It’s been constantly recycled throughout the day today. It’s going to be tough to put into words or end up being word salad. My experience is similar to many. John Michael Osbourne gave us metalheads an identity and a sense of belonging. I truthfully never cared to fit on, have an identity or belong. I am what I am and interested in what interests me. I naturally gravitated to his character and music before I even picked up a guitar. He knows how much he did. He gave us this genre of music (with a couple other gentlemen) we all deeply crave. Osbourne influenced the whole world, a movement, a LIFESTYLE. Metal is life, and always will be. We were gifted many moments, thanks to his personality. As his one song stated, he sure was “breaking all the rules”. Even if we knew his eventual demise was sooner than later it doesn’t help the fact it hurts me. It doesn’t help the fact it hurts this large community he had a large part in creating. He’d want us to smile and remember the wealth of GREAT albums he was a part of. He’d want us to remember his great moments. But we naturally can’t help but deeply mourn his loss.
37 going on 38, I saw Zakk Wylde as his guitarist in his solo band who made me want to play. I dearly love Iommi’s style of playing. Obviously, two of many guitarists he’s played with. And in regards to everything metal, all roads lead back to Ozzy. My first metal album and introduction was “Master Of Reality”. My first song was “Into The Void”. That chunky ass intro riff grabbed my heart strings. The even groovier verse riff right after that is even gnarlier. Iommi shining yet again with his riffs but who else would sing over such a style of music? Fucking Ozzy, that’s who. The whole album is filled with chunky, meaty riffs and supreme performances. All natural and full of heart, like the man himself.
I’ve seen him a few times at Ozzfest when it stopped here in Buffalo, his solo music and with Black Sabbath. I’d have killed to see them starting out in the 70’s let alone when Randy Rhoads ripped for him in the 80’s. Nobody could have guessed it would have made such a worldwide impact then. The man himself couldn’t have predicted he’d change countless lives and start a whole movement. I’m so grateful for his contributions and essentially giving me my life as a person deeply obsessed with music. I owe a lot to Osbourne. We all do. Like him or not, he impacted so many things it’s beyond impressive.
I never met him and for those who have I’m so happy for you to get such an opportunity. I felt like I did know him through his huge library of music. Check on your metalheads today. We’re all sad, depressed and mourning. We’re not okay. Our precious Prince Of Darkness has left this earth physically. He is the father of Metal. He is the godfather of Metal. He was Metal and our ambassador. We loved Ozzy and he sure loved us. It’s so surreal and so sad I still can’t comprehend his loss. It’s going to take a lot of time to process.
What can we take from such a great, influential artist? He broke all the rules that are meant to be broken. He lived life to the fullest. Put that into your own life and apply it. Life is short, you may not even wake up tomorrow. You may have a lot, you may have little. Have fun and live in the moment. Life can be stressful have some fun. And boy, did Ozzy ever have some fun.
Thank you for everything. I know you’re gone and it hurts like fucking hell. I feel empty inside and dead but at the same time blown away by how much you contributed. Almost 80 years isn’t anything to scoff at. Someone we thought as immortal has passed on. That’s the best part about music recordings live on somehow. We may pass on physically but live on through the music. It’s a shame we won’t see him (please no holograms Sharon) rocking the stage and entertaining us metalheads again. It’s a shame we won’t hear any new music from him, maybe random demos and b sides. This world already sucks a lot now, and it got shittier without you in it. You mean the world to our growing community, all because in large part of your efforts. I don’t know whah else to put here without rambling on. I guess I’m just putting my heart and emotions on display for the internet.
To the Osbourne family: I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.