Patriots Salute Late Metal Legend Ozzy Osbourne for 'Iconic Intro' Music

"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 Osbourne family wrote on Osbourne's official Instagram account. "He was with his family and surrounded by love."

"He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family's privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis," the Osbournes continued.

Osbourne's revolutionary sound, highlighted by such brilliant cuts as "War Pigs," "Sweet Leaf" and "No More Tears," was considerably anti-establishment in its heyday.

Over time, however, he transcended metal to become a decidedly mainstream pop culture icon. As he did, his music evolved from merely being the soundtrack to the lives of metal maniacs and gym rats to something far more universal.

The New England Patriots adopted Osbourne's immortal single "Crazy Train" (the biggest hit off his first solo album, "Blizzard of Ozz," boasting remarkable ax work from Roads) as their introductory rally cry more than two decades ago, in the midst of their burgeoning Tom Brady-Bill Belichick dynasty run. Needless to say, the song was something of a good luck charm, and resonated in Gillette Stadium for many, many Super Bowl-bound sounds.

“The New England Patriots are saddened to learn of the passing of music legend Ozzy Osbourne, who provided the iconic intro for Patriots games for over 20 years,” New England's social team wrote. 

Osbourne's passing was apparently a surprise to the family. He and his wife, Sharon, had been in the midst of plotting a move from their longtime adopted home in Los Angeles back to England.

"Ozzy was always meant to come back to Britain to live in Buckinghamshire; it was where Sharon had spent so long preparing their family home for him," a source told Katie Hind of The Daily Mail. "There was much hope that he would be around for a lot longer than this, but at one point, there were fears they would not get him back from Los Angeles for the concert earlier this month."