30 years ago… My evening with the “Prince of Darkness”!
All aboard! Hahaha!
Ozzy released the album Ozzmosis and then rocked Memorial Hall on October 24, 1995.
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (1948 - 2025)
Image Credit: Anthony Woodard
Ozzmosis is the seventh studio album by the late Heavy Metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. The album reached number four on the US Billboard 200. "Perry Mason", "See You on the Other Side", and "I Just Want You" were released as singles. After the release of his sixth album No More Tears in 1991, Ozzy announced that he would retire from music. However, he returned with Ozzmosis in 1995, which featured long-time guitarist Zakk Wylde as well as former Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Deen Castronovo. In support of the album, Ozzy and his band completed the “Retirement Sucks! Tour”, named in reference to Osbourne's previous tour, the “No More Tours Tour”, which was originally slated to be his last before his retirement from music. Speaking about his return to touring, Ozzy joked that "If you stayed at home, day in and day out, for 3 years with your wife and a house full of screaming kids, you'd want to get back out on the road too!" The tour continued through 1996 and featured guitarist Joe Holmes who replaced Zakk Wylde.
Source: Wikipedia.org
My evening began with Ozzy’s concert at Memorial Hall (Kansas City, Kansas). The shortened show only featured around 16 songs and Ozzy’s vocals were noticeably strained due to bronchitis. Despite this, the show and the Heavy Metal crowd were definitely energetic. Ozzy’s touring guitarist Joe Holmes was a student of the late Randy Rhoads. Randy’s style and influence were definitely evident in Joe’s playing.
Courtesy of Anthony Woodard
Later that evening, I joined a few hundred fellow fans for an autograph session at the Best Buy on Quivira Road in nearby Overland Park, Kansas. After a few hours waiting outside in the chilly autumn air, I finally entered the store and met the “Prince of Darkness” himself, along with legendary Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler. Geezer chatted with each of us quite a bit as we approached for autographs, while Ozzy remained more reserved with a simple greeting.
My Ozzmosis CD booklet signed that night by the late Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler.
Photo Credit: Anthony Woodard