In a poignant new interview, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford shared his deep sorrow over the recent death of Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne, revealing the profound impact the news had on him personally. Speaking with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio station, Halford recounted the moment he learned of Ozzy’s passing.
“Oh, man. I got a call the day [Ozzy‘s death] happened,” Halford said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I just put the phone down in my hotel room in — I think I was in Leeds, in England, and I just curled up in a ball and bawled my eyes out for hours. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it now. I’m still grieving, like so many people.”
Halford explained that he was scheduled to perform a show the very next day and had to process the immense grief and an outpouring of love for Ozzy from around the world. He spoke about the band’s song “Giants in the Sky,” from their latest album, Invincible Shield, which pays tribute to late musicians. Halford said they added Ozzy to the list of greats honored in the song, which already includes Lemmy, Ronnie James Dio, and Freddie Mercury, among others.
He noted that in the wake of such a tragedy, the best way to honor Ozzy is to continue his legacy of rock and roll. “God, how do you process all of this tragedy, all of this love, because I’ve never seen such an outpouring of love,” he stated. “But Ozzy would say, ‘Let’s party. Let’s rock and roll. Let’s live it up. Let’s enjoy.'” He added that this was always Ozzy‘s spirit. “The stuff he pushed out from himself to his fans to everybody, the generosity, the caring, all of the incredible things that he did in music, he was the embodiment of kindness in that respect.”
When asked about his last contact with Ozzy, Halford said they used to text occasionally. He expressed his immense respect for the singer, stating: “I used to feel the same whenever I was in Ozzy‘s presence, because he had this larger-than-life personality.” Halford also reflected on the honor of having performed with Black Sabbath in the past and the lasting connection he has to the band’s music, citing Judas Priest‘s use of a cover of “War Pigs” to open their shows. “That connection will never be severed in that respect,” he concluded.
Just hours after Ozzy‘s death was announced, Judas Priest shared a tribute on social media, writing: “Our hearts are broken like millions around the world. Words can’t express the love and loss we are all feeling… Ozzy, you will never leave us — your music is eternal. God blesses you now more than ever after you blessed us all through your magnificent life.”
