"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," the family said.

Ozzy Osbourne, frontman of 1970s British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 76, his family said on Tuesday.

He played a much-heralded final show with Black Sabbath, one of the most influential bands in hard rock and heavy music, in Birmingham just 17 days ago, on July 5.