Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness and Metal Icon, Dies at 76
Just weeks after Ozzy did his Black Sabbath:Back to the Beginning in Birmingham knowing it would be his final show, the world lost a music icon.
Ozzy was part of my childhood, my teen years, and me as an adult. As a child my older brothers played Black Sabbath all the time. As much as I grew to like their harder music, I was entranced by a simple slow song on Black Sabbath Vol. IV entitled “Changes”. I would listen to this on an eight track tape and it would take forever to get back to the song to listen to it again.
As I got into high school, Ozzy as a solo artist was still part of my life as he took over the world of rock once again with the late great Randy Rhoads. I was in at school when I learned of the passing of Rhoads and my friends and I immediately cut class and left to sink in the loss of our guitar hero.
Throughout the years, Ozzy was one of the few artist that rock fans wanted to still hear new music. His music catalog is a part of my life and I will forever be grateful for all that you have given the fans.
I had only met Ozzy a couple of times. At the School of Rock movie premiere in Los Angeles, I was talking with Sharon who is still one of the sweetest people on the planet. I asked her if we could take a photo and she said “of course Darling”, at that time Ozzy was walking over to us and Sharon said “Ozzy let’s take a picture”, she pulled him into the frame but he had no clue where the camera was. Ozzy said “Peace mate” and walked off as Sharon thanked me for talking with her. It is a silly photo but a fond memory.
Ozzy, you truly gave to music world so much and we will be forever grateful. Rest in Peace
Dwayne Cavanas – Editor of Mayhem Music Magazine