As all in the entertainment world know, Ozzy Osbourne, the Man, the Legend, the Prince of Darkness, he was a God in the Metal Kingdom passed on Tuesday, July 22nd at the age 76. Known as the lead singer for Black Sabbath until his firing with band in 1979 for excessive drinking and drug abuse two demons that would forever plague his life and then rekindled his passion in music launching a phenomenal incredible solo career.
I knew the day was coming much sooner than most, as having known someone close to me who had Parkinson’s disease, taking the dreadful multi-pill cocktail was a daily requirement, for Ozzy he needed to stop them a month in advance to regain his ability to sing for a long duration for his final concert on July 5th, his way of saying goodbye to legions of fans, and at the same time delivering an outstanding mount of money for a series of charities, just merely to his legacy, that shall never die.
I feel all his fans will remember where they were and doing when they discovered his absence from our world of the living. I was driving to meet my girl for lunch, listening to Liquid Metal before switching over to Ozzy’s Boneyard, then seeing the Ozzy RIP on the screen, a painful and devastating moment swept over me, I was in a daze the rest of the day.
My first album for me was Blizzard of Ozz, and from there I was set discovering Black Sabbath. I was already listening to metal, so it all fit together, as if a masterful design. Ozzy’s vocals as well as the lyrics spoke volumes, and various bandmates over the decades made a lasting legacy.
I will always recall the one-time I got to see to see him Live in concert during the No Rest for the Wicked tour and I think for many fans we’ll remember those days when he screamed for our lighters and participation, ah the Ozzy lasting laugh.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath will always be known for lasting design and creation of the heavy metal world, their music was essential for any fan of genre to enjoy but the ballads would capture passersby attention, especially when he sang “Mama I’m Coming Home” one last time it was it held a significant meaning as he knew his time was short.
We at The Horror Times and Shredding Metal Beasts paid tribute to Ozzy by designing a 9-hour tribute show of bands’ covering his music as well as Black Sabbath found here Part 1, 2, 3.
Ozzy, we will miss you more than words can say.