The Ozzman Cometh (Again): Ozzy Osbourne Gets His Rock Hall Due As A Solo Artist

Having already gotten his Rock Hall due as frontman of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath in 2006, Ozzy Osbourne is now rightfully being recognized by the Rock Hall for his solo career, which, when he’d been fired from Sabbath in the late ‘70s, was no sure thing.

“He’d been fired. Everybody was like, ‘Oh, well, he’s gone,’” wife and longtime manager Sharon Osbourne told Pollstar previously. “What lead singer gets fired and then comes back again on their own?’ They hadn’t at that time, not from a band like Sabbath.”

Largely credited with convincing and shepherding Ozzy to begin a solo career, Sharon guided Ozzy as he deftly leaned into the “Prince of Darkness” mystique and intrigue that began with Sabbath. Surrounding himself with gifted musicians like late guitarist Randy Rhoads and, always with a knack for earworms and catchy riffs, the performer sometimes known as erratic or unreliable on stage pulled off a calculated and well-crafted comeback, going on to record some of the most influential rock ‘n’ roll songs of his era. That solo career has endured for four decades, with the metal frontman evolving into a household name as a lovable musician, reality TV personality and influential presence on the road. 

“The word that comes to mind is family,” says CAA’s Allison McGregor, who accompanied Ozzy and Sharon on tour dating back to the early 2000s. “They have always treated me like one of their own, and you see that in everything that Ozzy and Sharon do, how they treat people when we’re on the road. They know all the vendors, who’s selling the merch and working the lights.”

McGregor fondly reminisces about “ladies of Ozzfest parties” hosted by Sharon, “which Ozzy would inevitably crash,” and marvels at the massive crowds that would gather for the concerts — 60,000 people at Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, for instance. She laughs that the dozens of people involved, and the variation from one tour to the next, made for “a different circus on the road every year.”

Being inducted into the Rock Hall this year by an all-star group of friends and contemporaries including Jack Black, Maynard James Keenan, Robert Trujillo, Zakk Wylde, Billy Idol and Jelly Roll, Ozzy’s influence on pop culture and rock music is as obvious as his love for his fans and family.

“There was a time where you got to see a real window into their world when they started ‘The Osbournes,’” says McGregor, mentioning the popular MTV reality show that offered a light-hearted look into the family’s personal life and became must-watch TV for multiple generations of fans. “It was real. You really got a glimpse into their day-to-day lives and saw how much they loved each other, all of the chaos and fun that went along with being in their household.”