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OZZY OSBOURNE – Rest In Peace

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on July 22, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

1948 – 2025

Rest in peace,

Godfather of Metal.

You will be forever missed.

Condolences to the Osbourne family, his friends, Black Sabbath and his fans.

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THE MORRISON PROJECT – Releases Single & Video “Crack Cocaine” – Featuring OZZY OSBOURNE On Vocals

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2024 by Metal Odyssey

Single cover artwork • “Crack Cocaine“
(Written by Billy Morrison/ Ozzy Osbourne/Steve Stevens)

“The Morrison Project”  Official Album release:
April 19, 2024

Billy Morrison, the British guitarist, singer, and songwriter primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens, and for his previous role as bassist in The Cult, has assembled an electrifying 12 songs including guest performances by Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, DMC, Corey Taylor, Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, Linda Perry, Tommy Clufetos, John5, and more!

I guess the way that your love makes me feel/Must mean I’m really addicted,” sings OZZY OSBOURNE on “Crack Cocaine”, the newly released track out on March 21st from BILLY MORRISON’s new solo album THE MORRISON PROJECT. This album is releasing on April 19th, via The Label Group’s partnership with TLG ZOID through Virgin Music Group.

Crack Cocaine” (04:01 min)
Music video Premiere: March 21, 2024
YouTube
Video by IVO RAZA

Official release on March 21, 2024 
Label: TLG ZOID • Virgin Music

“Crack Cocaine” is the second single/video from THE MORRISON PROJECT and follows the single/video “Drowning”. Stream it HERE

This seismic collaboration also features STEVE STEVENS on guitar and was co-written by MORRISON, OSBOURNE, and STEVENS who all appear in the video with PARIS JACKSON playing the glamorous/romantic interest, with cameos from visual artist RISK and actor JEFF HILLIARD.

“Crack Cocaine” marks the first new song with OZZY on vocals since the 2022 release of his worldwide smash album Patient Number 9 which earned him two Grammy Awards (“Best Rock Album,” “Best Metal Performance”).
“I was in the same room as Billy and Steve,” says OZZY about co-writing the song. “The lyrics just came out of the blue. It was written in about 20 minutes.”

BILLY MORRISON • 2024
📸  JaneStuartPhotos

BILLY, the British guitarist, singer and songwriter primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens, sheds more light on the song’s origins:
“The music was a direct result of sitting in a room with Steve, both with de-tuned guitars, and writing what we felt was an ultimate Ozzy riff. From there, we brought Ozzy over and we all sat around working on the lyrics, but 90% of those came from Ozzy himself. He’s the one that suddenly stood up and sang “Like Crack Cocaine”! We looked at each other and knew we had the title!”

BILLY:
“The song is 100% about how certain relationships can FEEL like an addiction. It’s nothing whatsoever to do with the drug! It’s a comparison. Ozzy is talking about being in that dysfunctional situation with a partner that feels so wrong, but you keep going back again and again. ‘Loving you is driving me insane. I put you down and pick you up again’ – it’s exactly like a drug addiction.”

Importantly, reveals STEVE, “First and foremost, Billy and I discussed what an Ozzy fan would really love to hear. We really zeroed in on the ‘90s-era Ozzy, the truly heavy stuff. We cast aside any rules both musically and lyrically. It was really a great team and Billy is just such a great motivator. Obviously as a guitarist, to contribute to an Ozzy song is like a kid in a candy store. He’s played with such an amazing array of guitarists that I tried my best to honor that tradition.”

Adds STEVE:
“I think the fact that Billy and I have spent the better part of 16 years working together in Billy Idol means we are almost telepathic in how we arrange guitars, etc. Billy and Ozzy have such an amazing friendship that it was easy to feel inspired and want to help them achieve any idea I could assist with. As we worked in my home studio, I tried to make the actual recording process almost invisible. Forget any technical aspects and really have some fun. To Ozzy’s credit, he was totally focused; and man the first time I heard him sing in what was essentially my living room, fucking chills ran down my spine.”

