On July 22, 2025, the world lost a legend. Ozzy Osbourne, the "Prince of Darkness," passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped both rock and metal music and inspired generations of artists and fans alike.
Born in Birmingham, England, Ozzy rose from working-class roots to global stardom as the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, pioneers of heavy metal. With a voice that could summon thunder and lyrics that explored the shadows of human experience, he helped define a genre. Later, as a solo artist, Ozzy's music continued to push boundaries, offering unforgettable anthems and raw emotional power.
Beyond the stage, he became a cultural force—unpredictable, irreverent, yet deeply human. His honesty about personal struggles, his love for his family, and his offbeat humor made him beloved far beyond the music world.
Ozzy Osbourne was more than a performer—he was a symbol of resilience, rebellion, and the strange beauty 
found in the dark. He may be gone, but his music, his spirit, and his impact will echo forever.
Rest in peace, Ozzy. You were one of a kind.
The Metal Crypt thought it would be an appropriate time to remember and celebrate him not only as the man of one of heavy metal's greatest and most unique voices ever, but also the goofiest yet funniest person in the history of heavy rock/metal.
We posed a few questions to a bunch of musicians regarding Ozzy's influence and inspiration on them. Read how they remembered his career that compromised over five decades as a lead vocalist both in Black Sabbath and in his solo band, Ozzy Osbourne...
How did Ozzy Osbourne's music or persona influence your decision to pursue a music career, and in what ways does that influence still show in your work today?
Kari (SEPULCHRAL CURSE): My first encounters with Ozzy and his persona must have been the song "Paranoid" (I mean everyone knows that song regardless of age or status) and secondly The Osbournes TV show. I was still a kid when that started to spin on television, and I remember thinking it was really funny. I knew Ozzy was a metal singer, but that was it at that time.
My roots in heavy metal music are deep in doom metal. As a teenager I was obsessed with traditional doom metal and tried to get my hands on every record possible. When browsing through more recent bands, you would always see bands covering or praising Black Sabbath and that naturally sparked my interested. Sure as hell, I was in for a treat when I went through Black Sabbath's discography. The first four albums are pure gold and, needless to say, are huge inspirations. Black Sabbath has had many great singers, but even though I really love the Dio era, Ozzy is the original voice of doom. Sadly, I am not that familiar with Ozzy's solo material, but I think due to "The Prince of Darkness" passing, I need to change that.
Markus Makkonen (SADISTIK FOREST): Well, Black Sabbath is my all-time favorite band. The absolute number one!! It has been that way since the mid-90s after I discovered them along with the likes of Motörhead. I think we spoke in a prior interview about how those mid-priced CD shelves in record stores were my treasury at that time and from those vaults of "criminally outdated music" I came across most of my favorite bands of today. Sabbath was one of them: "Out of date 70s stuff." Paranoid was the first CD I got and after listening to it, it felt like I had arrived home. I have always been a sucker for all heavy, slow and mid-tempo stuff and they had plenty. I kept listening to those early Sabbath albums on 
constant repeat and kept buying more of them every time there was money for it. Around 1995 or so, I was already in my early bands and to get better as a guitar player and later as a bass player, I practiced along with those Sabbath records. So, it is safe to say Tony Iommi taught me how to play guitar and Geezer Butler how to play bass. And, of course, Ozzy was singing on top of it all. Sabbath is the foundation of all my musical endeavors and that would not have ever happened without Ozzy being a part of it.
Danny Lilker (ex-NUCLEAR ASSAULT): As a ninth-grade graduation present to myself, I bought Black Sabbath's Greatest Hits at the age of 14. I had heard about them from friends, and when I heard it, it changed my life forever and set me on the path I followed.
Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan (VENOM INC., ATOMKRAFT): Well, Lemmy inspired me directly, but Lemmy led me to Ozzy. Sabbath, like Motörhead, had a huge influence. The characters intertwined, the bands were unique, and they remained funny, kind and humble. All of those factors contributed to my music and if I can burn that candle until I die, then I will have done them justice in my way of thanking them for the soundtrack to my life they generously gave to me.
Titan Fox V (HAMMER KING): Ozzy was among the first bands and musicians I collected at a young age. I had been raised on Bark at the Moon, his Live & Loud album made me an active fan and when I finally got the then-out-of-print Randy Rhoads Tribute album, I was enchanted by the early genius of Ozzy and Randy. Oddly enough, I discovered Black Sabbath afterwards!
