The passing of Ozzy Osbourne on Tuesday, July 22, prompted a wave of tributes from musicians across the globe. Among those reflecting on the “Prince of Darkness” was Max Cavalera, the frontman for Soulfly and former Sepultura vocalist, who shared personal anecdotes with NBC affiliate 12News in Phoenix, Arizona. Cavalera’s insights reveal a side of Ozzy that transcended his wild public persona, highlighting his unexpected kindness and enduring rock-and-roll spirit.
When asked about Ozzy‘s character, Cavalera recounted his initial encounters (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, I first met him around ’96 with my old band [Sepultura]. And at that time he didn’t come out that much. And we were also — ’cause we’re such fans, we were all scared of him.” This initial apprehension soon gave way to a deeper connection, particularly after a tragic event in Cavalera’s life.
The bond between the Cavalera and Osbourne families solidified following the death of Max’s stepson, Dana, in Arizona. In a separate interview, Max shared that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne extended an extraordinary level of support. He recalled a harrowing experience after the Monsters Of Rock festival at Donington in 1996, when Ozzy and Sharon flew him and his wife and manager, Gloria Cavalera, home on their private jet. “It was a horrible thing. We were flying home because Gloria‘s son died, in Ozzy‘s plane. It was horrible. The whole time. It was so dark. I wanted to say something to Gloria and words couldn’t even come out of my mouth.”
Cavalera profoundly appreciated the Osbourne’s compassion during this dark period. “Sharon talks about feeling like we needed a friend at that time and she was able to help us. They didn’t have to do anything. They were just playing a show with us, and yet they showed their true colors. Somebody else could have said, ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ but they didn’t do that. They put us on their plane, gave us money and gave Gloria a crucifix. It was amazing.”
The Osbourne’s support continued even after Max’s departure from Sepultura in 1996. Cavalera recounted being invited to their home for dinner in January, where Ozzy offered vital encouragement. “Ozzy sat me down and said, ‘F**k them. F**k those guys. You need to get up off your a*s and do something.’ It was awesome to hear that from him and I needed to hear that.” During this pivotal meeting, Ozzy even played Max some Black Sabbath demos, an experience that Cavalera described as mind-blowing. “I was tripping the whole time. I never even imagined I would do that. You know, like when I was a kid in Brazil, if you would have told me I would sit down with Ozzy, f**king Black Sabbath, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Beyond his kindness, Cavalera fondly remembered Ozzy’s quirky and humorous side. In 12News interview, he described the “Prince of Darkness” as “really funny” and surprisingly down-to-earth. Max recalled an instance in Sweden where Ozzy, disoriented by constant touring, asked him, “Where are we?” Cavalera found this endearing: “He had no idea where he was. And I just loved that about him. It was, like, this is so cool. This guy, he’s so rock and roll. He just goes. He doesn’t even know what country he’s [in].”
Ozzy Osbourne passed away on Tuesday morning, July 22, with his family by his side. While no cause of death was officially released, he had publicly battled Parkinson’s disease and complications from a 2019 fall in recent years. His death occurred just over two weeks after his final performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, where they played four songs for over 40,000 attendees and 5.8 million livestream viewers. Ozzy also performed a five-song solo set from a bat-adorned throne, delivering a memorable farewell.
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