10 Greatest Performances Of OZZY OSBOURNE’s Career

There merely won’t ever be one other titan in heavy metallic fairly as tall as Ozzy Osbourne. Because the frontman for the inventors of heavy metallic, together with the best metallic solo mission ever, Ozzy put collectively an untouchable profession crammed with iconic reside performances.

From each Black Sabbath and the Ozzy Osbourne band, this is 10 of the best performances from our dearly departed Prince of Darkness.

Black Sabbath – Dwell on the Olympia (1970)

Black Sabbath clearly had one thing particular from the very starting. Ozzy sings his ass off all through this complete present on the Olympia in Paris, like he’s attempting to show one thing to all his childhood naysayers. Oz was really a power in his youth, and Black Sabbath was stuffed with piss and vinegar (and weed and cocaine, in all probability) in December 1970. 

Black Sabbath – California Jam (1974)

You’ve invented a time machine. You may return to someday within the historical past of heavy metallic. You’re clearly a genius, since you picked Black Sabbath’s set at California Jam 1974. On the pageant’s rainbow stage, a bedazzled Sabbath turned a crowd of hippies into hesher metalheads, delivering the sickest grooves within the historical past of electrified music. Really iconic.

Black Sabbath – The Legendary Soundboard Tapes (1975)

If you wish to hear the very best sounding Black Sabbath gig ever captured, placed on this 1975 reside album recorded in Asbury Park, NJ. Ozzy Osbourne was at his absolute best as a rock ’n’ roll frontman, famously introducing “Gap within the Sky” by screaming, “Are you excessive?! So am I!” This was additionally the tour that Sabbath debuted “Symptom of the Universe” reside… simply think about being in that crowd and listening to that riff for the primary time.

Ozzy Osbourne – Dwell at 31 Studios (1981)

One of many biggest performances in heavy metallic occurred in a random TV station in Rochester, NY. This was the resurrection of Ozzy’s profession after his cut up from Sabbath, and the introduction of a brand new secret weapon — Randy Rhoads. Regardless of the dearth of a reside viewers, this efficiency was crammed with infectious power. 

Ozzy Osbourne – Salt Lake Metropolis (1984)

Sure, Jake E. Lee was on some secret riff juice in 1984… however how nice does Ozzy Osbourne sound at this 1984 gig? Deep into his feral ‘80s persona, Ozzy commanded the stage right here like few frontman ever have. He was really bigger than life, his voice brilliantly switching between hovering highs and gruff lows. 

Ozzy Osbourne – The Final Ozzy (1986)

Every little thing about this gig was BIG BIG BIG. The sound of Ozzy’s band was enormous, Ozzy’s voice crammed the entire enviornment… even his sparkly jacket and hair have been large. If there’s one Ozzy efficiency that personifies the decadence and extra of the ‘80s, it’s this video album from The Final Sin tour. 

Ozzy Osbourne – Dwell & Loud (1993)

Recorded all through a number of exhibits from 1991-1992, Dwell & Loud was a declaration of Ozzy Osbourne’s continued relevance within the grunge period. The ‘80s glamour was stripped away for a extra uncooked and gritty really feel, interspersed with footage of followers celebrating their love for the Prince of Darkness. The place many metallic bands didn’t translate into the ‘90s, Ozzy succeeded seamlessly. 

Black Sabbath – Ozzfest 2005

This fucking crowd, man. What a pleasure to look at this unbelievable trade of power between Ozzy Osbourne and his Ozzfest followers. Performing to a seemingly infinite mass of humanity, Black Sabbath’s unique lineup proved themselves as timeless one once more all through 2005. That is some untouchable stuff.

Black Sabbath – The Finish (2017)

It was the tip of Black Sabbath… the tip of a reunion that spawned a Grammy Award and the band’s first No. 1 album within the U.S. On February 4, 2017, Sabbath graced Birmingham’s Genting Area for the final time, delivering an ideal setlist of fan favorites capped off by “Paranoid” as an encore. “You’re the fucking best, the very best, I really like you all. Thanks for coming, thanks for my life. Thanks, thanks, thanks,” Ozzy stated to his followers. No Oz, thanks.

Again to the Starting (2025)

On the biggest metallic celebration ever put collectively, Ozzy Osbourne received to reside a fairytale ending with each Black Sabbath and his solo band. Just some weeks earlier than passing into the ether, Ozzy used one hundred pc of his life power to ship this monumental efficiency, and at no level was it extra touching than when he sang “Mama I’m Coming Residence.” It’s okay… have your self a metallic cry.