Some say that, whenever someone sings over a guitar that's been cranked up to 11, the Prince of darkness lives on.
Sorry for the cheese but, also, I don't care. This one got to me.
I met him after the UK ozzfest, back in 2001. I was only about 15-16. Tool played aswell with peak Maynard and they were out of this world. Sabbeth were brilliant too. They really smashed war pigs and iron man that night. I didn't know them that well at the time but, they were good enough for me to still remember it for that now.
Anyway, after the show, we were being driven back by one of the parents and we pulled over at a service station. Me and a friend got some food and qued up to pay, both wearing ozzfest t shirts we bought at the show that day. While waiting, suddenly we felt a hand on one of each of our shoulders and this short, long-haired man said, "ehh, thanks for cooming, lads." We turned around and our jaws just dropped. "Er....erm ..th... thank you" and with a big smile on his face he says "take care lads" he turned and went to thank more people for coming. He must have gone round the entire place talking to everyone who even vaguely looked like they might have gone.
For those unfamiliar, a service station here is like a gas station crossed with a very small mall and a dinner or 2. So, it took him a while to get around. He genuinely seemed so thankful to everyone who went.
Not only did they help create their own genre, they provided the echo system it needed to carry and flourish for decades.
I really hope this final chapter of his inspires more young people to make heavy rock bands, in their own style, their own way. Ozzy's death bringing heavy metal back to life would be so damn metal that I don't know if I could cope with it tbh lol.