Ozzy. Fucking. Osbourne. The world has now been without one of rock’s biggest legends for about a week, now. It’s really a tough one to grasp, and even harder for it to sink in despite knowing for so long the health issues Ozzy has dealt with for quite some time. The staff at The Alternative Sovereign are huge fans, of course, and we wanted to share some love and a tribute the best we can. Here’s to you, Prince of Darkness, and harbinger of rock n roll chaos!

Hellraiser, Trailblazer

Ozzy Osbourne holds a very special place in my heart. I was 15 when I first heard “Crazy Train” and I was onboard ever since. The year 2000 was the year I had fully immersed myself in heavy metal, and The Prince of Darkness was my guide. From Black Sabbath to his solo work, I wanted to listen to it all. I remember, for my high school graduation ceremony I even quoted one of his songs. I felt like it was fitting for the occasion seeing as how we all depart from one thing and move on to another, and now with Ozzy having departed this world, I feel like it is fitting for this occasion as well. So, here it is:

“I say goodbye to romance, yeah
Goodbye to friends, I tell you
Goodbye to all the past
I guess that we’ll meet, we’ll meet in the end”

Thank you, Ozzman. You left us with great music, and with that great music came the great memories. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. \m/

~ Spanish Jesus

The End of an Era, Yet the Continuation of a Legacy (IH)

And thus, an era has come to an end. Ozzy Osbourne has passed. Despite his struggles with addiction, he never ceased to trooper on and be the absolute legendary badass that we all know him as! While he may not be on this mortal coil any longer, his legacy will always exist and live on! His music will always be legendary, be it Black Sabbath or his solo work!

            I grew up listening to Ozzy. From the first time I heard Paranoid, I was hooked. It is one of the best offerings to the metal scene. That whole album was and is so damn important to my life and you can bet it has been getting plenty of spins since the 22^nd! When I found Ozzy’s solo work, I was blown away in the same way Sabbath blew me away. Shot In the Dark and Mr. Crowley for example, are some of my favorite songs ever written! They are timeless masterpieces!

            While many tears have been shed, mine included, Ozzy is eternal. His legacy will never die. His passing only cements him even deeper into the hallowed halls of music. Were it not for Ozzy, we would never have gotten metal; truly a pioneer. The Prince of Darkness has ascended to the King of Darkness. Rest in power Ozzman, we’ll miss you, but you’re always with us! Pour yourself a drink tonight and absolutely blast some Ozzy y’all! – Impure Hoonter

An Icon Immortalized

The impact Ozzy has made on music, and the impact of loss to all those who adored him are not inherently different. The contribution he had to the “rockstar archetype”, and defining “Prince of Darkness” in music has been pivotal in influencing music even today. I cannot imagine where rock and metal would be without his influence. Even my favorite band, HIM, has admitted to having a strong Black Sabbath influence.

Growing up, Ozzy was like an engraved feature in music; he was everywhere. Musically his songs topped charts, saw popularity leaking into popular culture, samples, and even movie appearances by the man himself like when he played himself in “Little Nicky” in 2000, or voiced King Thrash, the king of the rock n roll trolls in “Trolls: World Tour” in 2020, not to mention “The Osbournes” reality tv show that ran for 4 seasons. (I will admit, as a millenial I was a huge fan of the show!) “Icon” doesn’t even begin to cover the reverence of Ozzy.

It’s difficult to believe that he’s gone. He doesn’t feel gone. He felt immortal. He seemed to be one that would just “always be there”. In a way, he really will be. His influence is everywhere. His music is everywhere. And the man, the vibrant life he lived, and the light he gave to the world as “the Prince of Darkness” will never go out. My love and whole heart goes out to Sharon, his children, and the entire Osbourne family and friends unit. We thank you for sharing him with the world, and I hope he peacefully rests his well deserved rest.

-LibbyG