“A part of me died, too”: The rock death that ruined Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne had the perfect rock ‘n’ roll send-off. Very few artists get to say goodbye on their own terms, let alone get the grand hurrah that they deserve.
Despite medical experts warning him against doing so, Osbourne performed at Back to the Beginning at Villa Park, a stone’s throw from where he was raised and bowed out as he’d always envisaged. To make the night even more special, the original Black Sabbath line-up reunited for the first time in more than 20 years.
Although Osbourne didn’t expect to perform again, it shocked the world that less than a month later, he was dead. However, one saving grace from this was that he was able to see how much he meant to his fans and the wider rock community at Back to the Beginning.
Throughout his life in the music industry, he grew close to many who didn’t get the same chance to receive their flowers before it was too late. Randy Rhoads, his right-hand man who revived his career following his firing from Black Sabbath, was just 25 when he died at the peak of his powers in a plane crash in 1982.
Osbourne was also friends with Humble Pie frontman Steve Marriott, another rock ‘n’ roll luminary who left the world far too soon.
They first grew close in 1972. At this time, Black Sabbath had established themselves as heavy metal pioneers and were considered one of the most dangerous acts around. Their concerts were known for nothing being off-limits; therefore, to raise the stakes even further, the equally wild Humble Pie were chosen as their support act.
While Humble Pie weren’t as loud as Black Sabbath, they knew how to rock, and their extra-curricular substance-based activities made Osbourne look like Cliff Richard in comparison.
Led by Marriott, formerly of The Small Faces, Humble Pie was his vehicle to experiment and express the full spectrum of his artistry. He savoured every moment of being let off his leash after feeling creatively restrained with his former group, and took full advantage of his second chapter.
However, aged just 44, Marriott passed away in 1991 in a house fire, likely caused by falling asleep while holding a lit cigarette. His death hit Osbourne hard; not only was Marriott a friend that he greatly admired, but a singer that he considered to be up there with the all-time greats.
Decades after Marriott’s death, Osbourne told Metal Hammer, “I also loved playing with Humble Pie. I’m a big Steve Marriott fan. When he died, a part of me died, too. I remember when we did a show together in the Akron Rubberbowl. It was an old amphitheatre in the open air. It was unbelievable.”
The Black Sabbath singer, who was no stranger to drugs, also prudishly explained how Humble Pie’s taste for cocaine took him aback, recalling, “Humble Pie were shovelling coke up their noses like it was going out of style. They must have done 20 grams before they went on stage.”
Osbourne added, “But Marriott was incredible. Somehow, he was better than ever. I remember looking for the fucking Revox. Marriott was so good I thought he was lip-synching.”
The tale of Marriott is seeped in tragedy as his life was cut short in such avoidable circumstances, stopping him from sharing his gift with the world and living the life he deserved to lead. However, Osbourne, until his own time was up, continued to fly his flag and did his best to ensure that his friend was remembered as a legend of rock.
