With his first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination as a solo artist, Ozzy Osbourne is poised to become the hall's 27th multiple inductee.
Osbourne was inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006. If voted in this year, he will join The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart and others with the double honour. Only Eric Clapton has three inductions on his own and as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream.
“I am very honored to receive this news from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Osbourne said in a statement on Saturday (February 10), after the nominations were announced. “To be one of the few musicians being considered for a second entry, now as a solo artist, is something I could never have imagined. After 44 years as a solo artist, the fact that I can continue to record music and receive this recognition is something I'm incredibly proud of.”
Osbourne started his solo career with Blizzard of Oz in 1980 and has self-released 13 albums, with the most recent Patient number 9 during 2022. They released a string of iconic hard rock hits including 'Crazy Train', 'Flying High Again', 'Bark at the Moon' and 'No More Tears', as well as the ballad 'Mama, I I'm coming home.”
A number of recent surgeries and a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease have rendered Osbourne unable to perform in recent years. had to leave the Power Trip festival bill last October in Indio, California. His wife and manager Sharon Osbourne, however, recently spoke of plans for a pair of farewell concerts in Osbourne's hometown of Birmingham, England.
During a November appearance at The Adam Carolla ShowSharon lobbied for Ozzy to be considered for the Rock Hall himself.
“They know Ozzy deserves to be there,” he said. “They know he was a solo artist. You have to do it for 24 years. He has been a solo artist for 43 years. He sold nearly one hundred million albums as a solo artist. So where is it? Enter him!”
Sharon added that she and Ozzy attended a dinner for the 2023 inductees “and people were saying to Ozzy, 'Oh, you're inducted,' and we were like, 'No, actually.' We were invited for the meal, so here we are.' It's as close as we get, but no.'
Public voting has begun for this year's inductees via rockhall.com, while ballots are mailed to branch voters. The inductees are expected to be announced in early May, with the ceremony scheduled for fall in Cleveland.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/ozzy-osbourne-reaction-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-second-nomination-1235604916/
