Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig is set to be one of the biggest events in the history of rock, with an impressive array of heavy metal trailblazers taking to the stage. But most of these acts would be quick to confess that they owe a debt to Ozzy and Black Sabbath.
In this article, we’ll be looking at Ozzy’s impact on those who followed in his footsteps.
The Birth of Sabbath
Ozzy was present at the dawn of metal. He and the rest of Black Sabbath essentially forged a new genre which was characterised by defiance, rebellion, sludgy guitar riffs and a distinct aesthetic.
Sabbath was formed in 1968, playing their first concert at the Newtown Community Centre, very near to where they’ll be ending that long career.
Timeless Classics
Tracks like War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man are still widely listened to around the world. These tracks have been credited with inspiring some of the musicians on the bill for Ozzy’s last show, such as Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Gojira and Anthrax.
Albums like Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality are considered seminal works in the heavy metal world. Sabbath have sold more than 70 million records and were dubbed the “Greatest Metal Band of All Time” by MTV.
Ozzy’s Solo Legacy
The band’s history has been turbulent, with Ozzy originally getting kicked out for his increasingly erratic behaviour. But that wouldn’t stop the Prince of Darkness…
Ozzy enjoyed much success without the band, with such hits as Crazy Train, Bark at the Moon and No More Tears.
His solo albums Blizzard of Ozz and the follow-up Diary of a Madman, both of which feature guitarist Randy Rhoads, are considered classics.
Quite simply, with or without the rest of Black Sabbath, Ozzy is a titan of rock music.
The Osbourne Franchise Universe
There’s no denying the impact that these pioneers of metal have had, particularly Ozzy. His reputation has always been that of a legend, both during his solo career and his time with Black Sabbath.
His success has gone beyond the music, however, spawning an entire empire. The Osbourne family became the subjects of a hit reality TV show before such things were commonplace.
Ozzy has also strategically licensed his and Sabbath’s image for certain commercial purposes. A prime example of this would be slot game developers. Ozzy-themed slots can now be played on various sites. Perhaps we’ll even see some Ozzy-themed online bingo games in the near future!
These are just a few of the ways in which Ozzy manages to continue reaching new audiences in unexpected places.
What the Future Holds for Ozzy
Ozzy’s health has been up and down over the years, and he is currently suffering from a combination of Parkinson’s Disease and spinal injuries which are believed to have been sustained in his infamous quad biking incident.
Ozzy himself has spoken out about the efforts involved in touring. Whereas many musicians have several ‘farewell’ tours, we can be pretty certain that this is Ozzy’s last outing. However, we can be equally certain of the enduring nature of his music.
