![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/The-iconic-moment-of-Ozzy-Osbourne-bit-the-head-off-a-bat-live-on-stage-Far-Out-Magazine-01-1140x855.jpeg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Alamy)<\/p>\n
Thu 16 October 2025 13:10, UK <\/p>\n
Since the early days of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> has etched himself in stone as one of the fathers of heavy metal. If you were to spend a moment searching for the acorn from which the tree of heavy metal sprang, then you would not be too surprised to see the face of Osbourne screaming back at you. <\/p>\n Yes, there are many other moments in musical history that can be seen as the genesis of the genre. Some point to Led Zeppelin while others pick The Beatles. But if you were looking for one band that seemed to truly embody the spirit of heavy metal with everything they did, then Black Sabbath would have to be that band. <\/p>\n Although the band always categorised themselves as a hard rock band whenever they would play live, the doomy sounds of Tony Iommi\u2019s guitar alongside Osbourne\u2019s menacing vocals significantly impacted any band that was attracted to the dark side of rock and roll. While Osbourne would go on to have a massive solo career, there was one modern metal band that he wanted to join.<\/p>\n In the final days of Sabbath before their triumphant reunion in 2025, though, Osbourne would increasingly find himself out of step with the rest of the band. Becoming a cocaine addict on the road, Ozzy was, at times, left on the side of the stage, leaving Iommi to soak up most of the spotlight whenever the band played live.\u00a0<\/p>\n After parting ways with his old band during the early 1980s, Osbourne would have the most incredible resurgence in metal history, operating alongside Randy Rhoads to deliver massive hits like \u2018Crazy Train\u2019<\/a> and \u2018Mr. Crowley\u2019. Although Rhoads\u2019s death cast a dark shadow over the singer\u2019s band in the early days, the frontman would continue to go from strength to strength on albums like Bark at the Moon and No More Tears.<\/p>\n Eventually, the massive following that Osbourne accumulated tended to be too much for a singular show. Working alongside his wife and manager, Sharon, Osbourne started working on Ozzfest, bringing together a handful of the biggest up-and-coming names in hard rock and heavy metal to the forefront. <\/p>\n Among the first significant acts to make it on the bill was Slipknot, who were making waves with their nu-metal adjacent debut album. Donning horrifying masks, Corey Taylor\u2019s scream quickly became the standout of the group, going from sounding like a feral animal to melodic singing at a moment\u2019s notice on songs like \u2018Wait and Bleed\u2019 and \u2018Spit It Out\u2019.<\/p>\n While the band were still relatively young, Taylor had said how welcoming Osbourne was to them on their inaugural tour. Remarking about how they had nine members, Osbourne said that he would have gladly joined the band onstage anytime.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Vocalist](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Corey-Taylor-Slipknot-Far-Out-Magazine-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>Corey Taylor performing for Slipknot. (Credit: Jos\u00e9 Goul\u00e3o)<\/p>\n