Line-Up:
Ozzy Osbourne • Vocals
Billy Morrison • Rhythm guitar
Steve Stevens • Lead guitar
Tommy Clufetos • Drums

“Crack Cocaine” is the second single/video from THE MORRISON PROJECT and follows the single/video “Drowning”. Stream it HERE

💿 DISCOGRAPHY:
2008 • Stimulator • Full-length
2015 • The God Shaped Hole • Full-length
2024 • The Morrison Project • Full-length

Sources:

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True To Metal Part One – ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ And ‘Mob Rules’

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2023 by Metal Odyssey

Back in 1981, I was a freshman in high school. My buddy Scott introduced me to the albums Blizzard Of Ozz and Mob Rules. Seriously, my life changed forever. For those that never lived this era, the feeling and vibe of these albums being newly released was nothing short of ecstasy.

I worry that younger generations of Metalheads will never fully understand the full magnitude of Blizzard O Ozz and Mobb Rules on the Metal spectrum back in 1981. Yes, Ozzy Osbourne is a mainstream figure today. Yes, Randy Rhoads will forever be an iconic Metal guitarist. What I want to scream out loud for the universe to here is that the rhythm section of Blizzard Of Ozz was a once in a lifetime duo of Bob Daisley on bass and the late Lee Kerslake on drums.

Bob Daisley wrote the songs AND lyrics for Blizzard Of Ozz. No debate. Fact. Please, just do the research to know the truth. Regardless, Ozzy was the singer that was so unique for its time and is still to this day. I believe each member of Blizzard Of Ozz were honestly dependent on each other; they were a group that will never again be matched. They’re vibe as a cohesive group is to be emulated. Forever.

Now, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward countered with Mob Rules. With Ronnie James Dio recruited as the new lead singer of Black Sabbath, the evolution of Metal will forever be changed for the better, in my Metal opinion. Now, the Black Sabbath album Heaven And Hell was already released a year earlier and set the bar for the new era of Metal. Regardless, Mob Rules solidified the impact that this new era of Black Sabbath was about.

My main objective with this post is to remind seasoned Metalheads and/or let the younger generations of Metalheads that 1981 was a pulsar of Metal history due to Blizzard Of Ozz and Black Sabbath. These albums have stood the test of time. Heck, these albums are better than most Metal albums released since then.

Metal Be Thy Name. Stone.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 30th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 30, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 30, 2001 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. The set list below:

  1. N.I.B.
  2. Snowblind
  3. Scary Dreams
  4. War Pigs
  5. Iron Man
  6. Into the Void
  7. The Wizard
  8. Black Sabbath
  9. Paranoid
  10. Children of the Grave

On July 30, 2005 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Tweeter Center in Chicago, Illinois. Set list below:

N.I.B.
After Forever
War Pigs
Dirty Women
Fairies Wear Boots
Symptom Of The Universe / Sweet Leaf / Electric Funeral
Iron Man
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath / Paranoid
Encore: Children Of The Grave
Outro: Changes

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 24th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 24, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

Photo credit: Black Sabbath Instagram

On July 24, 1971 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

On July 24, 1999 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Blockbuster Pavilion in San Bernardino, California. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. After Forever
  5. Electric Funeral
  6. Sweet Leaf
  7. Into the Void
  8. Snowblind
  9. Black Sabbath
  10. Iron Man
  11. Children of the Grave
  12. Paranoid

On July 24, 2005, BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia. The set list below:

  1. N.I.B.
  2. After Forever
  3. War Pigs
  4. Dirty Women
  5. Fairies Wear Boots
  6. Symptom of the Universe / Sweet Leaf / Electric Funeral
  7. Iron Man
  8. Into the Void
  9. Black Sabbath
  10. The Wizard
  11. Paranoid
  12. Sleeping Village
  13. Children of the Grave

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 18

Posted in Heavy Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 18, 1971 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Beggar’s Banquet festival at Borough Of York Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Other bands playing at this same festival that day were: Humble Pie, Three Dog Night, The Grease Band.

