I first saw Black Sabbath when I was 16, my third concert ever. It would be hard to express what a huge influence their dark sound had on me. I loved them from the first time someone put on the first record at a party I was at when I was 16. I ended up seeing them six times, the last one being the 1999 reunion tour. As far as I'm concerned, the first five records are all CLASSICS. Black Sabbath created the Heavy Metal genre, and no one will ever convince me otherwise. How cool is it that Black Sabbath just did a reunion show in England on July 5th??
RIP OZZY!!!
Here's a California Jam clip. I was at this one.
One of my chance encounters with celebrities occurred back in 2001 (+/-). I was in Las Vegas for a conference. Walking around and I saw these four guys hassling who I thought was an Ozzy Osbourne impersonator. As he separated himself from them and walked past me he looked authentic. Back at the hotel I learned he was filming his reality series in town.
I will confess to a Black Sabbath phase that lasted from age 13 to about 16. I don't know where I'd put him on list of greatest vocalists (just ahead or behind David Lee Roth? 😉 ) but he was the greatest Ozzy Osbourne ever! His persona is up there with Elvis!
Wasn't ever a direct fan but had many friends who dug it so I respect that. I agree that they were at the forefront of heavy metal music, I never understood hearing many references to Led Zeppelin being heavy metal, didn't make an ounce of sense to me then or now.
RIP Ozzy.
"Is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?"
I remember being very surprised in 1979 when the band members voted out Ozzy. I couldn't understand how they could sack such a key member.
Eventually all of them quit with Tommy having to build a new Black 🖤 Sabbath but it experienced several personnel changes.
Remember talking a lady to see them as she was a fan and some other fans said two of the new members were with Deep Purple 🟣 .
Whatever was the problem resulting in Ozzy getting canned ( drugs and too much booze was cited online today), Ozzy launched a success solo career.
RIP Ozzy.
76 years old. Just lost a good friend who also was 76.
CBS Mornings just had guest Gene Simmons who gave a very touching and heartfelt tribute to Ozzy. He had to compose himself a couple of different times. One of the hosts acknowledged that the Heavy Metal genre would not exist without Black Sabbath. So nice to see such a tribute on a network TV station.
