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When Ozzy Osbourne was on tour with Metallica in 1986, he heard the young opening act played in her wardrobe Black Sabbath and covered with Soundcheck’s songs by his old band. Osbourne initially suspected that they made fun of him. However, he later learned that they simply worshiped him and hoped to lure him onto the stage.
From Black Sabbath to solo career
As is discussed in the new episode of the “Rolling Stone Music Now” podcast, Osbourne – who died on July 22nd at the age of 76 – was characterized by touching uncertainty despite its cult status in the metal world. These feelings of inadequacy, rooted in a childhood in poverty, contributed to both his addiction problem and his decades of success. “He didn’t think he was a winner,” says Rolling-Stone editor Kory Grow. “And it was precisely this thinking made him want to want more and more and to be better.”
Osbourne’s entire life and career traces the podcast episode-including the moment when he shaped the metal genre with Black Sabbath. A large part of her dark image was pushed out of the outside: the church bells in the song “Black Sabbath” added a producer, and the converted cross in the album artwork surprised the band members, who were brought up Christian and were so sensitive to Okcultem that they were disturbed “the exorcist”.
The episode also illuminates Osbourne’s separation from Black Sabbath at the end of the 1970s, the almost miraculous start of his solo career with guitar genius Randy Rhoads – as well as everything that came afterwards. Kory Grow, who interviewed Osbourne several times, also offers insights into its last years.
One last time on stage
When Osbourne returned to the stage in 2022, according to Grow, he was “in a great mood”. “He thought he would play more than two songs per concert … Then he continued to talk about wanting to recover, but also about how difficult it was – from walking to other complaints.” In later interviews, his voice sounded weaker and brittle, even if he stayed mentally awake.
In the end, Osbourne made it on stage again – two weeks before his death, in his hometown Birmingham. At the benefit concert back to the beginning he sat on a throne, sang solo hits and performed with Black Sabbath one last time. Bands such as tool, Metallica and Guns N ‘Roses showed him the honor. “That says a lot,” says Grow, “that these bands came together for music, charity and Ozzy as legend.”
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