On July 18, 1999 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, USA. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. After Forever
  5. Electric Funeral
  6. Sweet Leaf
  7. Into the Void
  8. Snowblind
  9. Dirty Women
  10. Black Sabbath
  11. Iron Man
  12. Children of the Grave
  13. Paranoid

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 13

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 13, 1985 – BLACK SABBATH reunited to perform at Live Aid at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Just over 89,000 people were in attendance at JFK Stadium, that day. Live Aid was broadcasted live worldwide, on both radio and television.

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 12

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 12, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 12, 2004 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. Into the Void
  5. Sweet Leaf
  6. Black Sabbath
  7. Snowblind
  8. Iron Man
  9. Children of the Grave
  10. Paranoid

On July 12, 2016 – BLACK SABBATH perform at Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Moscow, Russia. This was during The End tour. This would be the last time BLACK SABBATH would perform in Moscow, Russia. The set list below:

  1. Black Sabbath
  2. Fairies Wear Boots
  3. After Forever
  4. Into The Void
  5. Snowblind
  6. War Pigs
  7. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
  8. N.I.B.
  9. Hand Of Doom
  10. Drum Solo
  11. Iron Man
  12. Dirty Women
  13. Children Of The Grave
  14. Encore: Paranoid

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 10th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 10, 1942 – Ronnie James Dio was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; his birth name was Ronald James Padavona.

On July 10, 1971 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida.

On July 10, 2004 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at ctnow.com Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. Into the Void
  5. Sweet Leaf
  6. Black Sabbath
  7. Snowblind
  8. Iron Man
  9. Children of the Grave
  10. Paranoid

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 8th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on July 7, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 8, 1970 – BLACK SABBATH performed at the Marquee Club on Wardour Street in London, England. The day of the week was Wednesday. The opening band was Harry The Horse.

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 7th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 7, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 7, 1995 – BLACK SABBATH performed at World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. This was during the Forbidden Tour. Band lineup: Tony Iommi (guitar), Tony Martin (vocals), Cozy Powell (drums), Neil Murray (bass) and Geoff Nicholls (keyboards).

On July 7, 1999 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Riverpoint Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. After Forever
  5. Electric Funeral
  6. Sweet Leaf
  7. Into the Void
  8. Snowblind
  9. Dirty Women
  10. Black Sabbath
  11. Iron Man
  12. Children of the Grave
  13. Paranoid

On July 7, 2016 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Monsters Of Rock at Kaisaniemi in Helsinki, Finland. The estimated attendance was 20,000.

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 6th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on July 6, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 6, 2013 – BLACK SABBATH “13” was positioned at #12 on the UK’s Top 100 Official Albums Chart.

On July 6, 2013 – BLACK SABBATH “13” was positioned at #4 on the Top 40 Denmark Albums Chart.

FOREVER BLACK SABBATH.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 5th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 5, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 5, 2016 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Arēna Rīga in Riga, Latvia. This was during The End Tour.

FOREVER BLACK SABBATH.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 4th

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 4, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 4, 1982 – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are married in Hawaii.

On July 4th, 2014 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Hyde Park for the BLACK SABBATH TIME aka British Summer Time festival, in London, United Kingdom.

Bands that performed:

Great Oak Stage
Black Sabbath
Soundgarden
Faith No More
Motorhead
Soulfly

The Barclaycard Theatre
Wolfmother
Hell
Kobra and The Lotus
Broken Hands
The Bots

Village Hall
Gallows
Bo Ningen
The Gravel Tones
Hang The Bastard
A Plastic Rose

Summer Stage
Rise To Remain
Blitz Kids
The Struts
The First

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – July 3rd

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on July 3, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On July 3, 1999 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. After Forever
  5. Sweet Leaf
  6. Electric Funeral
  7. Into the Void
  8. Snowblind
  9. Embryo
  10. Children of the Grave
  11. Black Sabbath
  12. Iron Man
  13. Paranoid

On July 3, 2001 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Selma, Texas. The set list below:

  1. N.I.B.
  2. Snowblind
  3. Scary Dreams
  4. War Pigs
  5. Iron Man
  6. Into the Void
  7. Black Sabbath
  8. The Wizard
  9. Paranoid
  10. Children of the Grave

