Think
about a legend. Think about a creative legend. The about a creative legend
who pioneered an entire genre of music. And think about a legend who will
not stop pioneering or creating.
You
can put the coolness of MTV Land and Lollapalooza back in the trendy freezers
where they belong, because Ozzy Osbourne is all about thousands upon thousands
of real people who love a great time letting go. Getting crazy. Hearing
the very best loud and heavy music there is to hear. And not being enslaved
like sheep to the new trends and rules.
Ozzy
wrote the rules, and as he says every night, they run something along the
lines of “do whatever the fuck you like.” And Ozzy’s brain never stops
ticking, never stops moving forward, and history has established that much
as 100% fact.
When
he, and three other men from Birmingham, England called Tony Iommi, Bill
Ward and Geezer Butler recorded an album titled “Black Sabbath” in one
week, no-one could’ve fortold the effect it was to have on generations
to come. “Black Sabbath” the album became an enormous success. Black Sabbath
the band blew minds with releases such as “Paranoid”, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”,
“Masters of Reality” and “Vol 4”, creating a path faithfully adored by
many bands from Nirvana to Metallica.
It
was 1978 when Black Sabbath and Ozzy parted company with a haze of excesses
clouding everybody’s judgement.
But
you cannot stop Ozzy from breaking new ground.Because Ozzy Osbourne cannot
make clinically calculated moves, he can only follow his own creative heart.
So
it was while sitting on the floor of a Hollywood hotel room in 1978, Ozzy
started to pull the pieces of his life back together. He found a musical
soulmate in Randy Rhoads, and with it he found a new will and resolve to
come back stronger than ever. His solo career was launched with the release
of ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ in 1981, and with it came the likes of ‘Crazy Train’,
‘Suicide Solution’ and ‘Mr Crowley’ to elevate Osbourne to legendary status
once more.
His
carefree antics and seering energy saw him survive the loss of Rhoads in
a fatal plane accident in 1982, and continue to break bigger ground with
songs like ‘Bark At The Moon’, ‘Rock’N’Roll Rebel’ and the 1986 single
from ‘The Ultimate Sin’ album that saw Ozzmania burst to the top of the
American charts ‘Shot In The Dark.’
1991
saw the turning point of Ozzy’s career. With many of his contemporaries
dying due to lack of creative nourishment, and Ozzy himself staring into
an abyss increasingly dominated by a lifestyle of abuse, he took charge.
Put
a stop to it. Ceased to drink. Started a diet. Got a Lifecycle.
Invited
a younger, fresher, fitter and rejuvenated Ozzy Osbourne to come out and
play.
Retired
the previous version.
The
resultant ‘No More Tears’ album became his biggest ever seller in America.
With over 2 million copies sold, his 18 month world tour saw consistent
2.5 hour marathon sets and his legend entertained a whole slew of new followers
enjoying the Ozzy energy alongside his die-hardcore followers. And 1995’s
‘Ozzmosis’ only furthered the reinvention.
You
shouldn’t be surprised that Ozzy Osbourne pulled it off. Just remember
once again, that he’s always looking to find something new and different
to do.
This
is the man who has consistently found the best guitarists in rock’n’roll,
including the late, great Randy Rhoads in 1980 (a player who re-wrote the
rules of guitar playing with his extraordinary innovation and talent).
This
is the man who has broken more major acts by inviting them on arena tours
when their U-hauls were barely big enough to carry them, from Metallica
to Korn, from Motley Crue to Type O Negative to Sepultura.
And
this is the man who to millions of people worldwide remains THE legend.
With over 65 million albums sold worldwide. With consistently one of the
top 5 most successful tours in the world. With a dedication and level
of performance that insures Ozzy Osbourne still remains at the top of the
tree.
Because
Ozzy Osbourne’s life is never quiet. Or uneventful. It hasn’t been for
over 25 years. And it’s not about to change now...
