Ozzy Osbourne's tour manager was found dead in his Birmingham, Mich., hotel room, the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office said. Bobby Thomson, 50, was found around 4:30 p.m. yesterday (July 24) in his bed at the Townsend Hotel in the Detroit suburb, near where the Ozzfest tour will play tonight.
Thomson had battled throat cancer for 18 months, Ozzfest's publicist told the Detroit Free Press. It appeared he had died in his sleep.
"We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend Bobby," Osbourne said in a statement. "He has been a part of our family for 23 years and loved very much. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Our sincerest sympathies go out to the Thomson family.''
An initial examination showed no sign of foul play and an autopsy was scheduled for today. Born in Wallyford, Scotland, Thomson lived in Saugus, Calif., north of Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Terri, and two sons, ages 19 and 10.