In a candid conversation with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach delved into the emotional whirlwind following the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. The news of Ozzy’s passing hit the rock world like a thunderbolt, leaving fans and musicians alike in disbelief. Bach, who was still riding the high from the recent ‘Back To The Beginning’ charity concert—Ozzy’s and BLACK SABBATH’s final performance—found himself grappling with the devastating news.
“Oh, man. I was still recuperating from the concert,” Bach confessed. “I stumbled upon some footage of the show, and I cried watching it. I love BLACK SABBATH, and seeing them together one last time was overwhelming.” Determined to relive the magic, Bach invited friends over for a viewing party, only to discover the footage had been pulled from YouTube. “Sharon must have had it taken down,” he noted. Undeterred, Bach purchased the stream from the event’s website, gathering his friends for a final farewell.
Reflecting on Ozzy’s death, Bach admitted, “The day that he died, I was not prepared. None of us were.” The rocker’s struggle with loss isn’t new; he’s faced similar emotions with personal losses in the past. “I have this thing… I learned it when my dad died. I cried so much, I had no tears left,” he recalled, explaining how he compartmentalizes grief to cope. “Part of me refuses to accept it. I still haven’t accepted that Ozzy Osbourne is dead because a part of my childhood dies with Ozzy.”
In a touching tribute, Bach honored Ozzy with performances of “Crazy Train” and “I Don’t Know” at his recent concert in Bay City, Michigan. “They called him the Prince of Darkness, but all he did was make us all happy,” Bach told the crowd. “This show tonight is dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne.”
Bach’s admiration for Ozzy runs deep. In the past, he expressed his dream of emulating Ozzy’s successful transition from band frontman to solo icon. A decade ago, Bach even released a cover of Ozzy’s “S.A.T.O.” as part of a tribute album to legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads.
Ozzy’s death from a heart attack on July 22 marked the end of an era. A private funeral in Buckinghamshire, England, attended by 110 close friends and family, paid tribute to a man whose influence resonated far beyond the confines of rock music. Thousands of fans gathered in Birmingham, alongside Ozzy’s family, to celebrate the life of a true rock legend.
