Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic rock figure, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist at the end of this year, thus adding his second entry to the organization. His first inclusion was in 2006, along with Black Sabbaththe band he co-founded and with which he became a pioneer of heavy metal.
This double honor positions the musician among the select artists who have been inducted more than once, joining him with names of legends such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and his idols, the Beatles.
“Now that I’m no longer that crazy alcoholic and druggie, the only thing that makes me happy is that I’m alive to see all this“, he declared for the magazine Rolling Stone. He added that he feels “more than honored” by this second induction, since, for him, his solo career has been the “most important” part of his entire musical career.
The recognition comes after the Prince of Darkness retired from live performances due to a series of spinal operations after suffering a severe fall in 2019. However, the idea of being considered in the voting arose as an initiative from his wife, Sharon Osbourne, who criticized the Rock Hall of Fame last year for not considering her husband, despite being eligible since 2006.
Osburne’s relationship with the Hall of Fame has not been the best since he tried to have Black Sabbath removed from the nominations in 1999 because he considered it “nonsense.” “I’ve had mixed feelings about it over the years. But I didn’t know fans could vote. She thought it was a committee. Now I feel very honored“, said.
Compared to other nominees of the stature of Mariah Carey, Cher and Lenny Kravitz, Osbourne maintained a humble outlook when the magazine asked her about her expectations of winning last month. “I don’t expect to get in,” he replied.
Osbourne has enjoyed a successful solo career, earning eight consecutive platinum albums from Blizzard of Ozz in 1980, and releasing iconic songs like “Crazy Train,” “Flying High Again,” “Bark at the Moon,” “Shot in the Dark,” and “No More Tears.”
“Music has been the best thing I have decided to do. When you’re writing an album, you don’t say, ‘This is so good that one day we’ll get into the Hall of Fame.’ I’ve never been this selfish. But still, there are many people who never entered. I feel very happy, but I’m still Ozzy”, he highlighted.
When asked if he would attend the ceremony, the musician did not hesitate to answer that he would. However, when it came to giving a speech, he revealed a certain nervousness: “I’m not good at them, I don’t like them,” he said, laughing. But he assured: “I will try. I can only try.”
In addition, he did not rule out the possibility of performing during the ceremony, depending on how he feels at that moment. “If I can. “My wife is organizing it,” she said, evidencing Sharon’s influence and support. He was also confronted about why Black Sabbath didn’t perform in 2006, but he admitted that he completely forgot.
“Now I do not remember. In fact, I forgot we were inside. But the thing is, I don’t remember most of my past. It’s like a fucking fog. I’m not proud of it”, he confessed.
Osbourne concluded the interview by admitting that after decades of musical success, she still doesn’t know how to receive this kind of news. “I’m just a guy who wrote rock songs and was successful at it.”
