily Mail's original reporting of Osbourne's quad bike crash, which was witnessed by his children, noted how he nearly lost his arm

Along with Iommi, Osbourne performed Paranoid – Black Sabbath's most famous song – at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002

Ozzy and Sharon are seen putting their love for each other on display at the Pride of Britain awards in 2017

Osbourne and Sharon turned themselves and their children into TV stars with their documentary The Osbournes. Above: The singer with Sharon and Kelly in 2020

Black Sabbath's solo tour - The End - saw them perform in locations across the world. Above: Osbourne with Butler, Iommi and Tommy Clufetos, who filled in for original drummer Ward

Osbourne is pictured eating an ice cream in hospital after his June 2022 operation, which his wife Sharon would  'determine the rest of his life'

The frail star is pictured in May 2022 shortly before he went into hospital for his major back operation