Ricard (PROSCRITO): Hailz, dear Luxi! Long time no talk, my friend. Let's take a stroll down memory lane. Unfortunately, no Sabbath album was to be found on my father's shelves, so I mostly fantasized about their doom and darkness after reading a glossy magazine chronicling the band and a certain Ozzman's solo adventures, which were far from funny, actually mischievously wicked and depraved for a righteous schoolboy like me. Even the No Rest for the Wicked cover looked truly evil, menacing, and captivating at the same time. To this day, Tony Iommi still looks exactly how I envision the devil!
Those might be the earliest recollections I have of Satan channeled through amplification, the occult, and subliminal conditioning, which clearly paved the way for where I am now. For some reason, even the most upbeat Black Sabbath songs held that forbidden aura as a kid, along with that good, tasty and ancient heaviness that remains unparalleled, even today, despite a sea of slower-than-thou derivative sludge copycats for hipsters sporting the infamous Henry Rollins motto shirt.
The story (and blurry pictures) of Ozzy beheading a dove seemed absolutely terrifying and gave rock 'n' roll the bite (heh!) and sense of danger I miss so much. It's no wonder I obsessed over Black Sabbath as soon as I got my early taste of them, deeming their earliest run of LPs my favorite music (now I might gravitate more toward Born Again and, yes, Seventh Star, both for reasons that deserve a different write-up, so don't get me started on that now, OK?). Their riffs fueled my guitar playing through an unhealthy obsession with the riff and a sense of pounding gravity. You don't just learn "Highway Star" front to back overnight, but you have to nail your "Iron Man" chops first, right? Ozzy's cheerful, greater-than-life clairvoyance in "Supernaut" gives me the power to get through hard times, and the crushing lyrics of "Wheels of Confusion" grow more devastating with each listen (and I'm not remotely joking about that), so I blame myself for not heeding the call sooner.
Lo and behold, during my earliest escapades to local rehearsal rooms, when I placed my first ad with my telephone number, a text followed: "lousy guitarist looks for people who value Black Sabbath more than their own lives, and kinky women too." — turns out I failed on both counts.
Rob Urbinati (SACRIFICE): In my most exciting, formative music discovery years, around when I was 13-14, Ozzy was right at the front with Randy Rhoads and the Sabbath stuff. My first concert was the "Diary of a Madman" tour. My first metal shirt was from that show. I was pretty obsessed with Ozzy around that time; I was also just starting to pick up the guitar around then. All that music coming out around then is still the stuff that influences me.
Lasse Pyykkö (HOODED MENACE): Ozzy's persona surely added danger to heavy metal, which made the 
genre even more appealing to me and the other kids on a lookout for heavy sounds in the '80s. At first it was Ozzy's solo albums that made a huge impression on me. I was totally hooked on The Ultimate Sin album, especially, and Jake E Lee's playing. That was around the time I was starting to write my very first heavy metal songs. I can still remember the second song I ever wrote, it was called "Dark Weekend," and I recall thinking it had a really strong "Secret Loser" (off The Ultimate Sin album) vibe to it. I can't remember this primitive creation anymore, but it possibly shared some similarities to "Secret Loser" chord- and rhythmic-wise. At the time I was just starting to learn the guitar so you can only imagine what a masterpiece (of shit) it was (laughs). Anyways, this story gives you a pretty good idea about how important Ozzy's music was to me when growing up and learning my way around the fretboard and songwriting.
So, I got into Ozzy's solo era first and then a bit later into Black Sabbath because at the time Black Sabbath seemed old-fashioned, whereas Ozzy's solo was fresh and hot. Needless to say, many things "old-fashioned" were soon going to hit the spot for me, from Black Sabbath to The Doors to Cream to Hendrix, and so forth.
Black Sabbath and solo-Ozzy have had a lasting impact on my way of writing music. Obviously, you can hear Black Sabbath in Hooded Menace since the early days (if in doubt, please check "The Love Song of Gotho, Hunchback of the Morgue"), and the influence of Ozzy's solo stuff has become stronger and stronger along the years. Ozzy always had some of the best rock guitarists on the planet in his band, which has been a huge inspiration to me, not only as a songwriter, but also as a guitarist. Add to that someone like Tony Iommi, who is the undisputed king of the riff... There you have a pretty good Ozzyfied source of inspiration to dig from for the rest of your life.
