Remembering Ozzy: How the Prince of Darkness Brought Light into My Life

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While true, I am a Deadhead to the core, those who know me know my love of music expands into many genres including hard rock and metal. Before I discovered the Grateful Dead, KISS hooked me at the early age of eight. From there, I fell deep into Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Motorhead, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and of course Black Sabbath.

On July 22, 2025, we lost a legend when Ozzy Osbourne passed away and it is my duty as a lifetime fan, to honor the Prince of Darkness with this post, and how he brought light into my life.

My First Ozzy Shows

I was fortunate to see Ozzy on his breakout Blizzard of Ozz tour at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre on May 6, 1981. I was just a kid, and Ozzy had just been fired from Black Sabbath a year earlier, and many doubted Ozzy could succeed on his own. Little did we know then, just how impactful Ozzy’s breakout solo career would forever shape the face of music.

The other revelation back then was, the unknown guitar player—Randy Rhoads. The chemistry between Ozzy and Randy was electric, and I feel blessed to have witnessed it live. I saw that tour three times—Buffalo in May, and then Hamilton and Toronto in July 1981—both a few hours drive from my Western NY hometown.

Tragically, Randy died in a plane crash on March 19, 1982. Ozzy spiraled into deep grief, battling depression, drugs, and alcohol. Sharon Osbourne held him together, and the shows went on.

Diary of a Madman Tour

Against all odds, Ozzy hit the road again for the Diary of a Madman tour. I saw him on April 10, 1982 in Rochester, NY—the day after my first Grateful Dead show in the very same venue!

I caught the tour again on June 4, 1982 in Toronto. While it wasn’t the same without Rhoads, Ozzy’s resilience was inspiring.

The Many Faces (and Guitars) of Ozzy

Over the decades, Ozzy worked with an incredible roster of guitarists:

  • Bernie Tormé (briefly, 1982)
  • Brad Gillis
  • Jake E. Lee
  • Zakk Wylde
  • Joe Holmes
  • Gus G

I saw Ozzy several more times during the The Ultimate Sin, No More Tears / No More Tours era, Ozzmosis, and lastly at Ozzfest 2017 in San Bernardino.

Reality TV and Feeling Like I Knew Him

I never met Ozzy, but his reality TV shows made it feel like we were friends. The Osbournes ran from 2002–2005, and Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour aired from 2016–2018. Whether you love him or not, both of these shows were wildly entertaining.

Health, Final Shows, and Farewell

In January 2020, Ozzy revealed he had Parkinson’s disease. Despite surgeries, falls, and ongoing illness, he kept making music. His last performance was on July 5, 2025, at the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England.

Seventeen days later, on July 22, 2025, the world lost Ozzy at age 76. His funeral procession on July 30 in Birmingham drew thousands, passing his childhood home and the Black Sabbath Bridge, before a private service and burial.

Why He Mattered

Ozzy was more than a rock star. He was fearless, flawed, funny, and utterly human. He showed us that even in darkness, there can be light—and he gave me some of my most unforgettable television and live music memories ever! Thank you Ozzy – we will never forget.

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