As one of the most influential rock artists of the twentieth century, it was natural that Ozzy Osbourne would go on to craft legendary songs in all of his musical pursuits. Whether it was as the frontman of Black Sabbath or in his extensive solo career, The Prince of Darkness wrote some of heavy metal's most iconic songs, whether they be hard rock ragers or somber ballads.
Osbourne also played a role in music with his collaborations, often dueting with some of popular music's most prominent artists. Whether it be with fellow metal icons Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, or even rap trailblazer Post Malone, Osbourne was unafraid to explore beyond the boundaries of metal.
Following his recent passing on July 22 from advanced Parkinson's disease, Osbourne's legacy and contributions to music have been widely celebrated and remembered. Looking back on his nearly six-decade career, here are some of Osbourne's best collab songs.
"Close My Eyes Forever" - Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
Featured on Lita Ford's groundbreaking 1988 album Lita, "Close My Eyes Forever" is considered one of the greatest metal ballads of the decade. Osbourne and Ford allegedly wrote the song while they were drunk, but their lack of sobriety certainly didn't hinder the final result.
A beautifully scathing song, "Close My Eyes Forever" is one of the most standout tracks from both Ford and Osbourne's catalogue and is the highest charting single for both artists.
"Hey Stoopid" - Alice Cooper
The title track of his 1991 studio album of the same name, "Hey Stoopid" -- through its message of suicide prevention and awareness -- may be considered a distant cousin of Osbourne's "Suicide Solution." On Hey Stoopid, Cooper collaborated with a number of different artists, including Slash, Nikki Sixx, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Elvira (yes, that one), and Osbourne.
"Hey Stoopid" includes Steve Vai, Slash, and Joe Satriani on guitar and Osbourne on backing vocals. The track goes to show that, when the Godfather of Heavy Metal joins the Godfather of Shock Rock, one of glam metal's greatest songs is the ultimate result.
"Take What You Want" - Post Malone (feat. Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott)
When Osbourne joined forces with an unlikely ally -- famed rapper Post Malone -- the end result was something anthemic, emotive, and completely unheard of. The seminal crossover track also featured rapper Travis Scott, and Osbourne's role in the chart-topping single allegedly inspired him to begin working on new music following the song's release in 2019.
"Take What You Want" marked the first collaboration between Osbourne and Post Malone. The two joined forces once again in 2020 for the song "It's A Raid" on Osbourne's 2020 album Ordinary Man.
"Changes" - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
Initially featured on Black Sabbath's 1972 album Vol. 4, "Changes" is a deeply personal, piano-driven ballad, and has since gone on to be covered by a number of different artists including Yungblud (see next entry), soul singer Charles Bradley, and country artist Billy Walker.
In 2003, a new version of "Changes" was recorded as a duet between Ozzy and his daughter, Kelly. Originally released as a single, the father-daughter collab was later featured as a bonus track on Kelly's 2003 album Changes, which was the rerelease of her 2002 debut albumShut Up.
"Changes" - Yungblud
While Osbourne isn't a featured artist on Yungblud's groundbreaking cover of "Changes," the two shared a close friendship toward the end of Osbourne's life which resulted in Yungblud's highly passionate rendition of the Black Sabbath classic.
At Back To The Beginning, Ozzy Osbourne's legendary final concert, Yungblud performed "Changes." He later released the live performance as a charity single, with funds going toward Acorn Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's. His cover landed at no. 1 on the U.K. Singles Downloads Chart, and was Yungblud's way of honoring his close friend and mentor.
"Iron Head" - Rob Zombie (feat. Ozzy Osbourne)
Featured on Rob Zombie's sophomore solo album The Sinister Urge (2001), "Iron Head" features vocal contributions from Osbourne, who's signature vocal styling blends flawlessly with Zombie's gritty delivery. The collaboration came about while Zombie and Osbourne were preparing for their Merry Mayhem Tour that year.
Zombie felt the song wasn't complete without guest vocals from Osbourne, and the song resulted in one of Zombie's most iconic tracks in his discography.
"Stillborn" - Black Label Society (feat. Ozzy Osbourne)
Most known as the longtime guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, it makes perfect sense that Osbourne would frequently work with Wylde's band Black Label Society. The group notably headlined Ozzfest in 2006, joined the roster for Osbourne's Ozzy and Friends Tour in 2012, and Wylde has even formed his own Black Sabbath cover band, aptly named Zakk Sabbath.
However, Osbourne worked the most with Black Label Society when he was a featured artist on the band's hit song "Stillborn." Featured on the band's 2003 album The Blessed Hellride, "Stillborn" is a deeply personal song about an unhealthy relationship. With Osbourne providing vocals on the song's chorus, "Stillborn" is the ultimate collaboration between two metal legends.
"I Ain't No Nice Guy" - Motörhead (feat. Ozzy Osbourne and Slash)
After co-writing four songs for Osbourne's 1991 album No More Tears -- including "I Don't Want To Change The World," "Desire," "Hellraiser," and "Mama, I'm Coming Home" -- Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister continued to work closely with Osbourne for "I Ain't No Nice Guy." Featured on Motörhead's 1992 album March ör Die, the song also features Slash on lead guitar.
The early '90s saw great success for Osbourne and Slash, and even Motörhead were finding themselves in the midst of a new wave of success. Because of this, "I Ain't No Nice Guy"seemed destined to be a rock radio staple. However, due to Sony's lack of support for the single, it did not find its desired success. Despite this, the song still remains a fan favorite for Osbourne and Lemmy fans.
"Ordinary Man" - Ozzy Osbourne (feat. Elton John)
The title track from Osbourne's twelfth studio album, "Ordinary Man" helped cement the album as one of Osbourne's greatest in years at the time of its release. Featuring guest vocals from fellow rock legend Elton John, "Ordinary Man" is an emotional reflection on Osbourne's life and career, both of which were fueled by chaotic tales and rock 'n' roll extremes.
In the song, Osbourne admits he doesn't wish to die as an ordinary man. With the song being released during a time in which the singer's health began to decline, "Ordinary Man" was a touching and monumental musical effort.
"Crucify The Dead" - Slash (feat. Ozzy Osbourne)
For his debut solo album, Slash recruited various rock 'n' roll icons to come along for the ride. Including guest artists such as Iggy Pop, Chris Cornell, Myles Kennedy, Fergie, Lemmy Kilmister, and many more, there must have been no doubt that Slash had to include Osbourne, who the guitar player had collaborated with many times over the years.
Osbourne's smooth yet electrifying delivery of such poetic lyrics, which explore the concept of a once-thriving relationship that has since died, coincide perfectly with Slash's signature skillful guitar playing.