Birmingham’s Ozzy Osbourne inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – BBC.com

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne was inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Birmingham’s Prince of Darkness, 75, received a standing ovation from an all-star line-up and a crowd of 20,000 in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday.

“I would like to thank everyone who voted me into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he exclaimed to deafening cheers after actor Jack Black presented him with the award.

The diverse group of rookies this year also features: Mary J Blige, Cher, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest and Dave Matthews Band.

“My fans have been so loyal to me over the years. I can’t thank them enough,” said Osborne, who was inducted into the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena.

“It’s me [also] I’ve been lucky enough to play with some of the greatest guitarists, drummers and bassists in the world, and some of them are here tonight.

“But I have to say one thing about a guy named Randy Rhoads. If I hadn’t met Randy Rhodes, I don’t think I’d be sitting here right now.”

Rhoads, a renowned guitarist, helped transform Osborne’s solo career after he was kicked out of Birmingham heavy metal band Black Sabbath in 1979 because of his excessive drug and alcohol abuse. He died in 1982, only 25 years old.

Osborne reserved his greatest gratitude for his family. His wife Sharon, 72, daughter Kelly, 39, and grandson Sydney were in the audience, along with son Jack, 38, and granddaughters Pearl, 12, and Andie, nine.

“What’s more, my wife Sharon saved my life. And my grandchildren and my babies. I love them all.”

During his introduction, Black described the first time he heard the rocker’s hit solo album Blizzard of Oz (1980), saying that “heaven opened up”.

“I didn’t realize I was entering a whole new world of heavy metal.”

He added: “You know a lot has been made of his evil alliance with the dark lord, Satan, but in reality, Ozzy is a loving father, husband and friend.”

Osbourne, who grew up in a large family in Aston, was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of Black Sabbath, which he formed in 1968. Since then, he has sold 100 million records, both as a solo artist and with the group.

It was uncertain whether he would play on Saturday due to bouts of ill health; he has Parkinson’s disease.

One of the last times he was seen on stage was when he sang Paranoid at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

At the event, he looked out over the stage from a large leather bat-shaped throne as an all-star band performed his playlist. Country superstar Jelly Roll delivered a standout rendition of Osbourne’s Mama, I’m Coming Home. Maynard James Keane sang Crazy Train accompanied by Wolfgang Van Halen and Billy Idol performed No More Tears.

The musicians included his longtime guitarist and co-writer Zach Wylde, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and Osbourne band member Adam Wakeman on keyboards.

Osbourne, who feels a strong connection to his West Midlands roots, pulled out of the tour last year, although he later said he wanted to play two final shows in Birmingham to say goodbye to his fans.

“Birmingham until I die,” he shouted during his performance with Black Sabbath at the Commonwealth Games two years ago.

He is still considered a legend in the city, even though he left years ago to pursue his career.

There are various city honors that have been awarded to him. He was the first artist to be honored on Birmingham’s own Hollywood-style Walk of Fame on Broad Street in 2007.

The huge mechanical bull seen at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was also named “Ozzie” after a public vote. It is now on display at Birmingham New Street railway station.

There is also a bench commemorating the band on the renamed Black Sabbath Bridge over the Broad Street Canal.

The hard rock hero credits the Beatles with turning him on to music as a teenager growing up in Aston.

Paul McCartney was among a string of artists who lined up to pay tribute to him, looking back on his career in a video released at his inauguration.

In the 2011 documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, he said the band made him realize that “[he] I was going to be a rock star for the rest of my life [his] life”.

Artists become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first record.

Osbourne’s extraordinary legacy was showcased in front of some of the world’s best musicians during the five-hour show on Saturday – 55 years after he started in the business.