Rock royalty is paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died today at 76. “He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend,” Elton John wrote on Instagram.

The architect of heavy metal with Black Sabbath, an even bigger solo star, and one of LA's original reality TV favourites, starring in The Osbournes - tributes are now being paid to the peerless Ozzy Osbourne following his death at 76.

Alice Cooper fears his friend Ozzy Osbourne sacrificed his "whole life" to rock 'n' roll and wasn't in "great shape" when he performed at Black Sabbath's recent reunion gig

Former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield took to Instagram to share a photo of a gold cane with the word "Ozzy" on it. "Ozzy I will always love and miss you," Pinfield wrote. Thank you for this beautiful thoughtful gift and all the life changing music."

Veteran rocker Ozzy, 76, has retired from live performances after making his final appearance on stage at the recent Black Sabbath reunion gig at Villa Park in Birmingham, and Alice, 77, fears his old friend wasn't in "good shape" and worries he dedicated too much of his life to being a rock star Alice - real name Vincent Furnier - told The Times newspaper: "Ozzy deserved that farewell [concert].