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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On This Day In BLACK SABBATH History – June 30th

Posted in classic rock, concerts, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on June 30, 2022 by Metal Odyssey

On June 30th, 1998 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. This was during the BLACK SABBATH Reunion Tour. The set list below:

  1. War Pigs
  2. N.I.B.
  3. Fairies Wear Boots
  4. Snowblind
  5. Into the Void
  6. Spiral Architect
  7. Lord of This World
  8. Electric Funeral
  9. Black Sabbath
  10. Iron Man
  11. Embryo
  12. Children of the Grave
  13. Paranoid

On June 30, 2001 – BLACK SABBATH performed at Ozzfest at Blockbuster Pavilion in San Bernardino, California. The set list below:

  1. N.I.B.
  2. Snowblind
  3. Scary Dreams
  4. War Pigs
  5. Iron Man
  6. Into the Void
  7. Black Sabbath
  8. The Wizard
  9. Paranoid
  10. Children of the Grave

On June 30, 2016 – BLACK SABBATH performed at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia. This concert was during THE END Tour.

BLACK SABBATH FOREVER.

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OZZY OSBOURNE “The Ultimate Sin” – Album Is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Posted in classic rock, Heavy Metal, metal bands, metal music, music news, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 19, 2014 by Metal Odyssey

Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin - promo cover pic - #17770

5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metalfistredbckgrndsmall5

Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

OZZY OSBOURNE – The 4th studio album, The Ultimate Sin, from the iconic Ozzy Osbourne was released back in 1986, via CBS Records. If there ever was a Heavy Metal album that I shared countless good Metal times with, it’s without a doubt this Ozzy release! Man, those old school Metal memories of lazy, hazy and beer soaked Summer nights (and afternoons) with Metal buddies just buzz about in my brain, each time I listen to The Ultimate Sin.

For me, it was all about Metal, beer and babes back in 1986; and not necessarily in that order, depending on the night. Whoa! Ring that who-gives-a-shit bell! Life was easy for me back in ’86. Hell, yes it was! I saw Ozzy on his “The Ultimate Sin Tour” twice in ’86; Queensrÿche opened for Ozzy at The Springfield Civic Center, in Springfield, Massachusetts and Metallica opened for Ozzy at The New Haven Coliseum, in New Haven Connecticut. Both were whiz-bang shows! I remember telling my Metal buddies back then, that on this ’86 tour, Ozzy reminded me of a “Heavy Metal Liberace” due to his dress attire and on stage persona. Go figure. Maybe I inhaled, after all. Whoa.

Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin - Liner Notes - Band Pic - Metal Odyssey - 2014

Above: The Ultimate Sin (4 panel) liner notes from the CD I own. It opens up to reveal a band photo, from L to R: Jake E. Lee, Ozzy, Phil Soussan and (the late) Randy Castillo.

Ozzy Osbourne has released 11 studio albums, counting the covers album, Under Cover, from 2005. With Black Sabbath, Ozzy is vocalist on 9 studio albums. An incredible Heavy Metal legacy, Ozzy has forged. When I look upon the successful, highly influential and multi-million unit selling career of Ozzy as a solo artist, I’m aghast that he hasn’t been inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as such! Of course, Ozzy is in the Rock Hall with Black Sabbath, however, give me a Metal break! Ozzy DESERVES to be in the Rock Hall as a solo artist, right at this moment! Ugh.

Sorry for the detour. Back to The Ultimate Sin album. I refuse to compare this album to the unparalleled Randy Roads era. This was an entirely new era for Ozzy; it would be like comparing Yeungling Lager to Yeungling Lite. I love ’em both! My favorite songs from this super-fabulous album are: The Ultimate Sin, Never Know Why, Lightning Strikes, Fool Like You and Shot In The Dark. I dig the other songs, of course; only these songs I pointed out still make me feel so damn good! The brilliant Jake E. Lee’s guitar wizardry on The Ultimate Sin is forever out-of-this-world! Whoa.

