On September 20, 1980, Ozzy Osbourne released his first solo album "Blizzard Of Ozz".
Let's tell you some interesting facts about the debut album of the "Prince of Darkness"
1. The album was released about a year after Ozzy was fired from "Black Sabbath".
2. Ozzy was very hurt following his dismissal from the band, especially after seeing his band move on and have great success with the album "Heaven And Hell" with lead singer Ronnie James Dio.
3. The first song Ozzy Osbourne wrote for the album was "Goodbye to Romance", this was his way of saying goodbye to his mother band.
4. Ozzy knew that if he wanted to pursue a solo career he must first and foremost find a gifted guitarist to step into Tony Iommi's shoes and know how to play "Black Sabbath" style riffs.
5. He auditioned for Randy Rhodes in his room at a hotel where he was staying. Randy Rhoads came in with Gibson for a spool and a guitar amp and started playing, and Ozzy just dropped his jaw from Rhodes' sound and playing technique, which of course got the role on the spot.
6. As bassist for an emerging band, Ozzy Osbourne recruited Bob Daisley who had previously played in "Rainbow".
7. Also Don Airey - the keyboardist who played on the album played with "Rainbow". He also played on the album "Never Say Die!" Of the mother band "Black Sabbath".
8. Ozzy, Randy Rhoads, and Bob Daisley wrote most of the material for the album.
9. Drummer Lee Kerslake from "Uriah Heep" was the last to join the band, after most of the songs for the album had already been written. He was a special drummer who was both a writer of supreme grace and a not bad singer at all.
(Photo: Fin Costello)
10. The song "No Bone Movies" was the last song written for the album. Lee Kerslake also contributed to its writing. The intention was to release the song as a b-side, but in the end, it was decided that it would enter the album to give Lee Kerslake credit for writing at least one song.
11. Another song was written In the same sessions - "You Said It All". But this song was not recorded and wasn't included in the album either. You can hear a live recorded version of the song in the "Ozzy Osbourne Live EP" here:
12. The lineup was to be incorporated as an independent band and not as a solo project of Ozzy Osborne. Randy Rhoads and friends were very disappointed with the fact that the album was eventually released as Ozzy Osbourne's solo album, especially given the fact that they were full partners in writing the vast majority of the material.
13. In 1986, Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake sued Ozzy for non-payment of royalties for their part in writing the songs on his first two albums. In response, Ozzy Osbourne re-recorded the bass and drum parts on these albums, along with drummer Mike Bordin from "Faith No More" and bassist Robert Trujillo of "Metallica".
14. The intro to the song "Mr. Crowley" and excerpts from the song "Revelation (Mother Earth)" was written by keyboardist Don Airey. Airey did not receive credit for his writing, too.
15. The song "Mr. Crowley" was written about Aleister Crowley the English mystic and founder of the religious philosophy Thelma whom Ozzy Osbourne adored.
16. The first single released from the album was "Crazy Train" with the legendary riff and amazing guitar work of Randy Rhoads. The song immediately became the anthem and soundtrack of Randy Rhoads and Ozzy. The song was performed as part of the 2005 Randy Rhodes Tribute Album by a one-time "supergroup" that included Serj Tankian, Tom Morello, Rudy Sarzo, and Vinny Appice.
17. "Crazy Train" was chosen as the 9th place in the VH1 list of the greatest metal songs of all time and is also the "entrance" song of the baseball team "Atlanta Braves".
18. The song "Suicide Solution" was the cause for the 1984 lawsuit against Ozzy. A family of a teenager who allegedly committed suicide while listening to the album "Blizzard Of Ozz", filed a lawsuit against him. The unfortunate parents claimed that the boy "pulled the trigger" after being persuaded by the lyrics of "Suicide Solution" to do so. In 1986 another lawsuit was filed against Ozzy Osbourne for a similar case. Both lawsuits were dismissed in favor of Ozzy's freedom of expression.
19. "Suicide Solution" was written by Ozzy and Bob Daisley about the death of Ozzy Osbourne's friend and AC/DC's singer - Bon Scott, who died after drinking alcohol in February 1980.
20. In the end, Ozzy Osbourne's hand was on top in the competition with his previous band. The album "Blizzard Of Ozz" sold more copies than the successful album of the mother band "Paranoid" which we reviewed the day before yesterday.
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