Ozzy Osbourne R.I.P

Ozzy Osbourne was a huge influence on me musically, ever since I was an angry and self-loathing teenager.

I do not remember who introduced me to Black Sabbath, but I will never forget the day my friend Steve Broadway, who worked with me at Stationery Brokers at the bottom of Parnell Hill in Auckland, introduced me to Blizzard of Ozz. On comes the first song, "I Don't Know." I do not know what to expect. Nothing prepares me for this: Ozzy comes in with the huge, blistering chromatic melody: "People look to me and say, is the end near, when is the final day?" and I am floored.

My world changed.

Ozzy is my all time favourite vocalist. His ability to come up with melodies that nobody else could form was unmatched, since the beginning of his Black Sabbath days. His voice was truly a musical instrument. Then there is his signature "All right now" from his Black Sabbath days which would make reappearances in several songs decades later. Utterly awesome.

I saw Black Sabbath in Sydney twice. I saw Ozzy in Sydney twice. Incredible concerts. He got the crowd singing most of "War Pigs" (as he does). The unity created among the concertgoers was spiritual. Everyone singing "Oh, Lord yeah." Blew me away. Still does when I see live footage of any of his concerts. If there is one song in the world that instantly unites Heavy Metal fans, it is without a doubt "War Pigs."

I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ozzy. If there was no Ozzy, there would be no Heavy Metal. I always thought "Godfather of Heavy Metal" was corny and commercial. But, like it or not, he was. He always will be. There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne. I didn't think this day would hit me so hard. It's not so much because he died; I didn't know him personally. But it is the huge influence he has been on my life right up to this day.

It's an end of an era.

I knew this day would come.

I grieve for my own life as much as for Ozzy's and his family.