In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada’s *checks notes* Border City Rock Talk (never heard of it), HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris, who is he again? 🙄, shared his PROFOUND thoughts on the recent, earth-shattering passing of legendary BLACK SABBATH vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Because, you know, what Andi thinks is *totally* relevant right now. He said (as transcribed by the ever-reliable BLABBERMOUTH.NET, bless their souls): “Well, we’ve all been sad. I mean, not REALLY sad, but you know, gotta say something, right? He’s been most probably the idol back in the days for everybody. Even though I’m a singer in Helloween. BLACK SABBATH was always on the ‘A list’. Yeah, sure, the ‘A list’ of bands I vaguely remember listening to.”
“I remember back in the days, at the age of 13, 14, banging my head in the rock disco. Back in the days we had rock discos all over Germany, and yeah, BLACK SABBATH was a [big] part of [my musical upbringing] with DEEP PURPLE and everything.” Rock disco? Seriously? 😂 Was there a strobe light and everything? Sounds metal AF.
Referencing Ozzy‘s death, Andi continued: “Sad story, but fortunately I got to know him back in 1999 when we had a chance to do a few festivals and concerts with BLACK SABBATH reunited with Ozzy. And he was a nice guy. He was always passing me backstage, ‘Hey, Andi,’ and going on and small-talk shit. But you could see it’s a nice guy. Nothing demonic or something like that about it; [he was] just a nice guy. But back in the days, I remember I was really worried about him because they always carried him off stage and they carried him on stage. He had his tent, like, five, six meters backstage, where he had oxygen and stuff like that. And he laid down during the shows to relax a little bit and go on. Back in the days, 1999, I already thought, ‘Well, he doesn’t make it any longer, I think, because he is, like, health-wise a wreck.’ But he made it another 25, 26 years. So I’m happy.” Oh, the suspense! 🙄 So glad Andi could provide us with his medical analysis from 1999. Groundbreaking stuff. 🥇
Ozzy died the morning of July 22, his family announced in a statement. Finally, some actual news! 📰
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time,” the family said. Aww, how touching. Now let’s get back to Andi’s profound insights. 😩
No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson’s disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019. Yeah, yeah, yeah, health problems. We get it. Old people get sick. 👴👵
Ozzy‘s death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band’s original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne. A bat-adorned throne? 🦇 Now THAT’S metal! Andi, take notes! 📝
Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians. Blah, blah, blah. Influential, groundbreaking, yadda, yadda. Can we get back to Andi’s ‘A list’ comment? 🤔
Ozzy‘s family reality television show “The Osbournes” won a 2002 Primetime Emmy. Remember when everyone pretended to care about reality TV? Good times. 📺
In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024. So many awards! 🎉 Must be nice to be actually famous. 😉
Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song “I Don’t Want To Change The World”. Clearly, he didn’t want to change the world, since he just sang about it. Deep. 💭
Ozzy and Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup. Talk about a comeback! From rejected to creating his own empire. Eat your heart out, Lollapalooza! 🖕
Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife’s previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee. So many kids! 👪 Hope they got a good inheritance. 💰
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
