John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, the lead singer of British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at 76, according to Sky News, citing a family statement.

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.