THE ROCKER'S TOP BANDS!
By James West, The-Rocker.com
Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince Of Darkness- Godfather Of Heavy Metal, or as mere mortals and fans like myself like to call him- Ozzy- was the pure essence and definition of what a rock and roll star is all about. It's hard to imagine Hard Rock or Heavy Metal without Ozzy- He has been a part of my Rocker life since first hearing his distinctive voice on “Sweet Leaf” from the first Black Sabbath album I heard and owned- Master Of Reality!
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That album along with the first Black Sabbath album scared the shit out of me to be honest. The combination of Iommi’s down-tuned guitar, along with Geezer’s haunting lyrics and Ozzy’s distinctive “Jester meets Frankenstein” -type vocals were like nothing I had ever heard. It was a far cry from the bubblegum Sweet, Stones-ish Aerosmith, and operatic Queen I was listening to at the time. As evil as Sabbath sounded they made you feel evil for even liking them. Did I just sell my soul to Satan? Is Ozzy now going to control my every thought and action in life? Ha! It may seem funny now, but how old were you when you first heard Ozzy? Music was my only escape back then, and Ozzy’s voice was like Darth Vader tempting me to the Dark Side!
The Blizzard Of Ozzy Osbourne!
Fast-forward a few years to 1980 when Blizzard Of Ozz, Ozzy’s first solo album, came out: It still had that same type of “toilet-bowl”-type production, but with a faster tempo and a guitar sound that came out of the stratosphere. Eddie Van Halen meets Ludwig Van Beethoven is what I thought of at first listen to Randy Rhodes. Ozzy’s voice sounded as fresh as ever like he had a new lease on life after the disappointing Never Say Die from Sabbath. I missed Geezer and Iommi, but this new sound and vibe helped bring the 80’s metal scene to the forefront of rock.
Playin' Hooky at Boot Camp!
Diary Of A Madman came out while I was in boot camp in San Diego in November 1981. I remember getting out of training one afternoon after telling the Company Commander that I felt sick and needed to go to medical. Medical just happened to be near the base store where I hastily dashed in to grab a cassette of “Diary” and hid it in my shirt until I could enjoy it after work hours. Suddenly I felt much better and with a new spirit to get through the Hell of boot camp after listening to Diary a few times! Ozzy, the Prince Of Darkness, saved my poor soul and helped get me through the tough training.
Diary Of A Madman became one of my all time favorite albums; with the song Diary Of A Madman becoming one of my new personal favorite tunes.
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During Christmas break from Boot Camp I was very fortunate to stay with a fellow boot-camper and his family near San Diego. Lo and behold guess who just happened to be playing in concert nearby on my time off? OZZY OSBOURNE WITH RANDY RHODES ON GUITAR! Yes, I was there… witnessing one of the last performances of the late, great Randy Rhodes! I remember the castle backdrop, Ronnie The Dwarf being chased around by Ozzy The Madman, and also being blown away by the sheer volume and intensity of Randy Rhodes in all his glory.
​The lead guitarist was killed on March 20th, 1982, along with makeup artist Rachel Youngblood and pilot Andrew Aycock, when a plane in which they were buzzing a mansion struck a van and crashed into a house. I figured that would be the end of Ozzy also with having such a history with alcohol and drug abuse. But somehow, probably with the help of Sharon, the Ozzman continued on the tour with Bernie Torme’ for a handful of dates and then Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis taking the guitar reins for the remaining dates. I’m a big fan of Brad, and he did the best he could to help the band soldier on for the rest of the tour. Speak Of The Devil is not a bad live album either, although it’s no Tribute.
Life After Death Of A Guitar Hero!
I was curious as to what the band would sound like with the absence of Rhodes. With 1983’s Bark At The Moon the sound was similar but with a more raw and bluesy sound provided by Jake E Lee on guitars. There were still great songs and licks from Lee, but it lacked the impact of the albums with Randy.
The same was true with The Ultimate Sin album. Although good albums, I actually liked Jake better with Badlands. He truly could shine his own way with that band.
