Ozzy Osbourne surely knows how to sell his brand, with the great help of his wife, Sharon, of course. Everything he does seems somehow entertaining. His mumbling demeanor is even enduring. Why? Who knows, but we know that to be the truth.
We also know that Ozzy has produced a ton of great music in his career. His days with Black Sabbath are clearly a glorious age for metal fans. He even has a new song called "God of Rock N Roll" with Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens (who has played with a number of great musical artists, including Billy Idol). It is full of strings and not anything one would call metal, and yet...It is still wonderful.
Ozzy also has a great podcast with his family where when asked questions, Ozzy answers brutally honestly, and his answers are refreshing. He doesn't just stick with talking about his career and metal music. He talks about other genres as well, and he clearly knows what he is talking about. He has always been smarter than maybe he let on.
Bassist Rudy Sarzo has high praise for Ozzy Osbourne
But how is he as a person for those who get to work with him? He has been so successful for so long that he might not have the patience to work with those who are newer. Many people would be.
But, apparently, not Ozzy. Bassist Rudy Sarzo might be best known as a member of Quiet Riot when that band was producing such gems as Metal Health, which featured "Cum on Feel the Noize." But in between taking a break with the band, he was part of Ozzy's band from early 1981 to late 1982. Sarzo set the record straight about how Ozzy treats young musicians, and it is a good thing.
Sarzo told Matt Pinfield of the New & Approved podcast on 95.5 KILOS that Ozzy and Sharon could not have been more welcoming to him. He said, "...by the time that I joined Ozzy, Ozzy had been successful: he was a bona fide rock star. You know, by 1981, with Black Sabbath, 15-16 years of doing this...Ozzy and Sharon, from day one, were incredibly gracious and kind to me."
In other words, while it is easy to judge the proverbial book by its cover, that adage does not hold true for Ozzy Osbourne. He might put on an evil show, but he is a decent person in reality. That might make one want to listen to his music even more.