Ozzy Osbourne is now in rare company after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a second time during the 2024 induction ceremony.
The ‘Prince Of Darkness’ was recognized as a solo artist with the 2024 class at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday night.
The Bark At The Moon star had previously been inducted in 2006 as a member of the iconic British metal band Black Sabbath.
With those two accolades the British born rocker becomes just the 26th musical artist to go into the Hall Of Fame multiple times, joining such icons as John Lennon, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, and Paul Simon.
After Tenacious D frontman and actor Jack Black introduced and inducted the Oz Man into the Rock Hall, he got to sit and watch an all-star tribute rip through a few Ozzy classics: Crazy Train, Mama I’m Coming Home, and No More Tears.
Ozzy Osbourne, 75, became just the 26th musical artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame multiple times when he went in as a solo artist on Saturday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio
Tenacious D frontman and actor Jack Black had the honor of inducting the Oz Man into the Rock Hall
Initially, there was hope that Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne), 75, would perform but several health issues such as Parkinson’s disease, spine problems resulting in a fourth surgery in 2023, and pain from his 2003 ATV accident, derailed any possibility.
As a result he remained seated on a black throne fit for a rock god throughout the Ozzy tribute celebration.
Black seemed to be in absolute heaven as the man who got to officially induct Osbourne into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Seated on his throne, Osbourne received a standing ovation upon receiving his award.
‘I can’t believe I’m here myself. My fans have been so loyal to me over the years, I can’t thank them enough,’ he told the audience.
‘I’ve been fortunate over the years to play with some of the world’s greatest guitar players, drummers, bass players,’ the rocker explained. ‘I [want to say] one thing tonight for a guy by the name of Randy Rhoads. If I hadn’t met Randy Rhoads, I wouldn’t be sitting here tonight.’
Rhoads served as the shredding guitarist for Osbourne’s new solo career, playing with him on the first two albums: Blizzard Of Oz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981), before his death during a freak plane accident in Florida in March 1982.
The classically trained Rhoads, who was just 25, would eventually be inducted into the into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the class of 2021.
‘The greatest frontman in the history of rock ‘n’ roll – Ozzy Osbourne,’ Black declared.
‘The cover of Blizzard of Ozz ‘was the most metal thing I had ever seen, and I didn’t even know what metal was.’
Jack Black appeared absolutely overjoyed to induct Ozzy Osbourne into the Rock Hall
The singer-songwriter heaped credit on his late guitarist Randy Rhoads for helping him gain traction as a solo artist
Seated on his throne, Osbourne received a standing ovation from the crowd
‘I can’t believe I’m here myself. My fans have been so loyal to me over the years, I can’t thank them enough,’ Osbourne told the audience
Black then made a reference to his Black Sabbath days, which began back in 1970 with their self-titled debut that put the heavy metal genre on the musical map
The Oz Man watched as Jack Black talked about worshipping Ozzy and Black Sabbath
Tool’s Maynard James Keenan kicked off the Ozzy tribute with a version of Crazy Train with Wolfgang Van Halen on guitarist
The Prince Of Darkness sat on his throne off to the side during the tribute
Keenan appeared to feel the magic of Van Halen’s shredding on the guitar
Black then made a reference to his Black Sabbath days, which began back in 1970 with their self-titled debut that put the heavy metal genre on the musical map.
‘Then I went back to Ozzy’s earlier albums, to Black Sabbath. And I was like, “Unholy s**t, this motherf***er invented heavy metal … the darkest, heaviest s**t the world had ever heard,’ the host added.
After releasing eight studio albums with Black Sabbath, Osbourne would get fired from the band in April 1979 for his excessive substance abuse issues compared to the other members, as well as being labeled unreliable.
Once he became a frontman without a band, the Marston Green, Warwickshire, England native went on a party binge thinking it was his last big celebration before going back home to get on the dole.
But fate would step in when Don Arden signed him to Jet Records. who then dispatched his daughter Sharon Levy to Los Angeles to ‘look after Ozzy’s needs whatever they were’ to protect his investment.
Not only did she help him with his needs, Levy (Sharon Osbourne) would also eventually date and ultimately marry Osbourne en route to his successful solo career consisting of 13 albums, with the most recent being Patient Number 9 (2022).
For the tribute, Ozzy got to watch some of the most iconic rockers in the world that began with Tool frontman Maynard James Kenan on lead vocals for Crazy Train, which was followed by Billy Idol singing No More Tears, and then Jelly Roll on lead vocals for Mama I’m Coming Home.
Osbourne got inducted a second time as a performer in a class that also featured Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Kool & The Gang, Peter Frampton, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Ozzy joked: ‘I’m nearly f***ing dead!’ as he opened up about his health issues and the complication that causes him the most issues.
He has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal surgery in September 2023, all while reportedly battling Parkinson’s disease since 2003.
However in an interview with The Sun, the singer-songwriter revealed he hasn’t walked properly since he underwent a surgery after tripping in 2019.
Rock icon Billy Idol and partner Steve Stevens led the way for the second song No More Tears
The other rockers to take part on the tribute included Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Adam Wakeman, Andrew Watt, and longtime Ozzy axeman Zakk Wylde
Jelly Roll took the lead for the third song Mama I’m Coming Home that featured Andrew Watt and Zakk Wylde on guitars
The Diary Of A Madman star showed his enthusiasm for the show
Osbourne’s family was on hand to lend their support, including daughter Kelly Osbourne, son Jack Osbourne and his granddaughters Andy and Minnie
The television personality showed off her slimmed down figure in a black lace dress
The Fashion Police alum went with her blonde locks flowing long
Kelly Osbourne got to bring her nearly two-year-old son Sidney to the event
Osbourne’s wife and longtime manager chatted it up with Sharon Osbourne Wolfgang Van Halen and his lady Andraia Van Halen
The man of the evening locked rocker ready in his all-black ensemble
Ozzy released nine Black Sabbath albums, one of which came after his firing, and 13 solo albums
Ozzy had hoped to perform during his second induction but had to shut down the idea due to ongoing health issues
The star revealed he tripped during a bathroom visit in the night and fell over and landed wrong.
He believes too much blame for his ongoing health predicament has been placed on his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Some of the other musicians to take part in the Ozzy tribute included Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Adam Wakeman, Andrew Watt, Billy Idol’s partner and guitarist Steve Stevens, Zakk Wylde, and Wolfgang Van Halen, who happens to be the son of late icon Eddie Van Halen.
Along with newcomer Osbourne, the list of artists to have multiple inductions includes Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Page, Dave Grohl, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Curtis Mayfield, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Tina Turner, Carole King, Jeff Beck, Clyde McPhatter, Peter Gabriel, Johnny Carter, Gregg Rolie, Sammy Strain, and Lou Reed, according to WMGK.
In fact, Eric Clapton is the only person to go in to the Rock Hall three times: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and of Cream.
In order to be nominated and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, 25 years must have passed since a musician’s first released recording.
