Ozzy Osbourne selects the greatest debut albums of all time
Releasing a classic debut album is no small feat, and one man who knows this triumph well is Ozzy Osbourne. Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut in 1970, and while it may have taken some listeners a short time to recognise the pioneering nature of their metal sound, the album was both a critical and commercial success that helped transform the rock landscape.
Arriving at just the right time, the four longhaired Brummies could not have cared less about the outgoing countercultural zeitgeist and flower-power. They were more interested in the dark intrigue of the occult and the world’s creepiest corners.
Fittingly emerging from Birmingham, the smog-laden industrial heartland of England that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Mordor, Black Sabbath’s dark music captured the imagination of listeners. They were witnessing the decline of the hippie movement, overshadowed by the Manson murders, living in a Britain teetering on the brink of socio-economic collapse, and with the Cold War raging in the background. A tangible sense of nihilism about the future permeated the air.
Although it has since been characterised as slow, de-tuned blues, there was nothing like Black Sabbath when they emerged. In fact, their spearhead, guitarist Tony Iommi, was so impressive that one of the 1960s’ most influential bands, Jethro Tull, invited him to join them for a brief stint. However, demonstrating the significance of his old band even back then, Iommi quickly realised that working with Ian Anderson’s outfit wasn’t right for him; he missed his best friends and the atmospheric power of their music. That was the only place he felt he belonged.
Within a year, Black Sabbath released their debut album, which helped change the face of rock in the post-Beatles world. Together with Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, they put Asgardian thunder into guitar music. With their first outing not only instituting metal but also containing the first flecks of doom, sludge and stoner metal, they achieved much on it, meaning that Osbourne is one of the best-suited figures in music to ask about what makes a truly outstanding debut.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2017 to list his ten favourite metal albums of all time, Osbourne discussed three titles he thinks qualify among the greatest debuts of all time. The first was Seattle grunge legends Alice in Chains’ 1990 debut, Facelift. The first time Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell burst onto the scene, their unsettling blend of metal and hard rock can be traced back to Sabbath’s early efforts.
Ozzy said: “Another amazing debut. ‘Man in the Box’ is a classic. Layne Staley was a lovely guy. It’s such a shame that he couldn’t overcome his demons.”
Elsewhere, the Black Sabbath frontman – who dipped his toes into hair metal in his solo career – picked a band the American 1980s scene produced, Guns N’ Roses. A sucker for their hellraising energy of ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’, he considers their 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, one of the best ever.
He explained: “One of the greatest debut albums of all time. There’s not a weak song in the bunch. I never get tired of hearing it.”
Perhaps most surprising was that Osbourne also mentioned the industrial classic Hellbilly Deluxe by Rob Zombie as one of the finest debuts ever. As he had toured with the American musician and filmmaker numerous times, he was fully aware of his essence as a creative Renaissance man. “Rob Zombie is also someone I’ve toured with quite a bit. He’s a true artist in every sense, and Hellbilly Deluxe is Rob’s best in my opinion,” he concluded.
