Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary "Prince of Darkness," was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist last night (October 19). Already honored as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, Osbourne now receives recognition for his iconic solo career, an accolade he’s been eligible for since 2006.
The ceremony, held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, included an unforgettable tribute to Ozzy’s solo catalog. The tribute featured performances by Billy Idol, Tool’s Maynard James Keenan, and country artist Jelly Roll. The star-studded backing band boasted talent like Metallica’s Rob Trujillo, guitarist Zakk Wylde, Wolfgang Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and producer Andrew Watt, among others.
Comedian and actor Jack Black inducted Osbourne, delivering a powerful and humorous speech about the rock icon’s enduring influence. “Sure, you could go stream Post Malone and Taylor Swift and get all the warm hugs you need for your broken hearts. Or you could stay up all night and get your minds blown by Ozzy’s entire catalogue for the first time. Holy shit! You kids are so f**kin’ lucky.”
Ozzy, in his classic straightforward style, gave a brief yet heartfelt acceptance speech. He expressed gratitude to his fans, his bandmates, and paid a special tribute to Randy Rhoads, the late guitarist who helped shape his solo career. He also gave thanks to his wife, Sharon, who he credited with saving his life.
“Fucking love you guys. Well, here we are. You know what? I can’t believe I’m here myself. Let me get the thank yous out of the way, because I’m not going to bore you with a long, drawn-out fucking monologue. I’d like to thank whoever voted me into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. A great thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
My fans have been so loyal to me over the years, I cannot thank them enough. I’ve been fortunate over the years to play with some of the world’s greatest guitar players, drummers, bass players, and a few of them are here tonight. But I’ve got to say one thing for a guy by the name of Randy Rhoads. If I’d hadn’t have met Randy Rhoads, I don’t think I’d be sitting here now. And more so more than that, my wife Sharon. Saved my life. And my grandbabies and my babies. I love them all. So with all that, I’m gonna get on with the show and hand it back to Jack.”
Despite recent health issues and announcing his retirement from touring, Ozzy hinted that he’s not done just yet. Rumors of a final reunion show with Black Sabbath continue to circulate, and fans are holding out hope for one last epic performance from the rock legend.
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