Tomi Malinen (MUTANT BLAST): I have looked up to him for as long as I can remember. A true performer and singer. Black Sabbath being my favorite band, their influence will show up in my songs from time to time.
Dee Dee Altar (BUNKER 66): He's a figure so deeply rooted in modern culture that, in my opinion, he 
transcends such dynamics. He and Black Sabbath essentially have always been there. I don't even remember the exact moment of Ozzy's discovery. I assume I saw him on MTV or VIVA (which I watched avidly in Germany during summer vacations at my grandparents' house) in the late '90s, not exactly an extraordinary musical period for Ozzy, but there you go. I'd dare say that Ozzy and Black Sabbath subconsciously influenced me and all of us, as Black Sabbath is the beginning, the cause of our obsession with all heavy music; everything stems from there, even if they weren't the first heavy band we listened to.
John McEntee (INCANTATION): Ozzy had a massive influence on my decision to pursue music. I got into him around the time of Speak of the Devil and Bark at the Moon. Speak of the Devil was my first Ozzy album because I already knew the songs from Black Sabbath's Live Evil. I came into Sabbath through the Dio era, so I was unsure at first about Ozzy's voice, which I ended up loving. But even if the vocals hadn't been my thing, I figured I'd still enjoy the music, and I did, so it was worth the money to buy the double LP set. That gateway pulled me deeper into Ozzy's solo work, and before long, I was hooked.
The cover art alone for Speak of the Devil and Bark at the Moon was mesmerizing. As a kid, I honestly thought, "This guy is insane..." That larger-than-life image had a real impact on me. I quickly picked up Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, and as someone just learning guitar, both Jake E. Lee and Randy Rhoads completely blew me away. The combination of dark atmosphere, wild imagery, and killer riffs made me want to be more than just a kid jamming at home. It helped push me toward a career in music.
To this day, even with Incantation, you can hear echoes of early '70s Sabbath in our sound. That influence never left. Without Ozzy and Sabbath, I honestly don't know where I'd be today. He was one of those figures who made it feel possible and helped me believe that doing something extreme, dark, and different could actually matter.
Drew Rizzo (MIDNITE HELLION): As long as I can remember, Ozzy has been in my life. My father had the Master of Reality and Paranoid records, and I started listening to them when I was probably around 8 years old. At this point, I already played the piano, violin, and tenor saxophone in school but wanted to get my hands on the drums and guitar. Keith Moon inspired me to want to play the drums when I was around 4, and Ozzy influenced which genre of music I wanted to dedicate my life to.
The first thing I taught myself on guitar were Black Sabbath songs from the aforementioned albums when I got a hold of my mother's childhood acoustic guitar. I was probably around 10 at the time. My uncle loaned me his drums a couple of years later, and I was excited to see that it was a Ludwig set and I immediately thought, "just like Bill Ward's!" Included was also a Tama Imperialstar tom, which I absolutely loved and later found out Bill also played. Oddly enough, when I scraped together money for my first set of drums after working all summer at the age of 15, it was an '82 Tama Imperialstar set, which I still have today. That summer job season also afforded me the opportunity to see Ozzy in concert for the first time.
Ozzy taught me to dare to be different, to always be true to yourself, and to be kind. To borrow a line from him, you've got to believe in yourself, or no one will believe in you.
Mark Ruffneck (OZ): At the beginning of my music career, when I started playing drums, there weren't many bands or albums to choose from.
Later came the first concert videos, so even then Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath were a must.
In the beginning, OZ was a cover band and songs like "Paranoid" and "Evil Woman" were part of our setlist when OZ performed on stage.
Nowadays, OZ probably has some influences from Ozzy on the lyrical side.
Rick Cortez (SADISTIC INTENT): Ozzy Osbourne always had great guitar players and bands in general to 
accompany his vocals. Starting with Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi, then his solo albums with Randy Rhoads and Jake E Lee, those were the times of our youth. We were teenagers and even though Ozzy would say rock and roll, we called it heavy metal! It was the '80s and to quote him from Speak of the Devil, "keep on smoking it," and we did. It was the times when we first started going out and drinking beers, and his music was the soundtrack to our gatherings. Those albums were dark and powerful, as was the live stage presence, and that was very influential to us. It was 1984 when we first thought of starting a band and it certainly inspired my brother and I to create that feeling with our own music. All these years later, that is essentially what we still do with Sadistic Intent...
