10 Incredible Facts Behind ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ By Ozzy Osbourne

10 Incredible Facts Behind ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ By Ozzy Osbourne | I Love Classic Rock Videos

Album cover for Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne / Youtube

Ozzy “the prince of darkness” Osbourne, has quite a tumultuous reputation to keep during the early days of his life. Drugs, alcohol, women— all the main ingredients on a rockstar’s life, has become the very reason why he was fired from his first metal band, Black Sabbath. Ozzy felt lost, until one day an opportunity confronted him to create something that will change his life forever. Blizzard of Ozz, his first solo work, has proven to be one of the metal genre’s finest albums of all time.

 

Competition rose against his former Black Sabbath band.

Ozzy admitted in his autobiography I Am Ozzy that he felt his first album would be the direct competition of his former band, Black Sabbath. After Osbourne’s departure, the latter replaced him with Ronnie James Dio and released their first album Heaven and Hell months before Blizzard of Ozz.

“Goodbye To Romance” was Osbourne’s letter to Black Sabbath.

The singer felt the song “Goodbye To Romance” embodied the farewell message to his former group.

“Suicide Solution” was written about Ozzy.

Bob Daisley, the bassist of Blizzard of Ozz wrote “Suicide Solution” inspired by the frontman’s destructive behaviors. Fans of the band have also assumed the song to be about AC/DC’s Bon Scott.

It was a collaborative effort from the band and not a solo one.

Although the Blizzard of Oz had a reputation for being Osbourne’s solo work, it was a collaborative effort of the band Blizzard of Ozz, the one that the singer had to create after his dismissal. The cover, however, displayed Ozzy’s name in bigger letters which made fans assume that this was his solo album.

Their last-minute song “You Said It All” didn’t make it.

The label executives called the band to create a song to be released as a new single, so they quickly put together the song, “You Said It All.” It didn’t reach the recording process but you can hear the live version of it inside Mr. Crowley Live EP.

Gary Moore almost got the gig as the guitarist.

When picking the guitarist for his band, Osbourne’s first choice was Gary Moore from Thin Lizzy. The gig went to Randy Rhoads though, due to their musical chemistry.

“RR” was a tribute to Rhoads.

The “RR” outtake was recorded during the album’s sessions but didn’t make it to the final cut. Years later, the reissue included the song as a tribute to the late guitarist who died two years after the release of the album.

A teenager shot himself while listening to “Suicide Solution.”

It was controversial when a teenager named John McCollum shot himself with his headphones on, listening to “Suicide Solution.” John’s parents sued Osbourne and the label but the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. But they have to be more careful when making their songs from then on.

The reissue problems

During the 2002 reissue of the album, the frontman had to rehire a drummer and a bassist after drummer Lee Kerslake and Daisley were dismissed. The two sued the band for unpaid royalties which prompted Osbourne to find their replacements.

Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz outpaced his successful album with Black Sabbath.

Paranoid, his most successful work with Black Sabbath sold 5 million copies worldwide. Blizzard of Ozz sold for 6 million.