Ozzy Osbourne on the Evolution of Heavy Metal: A Mentor’s Perspective

As the 1970s dawned, a seismic shift coursed through the rock realm ushered in by British hard rock luminaries such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple.

Often referred to as the ‘Unholy Trinity’, these three bands are hailed as the true architects of the heavy metal genre. Among them, Tony Iommi and his Black Sabbath comrades are widely deemed the quintessential metal outfit.

With origins dating back to 1968, Black Sabbath transcended conventional rock boundaries, injecting their music with a potent fusion of dark mysticism and thunderous riffs, largely credited to guitarist Tony Iommi.

Drawing inspiration from predecessors like The Who, Led Zeppelin, and of course, The Beatles, Black Sabbath soared to become one of the most influential bands of their era.

While Ozzy Osbourne is dubbed the Prince of Darkness and the original voice of heavy metal, the label is one he somewhat disdains. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne expressed his disdain for the term ‘heavy metal’, deeming it too broad. ‘I hate that terminology,’ he remarked, ‘Because it goes from Poison to fucking Black Sabbath, and there is quite a fucking difference’.

Despite acknowledging the diversity within the metal genre, Osbourne has carved a role as a reputable mentor in the metal world. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, he took bands such as Metallica, Motörhead, and Mötley Crüe on tour, fostering the growth of rising stars like Slipknot, Tool, Pantera, and Slayer.

In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne shared his top ten favorite metal albums, featuring essential records from bands like Metallica, Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, and more. Notably, he reserved a space for Judas Priest, a band close to his heart hailing from Birmingham, his hometown.

In Osbourne’s words, ‘What can I say, the guys in Judas Priest are not only mates of mine from my hometown of Birmingham, but one of the best metal bands of all time’. He singled out their 1980 magnum opus, ‘British Steel’, lauding tracks like ‘Living After Midnight’, ‘Breaking the Law’, and ‘Metal Gods’ as timeless classics.

Formed in 1969, Judas Priest emerged just a year after Black Sabbath, solidifying Birmingham as a hotspot of British hard rock. Noteworthy figures like Robert Plant and John Bonham from Led Zeppelin also honed their craft in the Black Country scene with bands like Band of Joy from West Bromwich.

In 1980, ‘British Steel’ catapulted Judas Priest to mainstream success, despite being their sixth studio album. Ozzy Osbourne’s admiration for the band shines through, showcasing the enduring camaraderie and influence between Birmingham neighbors and trailblazing metal icons.