Mark “Weissguy” Weiss, who has some of the most iconic photographic images in rock and Metal history, has shared his feelings of shock and heartbreak with the news breaking yesterday evening that Heavy Metal Legend Ozzy Osbourne had passed away aged 76.
“I had just seen him in Birmingham,” Mark said. “It doesn’t feel real. I first met Ozzy in 1981 when I was 21 years old, on assignment to photograph him for the cover of Circus Magazine. Sharon welcomed me into their hotel room and introduced me, while Ozzy was in the middle of a bubble bath. Not exactly what I was expecting.
“I remember spotting an empty bottle of Dom Pérignon and a cigar resting in the ashtray. That moment became my first photo of Ozzy. Right then, I knew he was something special. He listened to my suggestions, gave his all to the shoot, and made me feel like I belonged. That session kicked off decades of unforgettable moments behind the lens.”
Mark Weiss: The Decade That Rocked
When Mark Weiss released his book, The Decade That Rocked: The Music and Mayhem of ’80s Rock and Metal, MetalTalk’s Steve Ritchie spoke to him about his career.
“That really gave me the confidence to be the photographer I became,” Mark said of that photoshoot, “because of that relationship with Ozzy and his respect for me.
“I was only 21. For him to say, ‘is that okay, Mark? Did you get enough?’ It kind of gave me this thing. Here’s the Prince of Darkness, the rock star that I adored as a teenager in Black sabbath. I felt this little bit of power, and I felt that I knew how to make him look good. That was my job as a photographer, to make them look good.”
There are the famous Mark “Weissguy” Weiss shots of Ozzy in a bunny suit or ironing a baby, as well as the shot at the top of the Asbury Park theatre.
“I got to the theatre early, looked around and went upstairs to the roof,” Mark says. “I saw this very English-looking environment, and I said, this is it. I took a Polaroid and showed Sharon. I had lit it all up. My assistant was posed where Ozzy would be. I took a chance on making this big setup, and they went for it. So we shot him in five minutes up there before he went onstage.”
For now, Mark says that to him Ozzy was warm, generous, and always up for anything. “The way he trusted me gave me the confidence I needed early in my career. Over the years, I had the honour of traveling the world with Ozzy and Sharon, documenting not only the man on stage, but the one behind the scenes, with his family, his band, and those rare quiet moments.
“After long shoots, we’d often take a few fun shots together.
“Ozzy had a presence like no other. His music and spirit helped shape generations, and I’m grateful I got to be a part of it. Sending love to Sharon, Kelly, Jack and Aimee. Rest in Peace, Ozzy.”
The Decade That Rocked: The Music and Mayhem of ’80s Rock and Metal is available from good bookshops. To buy direct, including some awesome packages, visit thedecadethatrocked.com. You can also find details of Mark’s Rocked Magazine on KickStarter.
