Ozzy Osbourne’s
Blizzard of Ozz
11 Track Debut Album
Jet Records
Released 20th September 1980
Written for RAMzine
Genre: Heavy Metal
When John Michael Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath due to his drinking, the world went into shock, nobody could quite believe it, however, Ozzy, being Ozzy didn’t stay unstuck for long and formed Blizzard of Ozz. The debut album hit the world like a nuclear bomb with the addition of the mega-talented Randy Rhoads who had formerly been with Quiet Riot at 22 years of age, went to Osbourne’s hotel room in the September 1979 with his Gibson Les Paul and a small practice amp after being introduced by bass player Dana Strum and history made itself. Ozzy literally thought he was hallucinating after hearing what just flew from Randy’s fingers and of course, Randy was offered the slot of guitarist with Blizzard of Ozz on the spot. Ozzy and Rhoads immediately became close partners, bouncing ideas off each other like a high ranking tennis match.
‘Crazy Train’ was the first single released from the album and became Ozzy’s signature anthem. Let’s face it though, there isn’t one duff track on Blizzard of Ozz. Granted there are a couple of less well-known tracks on the album – one being a non-Blizzard track ‘You said it all’ but for the main part 95% of that album everyone knows and can relate to, so Ozzy need not have worried that Black Sabbath would become more popular without him – Ozzy is Sabbath and will always be associated with Sabbath, we all know that and as much as we loved Dio not even he could pull off Sabbath quite like Ozzy did, but Ozzy was the root of Sabbath and like bindweed that will always stick in the hearts and minds of Sabbath fans everywhere.
There was a lot of controversy surrounding ‘Suicide Solution’ which as Ozzy said himself, he drew inspiration to write the track after the untimely death of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott who choked to death aged just 33 in February 1980, and this made him reflect on his own battle with the demon drink. It was only in 1984 that a teenage boy shot himself to death while it was claimed he was listening to ‘Suicide Solution’ and the parent’s decided to try and sue Ozzy and again the same thing happened in 1986 which prompted a lawsuit – however, both cases were dismissed by the courts.387
The album Blizzard of Ozz peaked at number 21 on the U.S. album chart and in the UK, it went straight in at number 4. To date, Blizzard of Ozz has sold more than six million copies worldwide. Four million of those have been in the United States alone.
It is very sad to think that the Ozzy-Rhoads phenomenon was short-lived as on 19th March 1982, Randy, at just 25 years of age, despite his fear of flying perished in a plane crash at Leesburg, Florida along with Rachel Youngblood and Andrew Aycock.
This debut album from Blizzard of Ozz will always remain a favourite despite the sadness that oozes from its core.
Track List:
I Don’t Know
Crazy Train
Goodbye to Romance
Dee
Suicide Solution
Mr Crowley
No Bone Movies
Revelation Mother Earth
Steal Away (The Night)
You Looking at Me Looking at you
You said it all (Live)
Members:
Ozzy Osbourne - Vocals
Randy Rhoads - Guitar
Bob Daisley - Bass
Lee Kerslake - Drums
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