Ozzy Osbourne - classic logo - yellow red black - #99970

If you’ve never owned The Ultimate Sin, you are a Metal sinner. This is a Heavy Metal classic, to me. An underrated gem within the discography of Ozzy Osbourne. From the album artwork to ALL 9 songs, The Ultimate Sin I shall easily declare, on any given Metal day, as timeless. Metal be thy name. – Stone

The Ultimate Sin – Track Listing: The Ultimate Sin, Secret Loser, Never Know Why, Thank God For The Bomb, Never, Lightning Strikes, Killer Of Giants, Fool Like You, Shot In The Dark

______________________________________

Stone - Motorhead Tee pic:small

LONG LIVE OZZY OSBOURNE.

LONG LIVE JAKE E. LEE.

LONG LIVE PHIL SOUSSAN.

REST IN PEACE, RANDY CASTILLO.

Stone.

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Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Tribute – Live Album From 1987 Is Priceless, Old School, Heavy Metal History

Posted in classic rock, guitar legends, guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal history, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

OZZY OSBOURNE RANDY RHOADS TRIBUTE – How often do you turn to your collection of music, whether it be CDs, vinyl, cassettes or (gulp) 8 tracks for that refreshing listen in Old School?  And as you rummage through your music collection, you find that one Old School release you haven’t listened to in quite some time? It happened to me a couple of days ago. This Old School album I’ve revisited is Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute. I have this live Heavy Metal masterpiece on CD and cassette, once owning it on vinyl. This is a “double-album” release and all 14 songs are on one CD.

Why do I refer to this album as a masterpiece you question? This is the first and only live Ozzy Osbourne album that features the infinitely legendary Randy Rhoads (Randall William Rhoads) as guitarist. Randy Rhoads passed away at age 25, back on March 19, 1982. It was a “freak” small plane accident that took Randy Rhoads away from us all, halfway through the Diary Of A Madman tour. I won’t get into anymore details about this sad story… the internet is loaded with the complete story on this horrible day in Rock Music history.

There are three Black Sabbath classics heard on this live album: Iron Man, Children Of The Grave and Paranoid. Randy Rhoads did these Black Sabbath classics spectacular Metal justice on Tribute. Yes, Tony Iommi is the originator and guitar master of these Black Sabbath songs, there is no dispute. If anything, Randy and Tony are on the same Metal tier in my most honest Metal opinion. Two entirely different guitar styles and two unique legends of Heavy Metal and Rock history are they both. Each guitarist has carved out his individual Metal legacy for all eternity. What more can I say about that?

As I listen now, some 24 years after this live album has been released, the chills still run up and down my body when I crank these Heavy Metal classics up… just as it happened to me in 1987. When a live album or any album for that matter, can never lose it’s euphoric Metal vibe that it gives me, such as this one, then I Metal ordain it a Metal Masterpiece. I’m forever left spellbound by listening to Randy Rhoads play his riffs, leads and solo’s throughout this entire live album. The studio out-takes of Randy Rhoads playing Dee never ceases in capturing my full attention. The all encompassing Metal high I get from hearing these live versions of Flying High Again, I Don’t Know, Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley is a personal feeling that is priceless.

Randy Rhoads has a featured guitar solo on Suicide Solution and it is a dizzying listen into just how immense, influential and dynamic his guitar playing was… and forever will be. Ozzy’s vocals on these live songs sound just incredible to my ears, it’s vintage Ozzy. There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne, just like there shall never be another Randy Rhoads. These two ultra-amazing men of Metal created two magical albums together with Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981). Those were two back-to-back Heavy Metal albums that essentially catapulted Ozzy’s solo career to iconic heights and made Randy Rhoads, the guitarist, an everlasting influence and legend.

Both of these iconic Heavy Metal albums are celebrated on this live Tribute album and Ozzy Osbourne paid tribute to Randy Rhoads through it’s release. The guitar playing and song writing of Randy Rhoads shall be celebrated forever by this Metalhead. This is a live album that belongs in every Hard Rock and Metal fans collection of music, I can’t fathom any reason otherwise. Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute is a live album that captured important Heavy Metal and Rock music history, which will be passed down for Metal generations to come.

