In a brand new interview with U.Ok.’s Primordial Radio, Andrea Ferro of Italian metallers LACUNA COIL paid tribute to legendary BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne who died final week on the age of 76. Andrea stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “BLACK SABBATH, clearly, we grew up with their music, and being large TYPE O NEGATIVE followers — TYPE O NEGATIVE was sort of a reincarnation of the BLACK SABBATH sound for us. And it was extra the way in which we found that sound. After which we went again to BLACK SABBATH due to TYPE O NEGATIVE. It is at all times like that — you develop up and also you hearken to one thing, you then get the place the unique inspiration got here from, so we grew to become additionally large BLACK SABBATH followers. However the truth that we acquired to do two Ozzfests in America, in 2004 and 2006, and we acquired to fulfill Ozzy and [his wife and manager] Sharon. We have been picked up by [Ozzy and Sharon‘s children] Kelly and Jack the very first time we had been on Ozzfest in 2004 for the second stage.”
He continued: “For us, we at all times think about Ozzy like our godfather, even when we do not know him rather well. We simply met him briefly. However nonetheless, for us, he was at all times an essential determine. He was like our older uncle, not solely due to the musical inspiration, but in addition as a result of we felt he gave us a special day to shine and to interrupt into the North American market. And for a band from Italy, it isn’t very straightforward or not quite common to occur. So for us, Ozzy was at all times that nearly father determine of, like, we owe him one thing, as a result of he is been very sort and Sharon‘s at all times been sort to us, and we have been upgraded to the principle stage in 2006. So it actually made a distinction for us.”
Andrea added: “Once we [played Ozzfest] in 2004, it was truly BLACK SABBATH headlining on the unique lineup, and we had been hanging out with them additionally on catering, and we grew to become actually good pals with Invoice Ward, the drummer. As a result of he had a radio program on faculty radio in California, and he was taking part in our tunes on this system. So he at all times advised us, ‘Hey, I play you guys on a regular basis in my present.’ And so as soon as we acquired the endorsement from Pearl Drums throughout Ozzfest, so he got here to our trailer of the tour bus and constructed up the package with our drummer and take a look at the skins and take a look at the place collectively. And that was a surreal second, seeing Invoice Ward proper there with you, attempting the drum package, speaking drums, coming to eat with us at catering. That was a novel expertise. After which after we did it in 2006, Ozzy was headlining together with his private band, so we acquired to see each units each night time for the whole summer time. And so for us, Ozzy is certainly a particular, particular determine.”
Reflecting on Ozzy‘s passing, which occurred somewhat over two weeks after the singer’s closing efficiency on the “Again To The Starting” occasion in BLACK SABBATH‘s authentic hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Andrea stated: “It was very unhappy, clearly, for what occurred, however it was additionally nice to… I watched the present streaming, the ‘Again To The Starting’ present, and it was nice to see that he was there another time for his followers, doing charity stuff with all these nice bands and pals, as a result of we all know most of those guys, as a result of we tour with a whole lot of these bands and other people. And to see that, it was relieving, as a result of no less than he acquired to do this earlier than he knew in all probability that he did not have a whole lot of time in entrance of him. And so it was sort of each unhappy and bittersweet, as a result of I used to be completely happy for him to have the ability to do it. However, you knew that it was gonna be kind of an actual ending. And so it was unhappy information. However however, I’m glad he did have the possibility to do this.”
Ozzy died the morning of July 22, his household introduced in an announcement.
“It’s with extra disappointment than mere phrases can convey that we’ve got to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has handed away this morning. He was together with his household and surrounded by love. We ask everybody to respect our household privateness right now,” the household stated.
No explanation for loss of life was given, however Osbourne had battled a lot of well being points over the previous a number of years, together with Parkinson’s illness and accidents he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.
