Read Ozzy Osbourne’s Humble Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Speech
On Saturday, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist. It was the second time the institution recognized the singer, following his induction as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006.
The honor was long overdue. Osbourne made one of rock’s most incredible comebacks after Black Sabbath fired him in 1979. With the help of guitarist Randy Rhoads, who was posthumously inducted into the Hall in 2021, he recorded energetic, almost gothic rockers like “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley,” and “Flying High Again” that helped him eclipse Sabbath’s career commercially. He kept his momentum, making gold and platinum records, playing concerts, and appearing on TV with his family on The Osbournes. His most recent album, Patient Number 9, won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.
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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honored Osbourne, who had been eligible for induction as a solo artist since 2006, with an all-star performance that featured Billy Idol, Jelly Roll, and Tool’s Maynard James Keenan singing his songs. All the aplomb meant that Osbourne had to do something that he admittedly doesn’t feel comfortable doing: giving a speech. “I’m not good at making speeches,” he told Rolling Stone in April. “I don’t like making speeches. I end up mumbling. I can only try.” (He also noted that he’s in good company in this department: “Bob Dylan don’t like making speeches either,” he said.)
Despite his reluctance, Osbourne spoke from the heart after an induction speech by Jack Black. Here’s what Osbourne had to say.
Fucking love you guys.
Well, here we are. You know what? I can’t believe I’m here myself. Let me get the thank yous out of the way, because I’m not going to bore you with a long, drawn-out fucking monologue. I’d like to thank whoever voted me into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for my solo work. A great thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
My fans have been so loyal to me over the years, I cannot thank them enough. I’ve been fortunate over the years to play with some of the world’s greatest guitar players, drummers, bass players, and a few of them are here tonight. But I’ve got to say one thing for a guy by the name of Randy Rhoads. If I’d hadn’t have met Randy Rhoads, I don’t think I’d be sitting here now. And moreso more than that, my wife Sharon. Saved my life. And my grandbabies and my babies. I love them all.
So with all that, I’m gonna get on with the show and hand it back to Jack.
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