The band as listed in the “original” album liner notes:

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals

Randy Rhoads – guitar

Rudy Sarzo – bass

Tommy Aldridge – drums

Track Listing For Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute:

I Don’t Know

Crazy Train

Believer

Mr. Crowley

Flying High Again

Revelation (Mother Earth)

Steal Away (The Night) (With Drum Solo)

Suicide Solution (With Guitar Solo)

Iron Man

Children Of The Grave

Paranoid

Goodbye To Romance

No Bone Movies

Dee (Randy Rhoads Studio Out-Takes)

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was produced and engineered by Max Norman. The executive producer was Ozzy Osbourne.

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was released March 19, 1987, on Epic Records.

The combination of knowing that the month of March marks the passing of Randy Rhoads and speaking with “DeadDave” of Dead Daves Radio.com about Old School Heavy Metal over this past weekend, prompted me to dig out this classic work of live Heavy Metal… without my even thinking about it. I guess needing to listen to Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was imbedded in my Metal sub-conscious, all along this past week.

I met “DeadDave” for the first time in my Metal life at the COLD, KOPEK, Egypt Central, Oceans Divide and Maddam Ink. concert at the Crocodile Rock Cafe on Saturday, March 19th. I’ll tell the world this much… “DeadDave” is one cool dude who likes his Horror, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Thanks for the conversations “DeadDave” and for the Metal knowledge you shared as well.

Long Live Ozzy Osbourne.

Rest In Peace, Randy Rhoads.

Stone.

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OZZY OSBOURNE – “SPEAK OF THE DEVIL” 1982 LIVE ALBUM WAS ONCE BANNED!

Posted in hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal awards, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, people, personal stories, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

OZZY OSBOURNE – released his very first solo live album Speak Of The Devil back on November 27, 1982. I remember getting excited about this new Ozzy album coming out… it was live… it was Ozzy! My late sister Christine, she worked at a department store named Stars back in 1982. This Stars department store sold just about anything and everything, it was a store where you could find faucet washers or chain link that no other hardware store carried. From tampons to cookies to records, Stars had it all! It was our Walmart before we had… a Walmart. Well, this store did not have a very bright store manager… as you will soon find out.

You see, I asked my sister back in late November of 1982, if she could pick me up the new Ozzy Osbourne album for me… Speak Of The Devil. She said it would be no problem at all. Well, it did become a problem. Apparently, the store manager of Stars decided he wanted to “play the dictator card” and ban the Speak Of The Devil album from being sold at Stars. My sister was just as miffed at this as I was back then. She told me, “he” (the store manager), did not like Ozzy Osbourne and abhorred the album cover artwork of Speak Of The Devil, therefore, he did not want this album or any Ozzy Osbourne album for that matter, sold at Stars. The guy was a first class moron, a first rate censorship warlord.

I won’t mention this idiot managers name, (just to protect any of his embarrassed family members). However, his daughter did go to my high school, was a year or two younger than me and she was… a Metalhead. Poor girl, to have a dip-crap father like that… it’s no wonder she didn’t go insane. Plus, this censor police chief of a store manager wore… get this… polyester pants and… turtlenecks. F’n turtlenecks! That is probably where my absolute hatred for turtlenecks was sown. Turtleneck traumatized was I, at a very young age. Seeing that fart face store manager pacing up front of that store, man, the memory is so damned vivid now. Excuse me please, I think I want to go puke right now.

Anyway, to make a sad censorship story better… I did get my hands on Speak Of The Devil at a very non-censored store called Strawberries Records & Tapes. Kiss my Metal butt Stars and your third world nation store manager. My trips to Stars did continue even years after this censorship “issue” with the Speak Of The Devil and all Ozzy Osbourne albums. Stars later named another dude as store manager and he was cool. As for the censorship addict that once reigned as store manager there… well, I don’t really know what happened to him and really don’t give a maggot infested, moose crap either.

Heavy Metal took a beating back in the early days, especially the 1980’s, with censorship jackasses. Maybe this former store manager of Stars became a fan of the overly constipated PMRC? One never knows. All I know is that censorship is creepy, scary and wrong. Censorship of music, art, books or any other “freedom of speech” that America takes for granted has happened and can still happen at any time. Censorship is probably happening right now, in some shape or form, in yes… America. Freedom is fragile, sometimes it is too easy to forget that.