Hugo Uribe (WITCHTRAP): Anybody in heavy metal can't say they aren't somehow related to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Since I was a teenager, one of my first touches with metal music was Black Sabbath with the Paranoid album and Ozzy Osbourne's Speak of the Devil in my hometown of Medellín, Colombia. Once I started my band Witchtrap, one of the ideas I got from him from an interview I read in Metal Hammer mag was, "follow your dreams to not earn your life in a normal job." So, today, after 33 years of hard work with music, I can say my brother and I are living from the band's earnings and royalties, playing live and merch sales. That's something that a Colombian band can't say usually it's almost a miracle.
Can you recall a specific moment, either a song, a concert, or an interview where Ozzy Osbourne made a lasting impression on you personally or creatively?
Kari (SEPULCHRAL CURSE): Naturally, I really loved the music Ozzy was involved in and the first song that hit me was "Electric Funeral." That was also one of the first songs I learned (or more like tried to learn) on bass. I guess the pure doom metal feel of the song was what caught me first. Also, Ozzy's vocals are really top notch on the heavy and creepy song! Totally one of his best moments as a vocalist!
The moment I really realized how cool of a frontman and singer he was when I finally was able to see Black Sabbath live in 2016. His energy and vocal performance even at that age really amazed me! Very inspiring to see a guy go full blast and live his dream! Also seeing these guys return together to create something unique live was awesome (though sadly Ward was missing).
Markus Makkonen (SADISTIK FOREST): If we skip Sabbath, as Ozzy had been out of the band for over a decade as I got into them and focus on Ozzy in his solo career, I guess it must have been the way that he sings on his solo records that really made the difference. I know he did not write the lyrics he sang too much, but he was able to sing them in a way that made the message really sink in. To reach the listener. I think those solo records of his really made me want to write lyrics as well and they sure did influence the way I would be writing them later on.
"The ministry of war that got caught in the draft
The ministry of joy that still hasn't laughed
When it's boiled down and the days at an end
I'll give you no bullshit and I'll never pretend
'Cause I'm a rock 'n' roll rebel
I'll tell you no lies"
or
"A sickened mind and spirit
The mirror tells me lies
Could I mistake myself for someone
Who lives behind my eyes?"
Just immortal stuff and the way Ozzy sang them; it was just brilliant. Touching and emotional.
Danny Lilker (ex-NUCLEAR ASSAULT): "Sweet Leaf"!!!! Smoke one for "The fucking Prince of Darkness!!!"
Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan (VENOM INC., ATOMKRAFT): Seeing the first "Blizzard of Oz" tour when it came to Newcastle, England. It was even MORE than Sabbath in many ways because his energy and renewed enthusiasm were overwhelming and exciting, and his career just grew bigger and bigger from there. I watched him become the biggest heavy metal artist in America and the world...
Titan Fox V (HAMMER KING): I only saw him live one time on the "Retirement Sucks Tour," which with all due respect was not his greatest tour. It was a bit of the "anti-metal years," where everything was scaled down, Randy Castillo had short hair and Zakk Wylde wasn't around. But hell yeah, Geezer Butler was on bass, and I am very glad I saw that. But I am more inspired by anything Ozzy did up to Ozzmosis. These albums never age.
Ricard (PROSCRITO): While I'm not the most fanatical follower of Ozzy's solo career (though I regularly play and know the first four albums by heart, as any self-respecting man should), I tend to revisit that Sadistik Exekution video where Kriss Hades pierces himself with pins to "Over the Mountain" during those endless nights that also find yours truly looping the sequence of Ritchie Blackmore smashing video cameras with his Strat at California Jam '74. That's still more ME(N)TAL than your average current "death" metal trend. I crushed a couple of glasses of Scotch with my dear Joaquín (Oniricous), incidentally the biggest Ozzy Osbourne fan I know, listening to that very song after their last gig in Zaragoza, which ended with broken eyebrows and blood everywhere. That riff is pure, unadulterated evil.
When I heard about Ozzy's passing, I immediately spun my copy of Diary of a Madman, and I have to say it felt weird in a rare, redemptive way. No, I didn't shed a false tear like those professional mourners who never cared but love the thrill of social media, it just felt strange. Life can be like that sometimes.
