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The Herald Scotland
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Ozzy Osbourne lived a life that feels impossible to put in rear view
He was a core part of the nucleus of something far greater than himself, while continuing to guide and mentor the monster that he had helped create. It's a testament to how much of a cultural force he was, how many people out there implicitly understood him. Osbourne was never locked into the timeframe of his successes nor reliant on the easy blessings of nostalgia like most figures in our cultural iconography – there was always a generation of teenagers in wait, ready to take the mantle and carry on all that he represented within themselves. The sheer influence, not just on music, but on people as a whole, is indescribable. Read more: I wonder if Brian Wilson ever truly knew how much his music meant to people There has been endless discussion over who or what originated heavy metal. Was it one of the early, harder-edged bands like Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin, or something less obvious like Blue Cheer's gritty 1968 single Summertime Blues? However, the whole discussion seems like a blatant distraction from the one true culprit: the debut album of Black Sabbath. Everything that could possibly be considered heavy metal is on that 1970 release. It's all there, served up helpfully in one neat package. The haunting eeriness of the cover art, the thunderous rain and bells of its opening track, the devil tones and tritones of Tony Iommi's guitar, and, of course, the nasal shrill of Osbourne projecting dark tales of wizards and nightmarish figures in black. He understood the true dramatics of rock music before any of his peers did. He knew that for a group like Black Sabbath to succeed, he had to buy in and cultivate the mythos himself. Ozzy Osbourne's contributions to Black Sabbath were part of the nucleus of the entire heavy metal genre (Image: Getty) Osbourne was never much of a singer. He was, by his own admission, not much of a musician at all. His initial opening into Black Sabbath was predicated on the simple basis of being the owner of a PA system. It made him useful for getting gigs. But he could perform, and he could forcefully bend his limited range to the will of a song. And it certainly helped that he had a knack for playing into the attention, an instinct for the theatrical, of turning a life of raucous intrigue into headlines and a long-enduring artistic persona. He was someone who could always manage to turn limitations into weapons. After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne expected to burn through his remaining money holed up in a hotel room with cocaine and then return to his parents in Birmingham, ready to rejoin the dole queue as if none of his rockstar success ever happened. His manager and future wife, Sharon, pulled him from the mire and guided his career forward on a personal level, but musically, it was a young guitarist named Randy Rhoads who became his muse, providing the many iconic musical moments that drove reaction to his early solo career. Rhoads was the ingredient that gave the character of Ozzy a fresh air, a new musical dimension for him to dive in and explore. As much as Osbourne benefited from the surrounding musicians, they too saw benefit. His band was often seen as a stepping stone, a boot camp experience for future aspirations. Many now-famous heavy musicians were well-trained in the Ozzy camp. Read more: This extreme metal album blew up over a weekend – now it's accused of being AI Osbourne never lived as an island unto himself; much of the success and the drive relied on who he was surrounded by, and the relationship between himself and his guitarist was always paramount. His long solo career, which could fluctuate between tremendous highs and some garish lows, depended much on the collaborative space. His legacy well and truly stands on its own, yet it's an essential part of his story to remember the contributions of those without their names emblazoned on the marquee. Everyone already knows the mythical Prince of Darkness who bit heads off bats and inspired Satanic worship in the youth. The stories are out there, and they are endless. It was a media creation that he kept well and truly fed. It was so pervasive that he could parlay that into quite the media success of his own. His later years saw him become a big-time festival promoter, reality television star, and a general reference point in culture for everything dark and heavy. Osbourne was more than happy to play into the fantasy and mystique of his persona and all the chaos it created. After all, it was not quite the life that a factory worker from a post-industrial city could have imagined for himself. Or for anyone else.
