Written by Danielle Adelaide Cairo
The godfather of metal, Ozzy Osbourne unfortunately passed away at the age of 76 on Tuesday (July 22).
“Nobody wants him/ He just stares at the world/ Planning his vengeance/ That he will soon unfold,” these lyrics were so ahead of their time.
“Iron Man” tells the story of a man who travels into the future, witnesses an apocalypse, and once he returns to his era, is altered into a steel creature by a magnetic field, unable to warn humanity effectively. He is then rejected and made fun of for his incompetent nature while trying to warn others, which leads him to seek revenge. He brings out the apocalypse he prophesied, a hero turning into a villain.
This is what music is to me, it tells a story.
The creative input and sense of authenticity that often involves human touch in creation and expression. Ozzy always had the ability to convey emotion and meaning through various elements, whether it’d be in his wilder performance moments, (like biting the head off a living bat) or his lyrics expressing his experiences with drugs and alcohol. Ozzy pioneered heavy metal with his brutal brilliance and his classic originality.
It’s hard for me to grasp the death of Ozzy Osbourne. He was a big part of my childhood. From the moment I was born, my father taught me all there was to know about classic rock and its real origins. I remember the lyrics to “Crazy Train” ingrained in my head. His captivating laugh at the beginning “All aboard, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha/ Ayy (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy).” My father singing along then turning up the volume at the insane guitar solo. It was moments like these I cherish dearly with my father, our love for music.
Ozzy Osbourne had a unique vocal style and artistry that blended with his rebellious spirit. He explored and often conjured a certain darkness, which was always taboo to the world but we as fans always appreciated. He had a way of making those that were the least understood, feel seen. His ominous stage presence and melancholic delivery was a gateway to the heavy metal genre.
Ozzy Osbourne retired from performing three weeks before his death. On July 5th, Osbourne reunited with the original members of Black Sabbath for the first time in 20 years, for a farewell concert dubbed “Back to the Beginning”. The concert featured some of the biggest artists in metal, like Metallica, Slayer and Guns N’ Roses. Osbourne performed on a throne fit for the “Prince of Darkness” himself. He put on a vigorous performance, at one point shouting “I am Iron Man. Go fucking crazy!” Since 2020, Osbourne has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other health issues coinciding. He openly shared with the crowd the joy he felt that night, stating, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
In the end, the concert raised close to $200 million for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s. It is now the highest grossing charity concert of all time.Ozzy Osbourne has become a symbol representing rebellion and resilience. His legacy will live on to inspire new generations of artists and fans. His larger-than-life persona will out-live us all, we will honor and celebrate him for years to come.
