Heavy metal’s Prince Of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne made his way into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for a second time today, October 19th. This latest induction, which took place at the the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH, found the multi-platinum metal pioneer being inducted on his own merits. His prior 2006 induction came about under the graces of his contributions with metal forefathers Black Sabbath.
The 75-year-old musician and reality TV star recruited a small army of metal and hard rock royalty to play him into the hall, as his widely reported health struggles have kept him from being able to deliver full-fledged live performances in recent years.
Ironically, given his wild life of rock & roll excess, it was a 2019 late night fall on the way to the bathroom that forced him to retire from the road. That tumble dislodged several steel rods that had previously been inserted into him following a serious ATV crash he was involved in back in 2003.
The resulting surgeries and attempts to correct the injuries from that fall unfortunately left Osbourne with nerve damage and other complications which have affected his balance and mobility. Numerous treatments have since taken place to regain his mobility, including a last ditch neck surgery last year.
However, Osbourne has yet to reach a level of physical comfort required to return to the stage at a level he was previously accustomed to. His post-fall live appearances found him aided by a standing bracket to ensure he was able to keep upright.
Luckily for Osbourne, who is also decades into a diagnosis of PRKN 2 (a form of Parkinson’s Disease,) he has no shortage of famous friends and peers to call upon to help ring him into the hall. To that end, actor/musician/comedian Jack Black took on the honor of delivering the induction speech (a transcription can be found over at Rolling Stone).
A who’s who of metal and rock stars signed on for the accompanying musical tribute to the solo catalog of the heavy metal godfather. Among them where his longtime right-hand man, guitarist Zakk Wylde, and bassist Robert Trujillo, who prior to joining Metallica also served as Osbourne‘s touring bassist. Trujillo has also taken up session work on Osbourne‘s pandemic era records.
Producer/musician Andrew Watt, who struck up a strong kinship with Osbourne after producing his most recent two studio albums, also took part, as did Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The latter funk rock icon has been involved in the studio drumming on Osbourne‘s latest studio output as well.
Tool, etc. vocalist Maynard James Keenan, Mammoth WVH vocalist/guitarist Wolfgang Van Halen, hard rock legend Billy Idol, guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), and multi-platinum country rocker Jelly Roll, were also invited onstage, as was Adam Wakeman, who held down keyboard duties live in the past with Black Sabbath.
After a speech by Black, Osbourne appeared onstage sat in an elaborate bat-adorned throne where he offered his own personal thanks to his family, fans and paid tribute to the late Randy Rhoads.
Keenan, Trujillo, Smith, Watt & Van Halen then launched into a medley of “Crazy Train“, while Jelly Roll and Wylde then joined Trujillo, Smith, Watt for “Mama, I’m Coming Home“. Idol and Stevens later took to the stage with Trujillo, Smith, Watt & Wakeman for “No More Tears“, all while Osbourne sat side stage singing along, though not through the P.A..
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