Nick Remembers Ozzy Osbourne 1948-2025

But then I got to thinking and I remembered my first Ozzy “memory”…

I used to go record shopping/hunting with my dad nearly every weekend, using my allowance money to buy CDs, Cassettes and LPs. At age 10 or 11, I distinctly remember buying a “2 for 1” cassette (one album on each side of the tape) from “Music Music” in Garden City. On Side A was the Black Sabbath album “Paranoid” and on Side B was the Black Sabbath album “Heaven and Hell”. It was an officially released product believe it or not! Now depending on who you ask, some may tell you that those two records are all you need when it comes to “heavy metal”. Of course there are so many other great records to mention but let’s say you didn’t have everything at your disposal in the palm of your hand, let’s say you could only have one physical tape to take with you… I’d say that the 80 minutes on that tape could keep you satisfied for years to come.

I remember it was a Sunday morning and I got up by myself like I always did in those days and I went downstairs and sorted through the stack of tapes I had just bought, locating the aforementioned Sabbath tape. I popped it in, hit play on side A and heard the first notes of “War Pigs”. I had never heard anything like that up to that point. It was menacing, It sent chills down your spine and I’m not gonna lie… it scared the fuck out of me. I stared at the speakers, almost considering turning it off as it felt like I almost shouldn’t be allowed to listen to this. Yet, I pushed through hearing “Paranoid”, “Hand of Doom”, and what has become my absolute favorite Ozzy era Sabbath song “Faires Wear Boots” (Bill Ward is unbelievable on this track). When side A concluded, I wasn’t sure what I had just digested in my ears but I knew it was something that I’d continue to go back to the rest of my life.

When I first started playing guitar my Dad would show me little tidbits of songs that I liked and knew to encourage me to get playing. The first riff I learned to completion was “Crazy Train” and still to this day I can play it no matter how long it’s been since I last played it. My dad loved Ozzy, especially the guitar playing from both the legendary Randy Rhodes and the legendary Jake E. Lee (my personal favorite). I’m soooooo tired of “Crazy Train” but its staying power and ability to reach generations well beyond mine cannot be overstated. As someone that’s worked in a retail music store for almost 20 years now, i don’t think I’ve ever gone a day where someone hasn’t come in and played that song. From 6 year old beginners to the most advanced of guitarists. I remember once asking my dad “how many times have you heard Crazy Train” to which he replied… “let’s see… at least twice a day since 1981”, I think it was around 2012 when I asked him this so my math tells me he had heard “Crazy Train” somewhere around 23,000 times. This isn’t counting how many times I played it with him in the other room

OR when he played it consistently when he actually liked it when it came out on “Blizzard of Ozz”.

Just 3 weeks ago today I sat in my basement and watched the “Back to the Beginning” livestream celebrating Ozzy and Sabbath’s farewell to the world with what will no doubt go down in history as the greatest day in heavy metal lore. I watched as the giants of hard rock and heavy metal all lined up to pay their respects to Ozzy and Sabbath…the originals, one of the few “all time” bands who’s classic lineups were all still alive and able to play. Metallica, Slayer, GNR, Anthrax, the list goes on, all there to say “Thank You!” As the anticipation built throughout the day you couldn’t help but smile and cheer for Ozzy, when he finally came on I have to admit I had to hold back the tears. You could just tell it meant so much for him to be up there one last time.

About 13 years ago I was fortunate enough to be a part of an interview that my uncle Ron Perry did with Michael Davis, bassist of the original MC5. An incredible moment and experience as I believe Michael passed not long after we did this interview, he was a very sweet man. Ron’s last question was “is there anything you regret?” Michael thought for a second and he said “Yes. My biggest regret is that Rob (Tyner) and Fred (“Sonic” Smith) aren’t here to experience our immortality”. Outside of being a fantastic rock and roll quote this resonated with me. Here was a guy who played in one of the greatest bands of all time and he knew that what hey had done would stand the test of time. While he was still here to know, he wished that the guys he had done it with were also able to know. Know that they would live forever.

Back to the Beginning wasn’t just a farewell for Ozzy and Sabbath it was a chance for them to collectively experience their own immortality…. Together while they were all still here. Ozzy up there in front of 40,000 people screaming his name with MILLIONS watching from home, battling Parkinson’s and overcoming every definable odd that should have kept him off the stage. How incredible. Without question he was “good” with when it was his time, whenever it would come. Something we all hope and pray for. To be able to do it with his 3 brothers that he changed the world with had to give it an extra level of satisfaction. It will forever be the greatest way to say goodbye

Ozzy’s passing is as important and as devastating as the giants that have left us in the last decade….Bowie, Petty, Prince and his heavy metal contemporaries Lemmy and Ronnie James Dio, A reminder that even the most largest of life people can’t be here forever. His impact and influence are immeasurable, he deserves every accolade currently being bestowed upon him. This one guy fronted Black Sabbath, gave the world Randy Rhodes, made it cool to be on reality tv, did more drugs and drank more than anyone thought was humanly possible, bit the head off a live bat, brought joy to millions and yes… pissed on the Alamo. A true rock god. He also never missed a chance to say “I love you all!”

May he rest in peace and may his legacy live on in all of us including those that will come after us.

Ozzy Osbourne

1948-2025