Hours after the world learned of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, Billy Idol opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about how the Prince of Darkness shaped not just heavy metal—but the entire music landscape.
Billy Idol, like so many in the music world, is mourning the death of Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday at the age of 76. But for Idol, the loss is deeply personal. To him, Osbourne wasn’t just a trailblazing frontman—he was a pioneer who made space for unconventional artists to break through.
“Ozzy opened doors for people like me—people who didn’t fit the mold,” Idol said. “He showed us that it was okay to be different, to be loud, to be yourself.”
Just last October, Idol honored Osbourne at his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction as a solo artist by performing a thunderous rendition of “No More Tears,” joined by longtime Ozzy collaborators Zakk Wylde and Robert Trujillo, his own guitarist Steve Stevens, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. It was a moment steeped in mutual admiration. Backstage, Osbourne praised Idol’s decades-long influence, saying he deserved a Hall of Fame spot of his own.
“I’ll never forget that,” Idol recalled. “For someone like Ozzy to say that… it meant the world.”
Though Idol was among this year’s Rock Hall nominees, he didn’t make the final cut. Still, he sees Osbourne’s legacy as something much greater than awards.
“Ozzy didn’t just create music—he created possibilities,” Idol said. “He gave us permission to go all in, to follow our instincts, and never apologize for who we are. His spirit lives on in every rebel with a guitar.”
Photo Caption: Billy Idol and Robert Trujillo perform at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, with Ozzy Osbourne and Jack Black watching from the audience. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
