Ozzy Osbourne Reveals Emotion-Filled Experience of Rock Hall Induction as Solo Artist
Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, is gearing up for his second induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this time as a solo artist. The relationship between Osbourne and the Hall of Fame has come a long way since Osbourne tried to have Black Sabbath removed from the nominations list in 1999, deeming the nod as “meaningless.” However, in 2006, he happily accepted the induction with the band and now finds himself feeling “more than honored” to be recognized once again.
Last year, Osbourne’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, called out the Rock Hall for not considering Ozzy as a solo artist despite being eligible since 2006. Osbourne embarked on his solo career after departing from Black Sabbath in 1979, achieving immense success with eight consecutive multi-platinum albums, starting with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. His solo career boasts iconic songs like “Crazy Train,” “Flying High Again,” “Bark at the Moon,” “Shot in the Dark,” and “No More Tears.”
“I definitely wouldn’t say I was confident” about his solo success, Osbourne admits. However, the induction of Randy Rhoads, his late songwriting partner, in the musical excellence category in 2021 boosted his optimism. Osbourne reflects on his career, stating, “With every new music venture, there’s always a certain amount of surprise that comes when you see the fans embrace it, because no one wants to make a record and have it flop.”
Comparing this induction to Black Sabbath’s feels different for Osbourne. He explains that his solo career has been a significant part of his overall music career and feels more special due to the fan support, with over 480,000 votes in the fan vote.
The burning question remains – will Osbourne perform at the induction ceremony in Cleveland on October 19? Despite retiring from touring due to health issues, including Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne still hints at the possibility of performing in some capacity. Could it be a brief set for the Rock Hall audience? “You never know,” he teases, promising that his outfit for the night will “most certainly be black.”
Despite his retirement from touring, Osbourne has continued to release new music, with two albums already out this decade – Ordinary Man in 2020 and Patient Number 9 in 2022. He expresses his intention to work on another album in the near future, although he’s not setting a strict timeline for its release.
