Music stars, fans, and former bandmates have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who has died at the age of 76.

Axar.az reports that Black Sabbath have "lost our brother", said the band's co-founder Tony Iommi, while bassist Geezer Butler remembered their final gig, and drummer Bill Ward shared an old photo of them.

The music icon's death on Tuesday came less than three weeks after his band played their farewell gig in his home city of Birmingham.

"He loved what he did, he loved music, he loved playing together, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity of getting together again to do the [farewell] show," Iommi told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday.

"It was brilliant being with all the guys again, and the atmosphere, and it was brilliant for Ozzy because he wanted to do that, he felt at home there, and it was good for all of us."

Osbourne, known for energetic and controversial live shows, inspired a generation of musicians.

"It's impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica," the band said in a statement on X. "Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend are a few that come to mind."