Dio was hitting his stride with Holy Diver and The Last In Line during this time, so my attention went that direction and away from Ozzy’s material. Plus the 80’s didn’t look good on The Prince Of Darkness with all the neon and hairspray! Ha!
You’ve all heard the stories of Ozzy biting the head off a bat; snorting a line of ants on a dare, and being found dazed and confused on numerous occasions during the 70’s and 80’s. Well, all I've got to say is He is truly “Iron Man” if there ever was one!
Ozzy Gets a Zakk Attack!
I was just about to count poor Ozzy out as just another rocker run his course when No Rest For The Wicked hit the record store shelves in 1988. Talk about a Zakk Attack! I instantly fell in love with this album and the playing of Zakk Wylde. Finally, a guitarist to match the ferocity of Randy Rhodes but in a doomier context- a great mix between Sabbath and Ozzy’s solo efforts. This album along with 1995’s Ozzmosis rank as my favorite non-Randy albums from Ozzy.
While nothing compares to the output from the Black Sabbath era Ozzy was able to hold his own and transition to a more rock audience away from his metal beginnings. This was a rare feat for any singer to accomplish, and it shows the depth of this master performer who once sang about fairies wearing boots.
Return of Black Sabbath!
This is one of the stunning pictures captured by The Rocker Chic during Black Sabbath's Reunion Tour at Las Vegas in 2013. Thank you Danette!
I was again very fortunate to witness Ozzy in all of his Sabbath glory during their reunion tour in Vegas for my 50th birthday celebration in 2013.
Even after the thousands of shows Ozzy has performed and sang through he still had that “Jester meets Frankenstein” voice in full swing, and you could tell he was still enjoying himself and the band. I couldn’t believe how great the band sounded and performed that night, and it ranks as one of the greatest concerts I have ever attended- even better than with Randy back in the 80’s. It may have been the Vegas vibe, or the VIP seats the Rocker Chic purchased for us, but I was on cloud nine that night, and I didn’t even need assistance from any “Sweet Leaf”!
"I LIKE WORMS!" My Face to Face
with the Godfather Of Metal!
Nine years later I was blessed to finally meet the Oz-Man in person at an album signing at Fingertips Music Store in Long Beach, California on September 10, 2022!
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Ozzy's last studio album "Patient Number 9" had just came out, and my beloved Rocker Chic wife Danette blessed this ol' rocker once again with this surprise for my 59th birthday!
Nothing beats meeting your "Larger Than Life" Heavy Metal Hero in person, and there he finally was- right in front of me!
But what do I do now? He's busy signing my album... Wait, I got it... On his new album there's a song called "Parasite" with a really weird lyric... What is it he says?... Oh, I got it... and I blurt it out to Ozzy--- "I LIKE WORMS!"
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What? what did I just say? What the hell is wrong with me-- you idiot, you finally meet one of your Heavy Metal Heroes and the only thing you can say is "I LIKE WORMS?"
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But, then it happened... Ozzy heard it, stopped signing, and looked right up at me and gave me that incredible smile that only Ozzy Osbourne can give you!
Rock On Prince Of Darkness!
December 3,1948 - July 22, 2025
Ozzy passed away at his home in Buckinghamshire on the morning of July 22, 2025 at age 76, surrounded by his family, just seventeen days after the Back To The Beginning farewell concert.
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After years of battling Parkinson's disease and also suffering from spinal damage from a fall Ozzy had lost his ability to walk.
Back To The Beginning served as a final concert bow for Ozzy and Black Sabbath while also serving as a charity concert helping raise over 140 million dollars for Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Childrens Hospital, and the Cure Parkinson's foundation.
Was he the Prince Of Darkness from all the Sin and Debauchery? Or was he the Blizzard Of Ozz with all the Cocain and Drugs? Or was he the Ultimate Philanthropist with all the money he raised for Charity?
No... He was just OZZY... being OZZY... and EVERYONE Loved Him!!!