Granted, this story may come across as a “micro” incident in small town America, too long ago to even blink an eye at. Don’t be fooled… history does have a funny way of unfortunately repeating itself.

LONG LIVE ARTISTIC FREEDOM!

AND OZZY OSBOURNE TOO.

Stone.

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My favorite Ozzy Osbourne album is…

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, classic rock, classic rock music, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal solo albums, heavy metal solo artists, heavy metal solo vocalists, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, ozzy, Ozzy Osbourne, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock keyboard musicians, rock vocalists, vintage heavy metal albums, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 18, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

I would like to take this opportunity, to let the entire world know, which Ozzy Osbourne album is my favorite of all time. Oops, it is a tie. “Blizzard Of Ozz”, (1980) and “Diary of a Madman”, (1981). Why, you may query? These first two Ozzy albums to me, represent the real, original, building block, style of Heavy Metal sound, that energized the 1980’s into the powerhouse Metal decade it was. Plus, lest we never forget, the greatness of the late Randy Rhoads on lead guitar, on both of these essential Heavy Metal albums.

It is very important to note that on the reissue version of “Blizzard Of Ozz”, during the re-mastering process, Mike Bordin is now on drums and percussion with Robert Trujillo on bass. The original drummer, on the original album, was Lee Kerslake and on bass was Bob Daisley. They are all fabulous musicians, I am not swayed either way. Don Airey is on keyboards for the original album. The key is that the legendary, late Randy Rhoads is the guitarist! Just to hear Randy play his signature sound on “I Don’t Know”, “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” still sends chills 28 years after this release. Randy Rhoads and his unique guitar sound and style truly helped shape the evolution of Heavy Metal and it’s many prominent guitarists for decades. This album is not just a turning point for Ozzy, it is a focal point of reference and reverence for so many Heavy Metal musicians and fans alike. A bonus track is added into this reissue, “You Lookin’ At Me Lookin’ At You”. This song is similar in structure to “Rock & Roll Rebel” from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark At The Moon”. It is a song that is a welcomed addition to this classic album, any song is – that has Randy Rhoads playing. This album has stood the test of time, it feels strange for me to now say that the lyrics, song structure and arrangements with Randy Rhoads leads and riffs are powerhouse. Yet, with the new generation of Ozzy, Randy Rhoads and Heavy Metal fans, getting the word out after all these years is worth every second if it means passing this Heavy Metal jewel on to new listeners.

I know that I do reflect a couple of decades back, (quite often), in my posts… the reason is simple, this incredible Heavy Metal music was created and released decades ago! That is my point of relevance for me, so much of the Heavy Metal that I was into in the late 70’s onward, I still listen to this very day and is now considered classic and vintage. I can remember having the coolest algebra teacher back in High School, Mr. Z. was his name. Mr. Z. allowed his students to bring into class – albums to play on his stereo. How cool is that? It is not too often, with any generation, to reflect on any Algebra teacher from High School as being cool. Well, one of my buddies back then, brought into our class one day, the “Diary Of A Madman” album. This was really the first time I gave this Ozzy gem a thorough listen. I was ecstatic, thrilled beyond Metal belief upon hearing these tunes on this album. (Mr. Z. seemed to dig this Ozzy album too, I can still remember seeing his face showing the appreciation, while the Metal blared). Needless to say, my grades in Mr. Z.’s Algebra class were very respectable, due in part to the cool nonconventional way of teaching, using Heavy Metal as an inspiring teaching tool. Mr. Z. rocked back then, I hope he is still as cool today, wherever he may be.

With tracks such as “Over The Mountain”, “Believer”, “Little Dolls”, “You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll”, “Flying High Again” and “S.A.T.O.”, the odds of ever hearing such amazing Heavy Metal songs this potent and on one album again, are pretty slim. Back in 1982, after listening to this Ozzy album, I was set Metal straight – for a lifetime.

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