In a new, heartfelt tribute, Mudvayne frontman Chad Gray has described the late Ozzy Osbourne‘s influence on heavy metal as “unprecedented,” breaking down the three distinct ways the icon built the genre: as a musical inspiration, as a direct mentor who “broke Metallica,” and as a kingmaker who provided a platform for over 360 bands through his legendary Ozzfest.
Speaking with Abe Kanan of Audacy, Gray, whose own band played Ozzfest in 2001 and 2005, reflected on the immense and multi-layered legacy of the Prince of Darkness.
“[Ozzy‘s] contribution to music, we could never pay back,” Gray stated. He first pointed to Osbourne‘s direct influence on future superstars. “You’ve gotta think about back to, like, he broke Metallica— straight up. He took them on the road with him. He put Metallica on an Ozzy side stage on ‘Master Of Puppets‘, and dude, from that moment on, it was game over.”
He then explained how Ozzy expanded that kingmaker role on a massive scale with the creation of Ozzfest. “Now he creates a festival where it’s not just one band or two bands… Now it’s a gaggle of bands every single year,” he said. Gray noted that after doing his own research, he counted over 360 bands that had played the festival, a number far greater than he had seen reported online.
“We were on that second stage. System of a Down was on the second stage. Slipknot was on the second stage,” he recalled. “I mean, just go down the list of just second-stage acts… The year [we were on it], it was [Marilyn] Manson, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Disrubed, us, Drowning [Pool].”
Chad Gray‘s heartfelt analysis is a powerful tribute from one generation to another, a clear acknowledgment that the stage Mudvayne now commands was, in many ways, built by the vision and generosity of Ozzy Osbourne. The interview comes as Mudvayne is in the middle of their own major tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their landmark debut album, L.D. 50.
Mudvayne “L.D. 50 25th Anniversary” Tour Dates:
- Oct. 03 – Pocatello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
- Oct. 05 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock
- Oct. 07 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
- Oct. 09 – Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Theater
- Oct. 11 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
- Oct. 12 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
- Oct. 13 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
- Oct. 16 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater
- Oct. 18 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
- Oct. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
- Oct. 21 – Raleigh, NC – The Red Hat Amphitheater
- Oct. 22 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
- Oct. 24 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
- Oct. 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- Oct. 26 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
