With the news breaking yesterday evening that Heavy Metal Legend Ozzy Osbourne had passed away aged 76, it was a tough one to take for many musicians and friends of Ozzy on the road who had shows to deliver. Alice Cooper and his band found out just minutes before hitting the stage at Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales, where Paul Hutchings was reporting for MetalTalk.
Before going on stage, Alice recorded the following quote for his radio show. “Well, we all know that time is going to take us rockers, but when the giants fall, it’s really hard to accept. Even though everybody saw it coming with Ozzy Osbourne, it just took our breath away when it happened.
“So Ozzy and family, your records and your music and your legend and all that you brought, the humour to the rock business, will live on forever, and we’re gonna miss you, man.”
Alice and his band then dedicated yesterday’s show to the memory of Ozzy Osbourne, and they were able to celebrate along with the crowd, who had also just learned of this great loss for rock ‘n’ roll.
“The whole world is mourning Ozzy Osbourne tonight,” Alice said after the show. “Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon.
“I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the Prince Of Darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw.
“He was and will continue to be a rock ‘n’ roll legend. Rock ‘n’ roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own, it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better.
“Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood – our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on.”
MetalTalk will have a report from the Cardiff show up soon.
