Recommendations of the Editorial team
Roger Waters has his controversial statements about Ozzy Osbourne defended again after his death. The comments he originally made shortly after Osbourne’s death were criticized as insensitive. Also from members of the Osbourne family.
After Ozzy Osbourne’s death last summer, Waters said in an interview with the Independent Ink podcast: “Ozzy Osbourne, who just died, God bless him in whatever state he was in his whole life. We’ll never know. The music – I don’t know. I don’t give a fuck.”
He then added: “I’m not interested in Black Sabbath, never have been. Not interested in biting off chicken heads or whatever they do. I couldn’t care less.”
Reactions from the Osbourne family
These statements sparked sharp reactions within the Osbourne family. Jack Osbourne wrote on social media: “Hey Roger Waters, fuck you. How pathetic and unworldly you have become. The only way you get attention these days is by spouting bullshit in the press. My dad always thought you were an asshole. Thanks for proving him right.”
The Osbourne family also briefly released a T-shirt that made fun of Waters. It had the words “Another Prick in the Wall” written on it. Next to it is a picture of Ozzy Osbourne urinating on the album “The Wall: Live in Berlin”.
In a new interview with Piers Morgan, Roger Waters was asked again about his statements. Morgan asked him if he regretted the comments – particularly given their insensitive timing shortly after Osbourne’s death.
Waters defends his statements
Waters acknowledged that the statements had been made, but qualified them: “These comments – I don’t deny that I said them – came in the middle of a long interview,” he explained, before adding: “Do I have to like every rock band that ever existed or people who bite the heads off of bats?”
When asked if he would apologize to Sharon Osbourne, Waters explicitly said no. “I obviously had no idea Sharon Osbourne listened to a podcast,” he said. “Not that I care much for Sharon Osbourne. She’s a radical Zionist. And she’s accused me of all sorts of things. Because she’s part of the Israeli lobby.”
No apology, but an offer to talk
When it comes to the rest of the Osbourne family, Waters was a little more conciliatory. Of Jack Osbourne, he said: “Listen, Jack. If he wants to talk, I’ll talk to him. And I won’t be mean to him.”