As announced on Sunday night (April 21), Ozzy Osbourne is among the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees as a solo artist, and the legendary singer has said this “feels different” than his incorporation in 2006 with Black Sabbath.
Ozzy offered his reaction to Billboard via email, sharing humiliating comments about his post-Black Sabbath career.
“I'm beyond honored,” Ozzy said, saying the nod “feels big.” After all, this comes after his wife Sharon criticized the Rock Hall last year for not considering Ozzy as a solo artist even though he's been eligible since 2005.
He admitted that he did not necessarily feel “confident” about embarking on a solo career in 1980 after his time in Black Sabbath. But their late guitarist Randy Rhoads made the magic, co-writing iconic hits like “Crazy Train” and two seminal albums: The 1980s. Storm of Ozz and 1981 Diary of a madman. Ozzy has maintained a stable and successful solo career ever since.
“[Randy] “It made me feel like we could accomplish something,” Ozzy said. “With every new musical project, there is always a certain surprise when you see that the fans welcome it, because nobody wants to make an album and have it fail. I feel like I was invited to a party in 1980 and it hasn't stopped. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band.”
Black Sabbath fired Ozzy in 1979 due to his alcohol and drug problems, but he reunited with the legendary metal group several times, including for their final tour that concluded in February 2017.
Ozzy added that this addition differs from his joining Black Sabbath in 2006 “because my solo career has been a much bigger part of my overall music career.”
“[It] “It feels more special and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way,” he continued.
As for the lingering question of whether he'll perform at the Oct. 19 induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ozzy responded, “You never know,” adding that his outfit that night “will probably be black.”
Meanwhile, the Prince of Darkness plans to start working on a new album, although he said Billboard “is not putting a timetable” for its completion.
thanks to our partners at consequence.net