In some way, I remain intoxicated within the ending grooves of "Under the Sun" and the emotional display of "Megalomania." And I'm not 100% proud of this one, but after watching my first and only Ozzy Osbourne gig at a festival, I came home drunk as a skunk. When entering the room, my mother found me crying. When she asked why, I just sobbed back, "well, it's just that I never expected to see this old fella live."
Rob Urbinati (SACRIFICE): There are way too many moments, but the first time I heard Blizzard... I knew I was hearing something great with the guitar playing and the songs. One thing growing up was that I felt like I would never ever be able to see the four original members of Sabbath perform together. When they finally did in, I think 1999, the show was incredible and emotional for me.
Lasse Pyykkö (HOODED MENACE): I must mention The Ultimate Sin and Jake E Lee again. Such a 
big impression on me back in the day, and still is. Oddly enough, it's such a criminally underrated work in Ozzy's catalog. Some even call it hair metal. I have absolutely nothing against hair metal, but listen to the title track and then come back telling me it's not 100% heavy metal. That riff, that song is Ozzy at its heaviest. Also, The Ultimate Ozzy VHS was much consumed at the time.
Tomi Malinen (MUTANT BLAST): When I saw a concert video called Live in Paris 1970, it blew me away how energetic Ozzy was and how tight the band was. Way ahead of their time. The band looked and sounded fantastic. I thought, that is what I want to be and do.
Dee Dee Altar (BUNKER 66): I copied the first Black Sabbath album, owned by a friend of mine, from CD to cassette. My relatively untrained ears weren't yet accustomed to those raw, visceral sounds, and it took me a while to fully immerse myself in the world of Black Sabbath. From then on, with the typical slowness of the pre-download era, I approached them and Ozzy's solo work in the best way possible: slowly buying up every vinyl I could get my hands on. I hope those records stay with me until I die. Sabotage is currently my favorite.
John McEntee (INCANTATION): Yes, sometime in 1983, I saw a televised repeat of the Speak of the Devil live performance with Brad Gillis on guitar. I think it was on MTV, or maybe another late-night rock show at the time. Of course, I recorded it on VHS and watched it obsessively.
The whole vibe of that show was awesome. It was raw, wild, and theatrical. For a young, aspiring metal musician, it was everything you could hope for. It wasn't just about the music; it was the energy and the performance. It didn't just inspire me to practice guitar more; it made me want to make music my life.
After that, I became obsessed. I watched every interview, tracked down every article, and soaked up everything Ozzy-related that I could find. Like so many '80s kids, Ozzy showed me what it meant to push boundaries, not just musically but personally too. That moment stuck with me for life.
Drew Rizzo (MIDNITE HELLION): As it was pointed out to me by a friend, Ozzy passed away literally 25 years to the date from the first time I ever saw him live, and while all the times I've seen Ozzy solo or with Sabbath were special, the first and the last times were the most lasting memories. Ozzfest on July 22, 2000, in Camden, NJ was my third ever concert, which had Joe Holmes on lead guitar. Holmes was a student of Randy Rhoads, and the spirit of Randy was most definitely there that day. You closed your eyes, it sounded and felt like Randy and Ozzy were back together again.
Fast-forward to the final Sabbath US tour, and Ozzy has never sounded better! A friend gave me her extra ticket to see Sabbath at the last minute, and I'm so glad I went. During Ozzy's final US tour in 2018, my fiancée and I were traveling around the country seeing Helloween, and instead of enjoying a day off in Chicago, we red-eyed it back to Jersey and 
caught what ended up being his last area appearance. We were running on one single hour of sleep, arriving just in time for Stone Sour's encore. That show was pure magic, from Ozzy somehow surpassing the aforementioned performance with Sabbath, to Zakk's solo in the middle of the audience, giving every person in the back a front-row seat to him for a few minutes. I'm so glad that this is my lasting memory of my final time seeing him. I can count on a single hand how many artists would inspire me to run that ragged to go to a show, and it was a full-circle moment as that final date was also in Camden, NJ.
After feeling the magic from these shows, I have felt compelled to make others feel the way that Ozzy made me feel. I have already heard stories from various fans of ours traveling crazy distances to see us perform, and it always humbles me and brings me back to my concert memories.
