BREAKING: Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain Pa…read more.
The heavy metal world is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic voices. Ozzy Osbourne the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath and a solo pioneer of heavy metal has passed away at the age of 76. His death was confirmed by his family on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, after years of health battles.
Among the countless musicians and fans shattered by the news is Nicko McBrain, the long-serving drummer of Iron Maiden, who described Ozzy as “a giant not just of metal, but of life itself.”
“This one hurts more than I expected,” McBrain wrote in a deeply personal message. “Ozzy was one of a kind. A man who wore his madness like a crown and gave us all permission to be loud, weird, honest — and human.”
“He Made Us Brave”
Nicko McBrain, who joined Iron Maiden in 1982 and helped build their thunderous legacy alongside Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris, had long admired Ozzy — not just for his vocals, but for his fearless authenticity.
Though Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath shared stages in the early years and became pillars of British heavy metal, McBrain recalls Ozzy as someone who stood in a category all his own.
“He wasn’t trying to be anyone else. Ozzy was just Ozzy — unpredictable, full of mischief, but with a heart as big as any I’ve ever met. He made us brave. He made me brave.”
In interviews over the years, McBrain often credited Sabbath’s early albums especially Master of Reality and Vol. 4 as key influences on Maiden’s evolving sound. And behind the scenes, he always spoke with warmth and respect for the man who kicked the door open for generations of metal musicians.
The Final Bow
Ozzy’s death comes just weeks after his stunning farewell concert in Birmingham — a full-circle performance that reunited him with original Black Sabbath members for one last night of thunder and tears.
Nicko was in the audience that night, watching his old friend give his final performance seated but fierce. It wasn’t just a concert — it was a tribute to a life lived unapologetically.
“I sat there watching him give every last bit of himself to the music, to the fans, and I remember thinking, ‘This is how legends leave — not with silence, but with a roar.’ He went out the way he lived: loud, brave, and full of love.”
That final show, titled Back to the Beginning, also raised millions for charities close to Ozzy and his family, including Parkinson’s disease research and youth mental health. For many, it was clear that Ozzy knew this might be his last bow.
“He didn’t just say goodbye to us — he gave us a part of his soul to hold on to.”
A Shared History, A Deep Respect
Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath may have been two separate forces in the metal world, but they were built from the same foundation: working-class British grit, relentless creativity, and a deep bond with their fans.
McBrain shared that one of his fondest memories with Ozzy wasn’t at a show or festival, but during a quiet moment backstage in the early 2000s.
“We were just sitting there, laughing over cups of tea yes, tea and he suddenly went quiet. Then he looked at me and said, ‘Nick, you know we did alright, didn’t we?’ I told him, ‘We did more than alright, mate. You are the reason I ever sat behind a kit with guts in the first place.’ He just chuckled and said, ‘Bloody hell.’”
The Heart of a Legend
Ozzy’s death marks the end of an era, but his impact is woven into the fabric of every power chord and pounding rhythm that defines heavy metal.
“Ozzy didn’t just sing he felt. Every cry, every howl, every note came from a place of pain, joy, and madness,” McBrain said. “He made it okay for all of us to be a little unhinged, a little broken, but still brilliant.”
Nicko concluded his tribute with a message not just to Ozzy, but to the millions who will mourn him:
“Raise your horns, raise your glasses, raise your hearts. The Prince of Darkness has left the stage, but the echo of his voice will live in every amp, every kit, every scream. Sleep well, brother. You changed us forever.”
Ozzy Osbourne may be gone, but his spirit wild, raw, and defiantly alive lives on in the music, in the memories, and in every beat Nicko McBrain and others like him continue to play.
Rest in power, Ozzy. You’ll never be forgotten.