2 days ago
- Entertainment
10 songs to memorialize Ozzy Osbourne, the great Black Sabbath frontman
NEW YORK -- There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs. A godfather and force of heavy metal, Osbourne died Tuesday at 76, just weeks after his last performance. The English icon's idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality. To celebrate Osbourne's life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections. Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches Black Sabbath's 1970 megahit 'Iron Man.' It transcends the metal genre — an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere. One of the great Vietnam War protest songs, Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 'Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?' Osbourne sings in the bridge. Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 'Children of the Grave,' the single from the band's 1971 album, 'Master of Reality.' 'Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?' Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 'Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?' Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now — the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals. Would the world know what a vibraslap sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 'Crazy Train?' To call it a classic is almost a disservice — it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears. Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 'Blizzard Of Ozz' — released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, — the arena rock anthem 'Mr. Crowley' pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboard. The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 'Diary of a Madman,' runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it. It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy and a welcomed deviation. When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early '80s. But 'I,' a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 'Dehumanizer,' is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 'Mob Rules,' though that's an obvious plus. Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' which also features the rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge — validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
10 songs to memorialize Ozzy Osbourne, the great Black Sabbath frontman
NEW YORK (AP) — There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs. A godfather and force of heavy metal, Osbourne died Tuesday at 76, just months after his last performance. The English icon's idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality. To celebrate Osbourne's life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections. Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. 1970: 'Iron Man, ' Black Sabbath It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches Black Sabbath's 1970 megahit 'Iron Man.' It transcends the metal genre — an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere. 1970: 'War Pigs, ' Black Sabbath One of the great Vietnam War protest songs, Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 'Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?' Osbourne sings in the bridge. 1971: 'Children of the Grave,' Black Sabbath Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 'Children of the Grave,' the single from the band's 1971 album, 'Master of Reality.' 'Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?' Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 'Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?' 1973: 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now — the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals. 1980: 'Crazy Train, ' Ozzy Osbourne Would the world know what a vibraslap sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 'Crazy Train?' To call it a classic is almost a disservice — it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears. 1980: 'Mr. Crowley, ' Ozzy Osbourne Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 'Blizzard Of Ozz' — released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, — the arena rock anthem 'Mr. Crowley' pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboard. 1981: 'Diary of a Madman,' Ozzy Osbourne The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 'Diary of a Madman,' runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it. 1991: 'Mama, I'm Coming Home,' Ozzy Osbourne It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy and a welcomed deviation. 1992: 'I,' Black Sabbath When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early '80s. But 'I,' a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 'Dehumanizer,' is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 'Mob Rules,' though that's an obvious plus. 2019: 'Take What You Want,' Post Malone with Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' which also features the rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge — validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
10 songs to memorialize Ozzy Osbourne, the great Black Sabbath frontman
NEW YORK (AP) — There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs. A godfather and force of heavy metal, Osbourne died Tuesday at 76, just months after his last performance. The English icon's idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality. To celebrate Osbourne's life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections. Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. 1970: 'Iron Man,' Black Sabbath It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches Black Sabbath's 1970 megahit 'Iron Man.' It transcends the metal genre — an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere. 1970: 'War Pigs,' Black Sabbath One of the great Vietnam War protest songs, Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 'Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?' Osbourne sings in the bridge. 1971: 'Children of the Grave,' Black Sabbath Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 'Children of the Grave,' the single from the band's 1971 album, 'Master of Reality.' 'Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?' Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 'Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?' 1973: 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now — the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals. 1980: 'Crazy Train,' Ozzy Osbourne Would the world know what a vibraslap sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 'Crazy Train?' To call it a classic is almost a disservice — it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears. 1980: 'Mr. Crowley,' Ozzy Osbourne Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 'Blizzard Of Ozz' — released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, — the arena rock anthem 'Mr. Crowley' pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboard. 1981: 'Diary of a Madman,' Ozzy Osbourne The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 'Diary of a Madman,' runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it. 1991: 'Mama, I'm Coming Home,' Ozzy Osbourne It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy and a welcomed deviation. 1992: 'I,' Black Sabbath When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early '80s. But 'I,' a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 'Dehumanizer,' is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 'Mob Rules,' though that's an obvious plus. 2019: 'Take What You Want,' Post Malone with Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' which also features the rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge — validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
10 songs to memorialize Ozzy Osbourne, the great Black Sabbath frontman
NEW YORK (AP) — There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs. A godfather and force of heavy metal, Osbourne died Tuesday at 76, just months after his last performance. The English icon's idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality. To celebrate Osbourne's life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections. It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches Black Sabbath's 1970 megahit 'Iron Man.' It transcends the metal genre — an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere. One of the great Vietnam War protest songs, Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 'Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?' Osbourne sings in the bridge. 1971: 'Children of the Grave,' Black Sabbath Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 'Children of the Grave,' the single from the band's 1971 album, 'Master of Reality.' 'Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?' Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 'Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?' 1973: 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now — the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals. Would the world know what a vibraslap sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 'Crazy Train?' To call it a classic is almost a disservice — it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears. 1980: 'Mr. Crowley, ' Ozzy Osbourne Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 'Blizzard Of Ozz' — released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, — the arena rock anthem 'Mr. Crowley' pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboard. 1981: 'Diary of a Madman,' Ozzy Osbourne The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 'Diary of a Madman,' runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it. 1991: 'Mama, I'm Coming Home,' Ozzy Osbourne It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy and a welcomed deviation. 1992: 'I,' Black Sabbath When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early '80s. But 'I,' a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 'Dehumanizer,' is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 'Mob Rules,' though that's an obvious plus. Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' which also features the rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge — validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.