Mark Ruffneck (OZ): A special moment for me personally was a concert in Draken, Stockholm, in December 1983.
I moved from Finland to Stockholm in early 1983, and that concert with Ozzy Osbourne and his band was the first concert I bought tickets for in my new hometown. A few weeks earlier, there appeared an Ozzy poster to support his new album Bark at the Moon and the tour for that.
The Ozzy poster had a part of our Fire in the Brain album cover on it. So, we can say that Ozzy needed OZ's help with his tour poster, ha ha!!
The lasting memory of that poster; You can use other bands' album covers on your tour poster without paying anything for it.
Rick Cortez (SADISTIC INTENT): I remember the cover of Diary of a Madman when it was still a new record, seeing a demonic Ozzy Osbourne with the inverted cross behind him. That, combined with the story of him biting off the dove and bat heads, this certainly left an impression on me. Back then he was known as "The Madman"! You have got to remember, this was back in the early '80s, he was definitely a pioneer of the dark arts and supernatural in heavy metal music. I am really glad that we got a chance to meet Ozzy one time, when he signed our LPs and, of course, really glad that we saw him live more than once with both Black Sabbath as well as his solo band. Still, I wish I could see him one more time and witness all those great songs and hear him say, "let's go fuckin crazy"!!!
Hugo Uribe (WITCHTRAP): I could mention dozens of songs or interviews; he was always a guy with a big humor sense and very unpolitical correctness standards. I mean he was the irreverent master of world situations and the metal scene even today in a crystal society and feeble guys.
When I translated the lyrics for "War Pigs," I started to understand metal music was more than simply music; our music contains a lot of great messages and intention to wake up young people around the world against injustice and state power. I found it absolutely terrific and more than I can imagine being a young guy with a lot of anger and fury. The same shit happened when I translated the lyrics from the Diary of a Madman album; my first album from Ozzy. So, all his discography affected me in a good way to create music with my band Witchtrap, for sure.
As a member of a band, how has Ozzy's legacy with Black Sabbath and his solo career shaped your views on collaboration, performance, or longevity in rock and metal music?
Kari (SEPULCHRAL CURSE): I think we who all operate in heavy metal owe a lot to Black Sabbath. Be it as creators of the genre musically or pawing a way for the lyrical and thematic side of heavy metal, it all started with these guys. I think we all just need to carry the torch onward that Black Sabbath lit up. Ozzy is also a great example that you can live your life with your own rules when you put a lot of hard work and passion into what you do, without letting the opinions of others affect you. Also, you can do what you love as long as your body can hold it together. Those reasons should inspire and be considered Ozzy's legacy to us all.
Markus Makkonen (SADISTIK FOREST): In his solo career, Ozzy was able to surround himself with great musicians who helped him forge those immortal albums and songs he did. Also, he was not afraid to ask for help from people like Lemmy from Motörhead, to write some stuff for him. In a way, it can be said that Ozzy's solo career did open my eyes a bit from that usual "band box" where a band should do and write everything by themselves and when asked, I have written some lyrics for my friends or have done some vocal work for their projects.
Ozzy was also very considerate to his band. Just yesterday Jake E. Lee shared a text from Ozzy he had received just days before Ozzy's passing. In it, Ozzy apologized for not being in touch with Lee for quite some time and was telling him that when he comes to L.A. they should meet and talk properly. So, the lesson Ozzy taught us in the end is obvious: Don't be a dick.
Danny Lilker (ex-NUCLEAR ASSAULT): For sure. I've made the jump from thrash to grind to black and death metal, so although Ozzy's career moves weren't as dramatic as mine, he still had to start over with Blizzard of Oz, which was inspiring for me when I formed Brutal Truth, for example.
Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan (VENOM INC., ATOMKRAFT): He is a perfect example of how an artist can BE an artist, whether in a band as a member or as an artist with other artists around them. No limits, in time nor creativity and how an artist can continue to inspire and entertain from the beginning truly (à la Lemmy) to the absolute end if they should choose.
Titan Fox V (HAMMER KING): Be yourself, no matter what others may think. Ozzy knew all about that. Be yourself 100% all the time. Thank you for ozzifying the world, your legacy will live on forever!
Ricard (PROSCRITO): You must be reckless in order to release good music. Boring lives lead to boring art. And last but certainly not least: don't let your wife take over your career. Up the Irons! So long and rest easy, madman, we'll snort some ants together in the afterlife!
