Yesterday, the music world lost a legend.
Ozzy Osbourne — the voice of Black Sabbath, the wild heart of metal, and an unexpected influence on so many musicians (myself included) — has passed away at 75.

This one hits different for me.

As a teenager picking up guitar for the first time, Ozzy was more than a performer — he was a gateway. It was through Ozzy’s solo work that I discovered Randy Rhoads and later Zakk Wylde. Their styles couldn’t be more different, but both shaped how I thought about tone, phrasing, and showmanship. The riffs, the solos, the attitude — it was all larger than life.

Randy’s intro on “Crazy Train” was one of the first licks I ever tried to learn — and it still gives me chills. His classical-inspired phrasing in tracks like “Mr. Crowley” made me want to get better, to push myself past power chords into something more intricate.

Later, when Zakk Wylde took over guitar duties, the sound got heavier, gnarlier. That’s when I got into bands, started cranking amps, and trying to emulate that thick, harmonic-rich growl. Even now, I still draw on those tones when I’m behind the decks, choosing drops that hit with the same energy and punch.

Of course, there’s no better closing anthem today than this one:

It’s been looping in my head all day — equal parts powerful and tender. That song has always been emotional, but now it feels like a goodbye letter from Ozzy himself.

Closing Thoughts:
Whether you loved him for Sabbath’s doomy grooves, his solo theatrics, or his larger-than-life personality, Ozzy was unmistakable. He lived and performed on his own terms, and he pulled thousands of us into the world of music — not just as fans, but as creators.

Thanks for the inspiration, Ozzy.
Rest in power, and ride that Crazy Train all the way home.