Rob Urbinati (SACRIFICE): It's immeasurable. When I was young, everyone would tell me this music is a fad, and it won't last. It's funny that back then I felt that Sabbath or Priest were old and they weren't even 40 yet. Here I am today still playing into my late 50s. It was incredibly inspiring to see Sabbath perform one last time with the four original members. That's longevity. The first ever band of our genre will always be the heaviest and best band for me. There is a soul to Black Sabbath that will always live. Ozzy made the soundtrack to all our lives. Every musician in our genre owes him and all of Sabbath our gratitude. The greatest band ever!
Lasse Pyykkö (HOODED MENACE): I love the idea of dedicating your life to something that you are passionate about, be it music, painting, collecting stamps, anything. Obviously, it's easier when the passion pays the bills as well as it did for Ozzy - well earned, no doubt. Anyways, I love the idea of the phrase "rock till you drop." Ozzy, Lemmy and the likes are manifestations of this. Personally, I never want to lose that kid within me that wrote "Dark Weekend" fascinated by Ozzy's music.
Tomi Malinen (MUTANT BLAST): It surely has brought all metal genres together, as it was seen in the "Back to the Beginning" show. His music and legacy will carry on forever.
Dee Dee Altar (BUNKER 66): Black Sabbath have always been THE band to look up to, the archetype of rock, a resounding example of synergy, of chemistry between four people who, by chance, found themselves playing and shaping a sound that proved seminal for decades to come. With Bunker 66, we were influenced by bands from the '80s, but those bands, in turn, would never have existed without Black Sabbath. We have always seen them as untouchable gods, responsible for the dark plots of heavy music, listening from above to the useless riffs of us miserable mortals engaged with this noise. Ozzy is one of these divine puppeteers of heavy rock and he will never (say) die.
John McEntee (INCANTATION): Back in 1980, the common belief was that if you were over 30, it was time to give up music and get a "real job." Rockers over 30 were considered dinosaurs. But Ozzy shattered that mindset. He was already in his mid-30s and still making records that connected with teenagers like me.
That showed me you're never too old to do what you love. Ozzy proved that longevity in music is about staying passionate and committed to your craft, no matter what your age. From Sabbath to his solo band, Ozzy surrounded himself with killer musicians and always gave 100 percent to the performance. That balance of vision, collaboration, and intensity left a huge mark on me.
I also respect his decision to do the "Back to the Beginning" show. It feels like a full-circle moment from someone who clearly loves entertaining people. As a working musician, I can relate to that deeply. Ozzy wasn't just a frontman. He was a symbol of dedication to the music, the fans, and the fire that keeps it all going.
Drew Rizzo (MIDNITE HELLION): When there's musical chemistry, stick with it, as it makes things very special for both the audience and the musicians themselves. There are always peaks and valleys in life, and that naturally will translate into any career so never give up no matter what the odds. Lastly, when your world seems to be crashing down upon you, remember there's always light at the end of the tunnel and it will get better. Rock 'n' metal isn't for everyone but those who love it, love it for life. At the end of the day, we're all still teenagers ready to rip it up at the next concert, whether it be on stage or in the audience.
Nobody's gonna change me, I'm gonna do it 'til I die...
Mark Ruffneck (OZ): The best thing you can do if you enjoy working in the music industry is to be yourself. In the long run, that's the only way¬—and Ozzy has shown the way to do it.
Rick Cortez (SADISTIC INTENT): Black Sabbath as well Ozzy proved to me that good music is timeless. I can still listen to those albums from the '70s and '80s and they are just enjoyable as ever. It was not just some trend; Ozzy was into it until the very end. Even in death, Ozzy Osbourne shall still live on through his music. R.I.P. The Prince of Darkness...
Hugo Uribe (WITCHTRAP): I told you before, his attitude with a lot of black humor, to live his life as he wanted, to enjoy life on your own terms, to don't give a fuck about any bad comments, reviews or feedback, to understand that living in and from metal is the best possible way, no matter what your parents told you, no matter what the society or the boss of your job told you about being a good and decent person. It's all about taking risks in life and understanding you can do whatever you want, without hurting anyone and following your dreams and living this life one step at a time, even if life may sometimes become tough, still in the very worst moments, keep your life in order so that your dreams have a chance to become true.
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