On Tuesday, KISS bassist Gene Simmons sat down with NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz to discuss Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy and their longtime friendship and intertwined early careers in the music industry.
Ozzy Osbourne recently passed away at the age of 76. He pioneered heavy metal with Black Sabbath before going on to have huge success in his own right. He was known for hits including Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train and Changes, both with the band and as a solo star.
When asked how he remembers the Black Sabbath singer, Simmons recalled sharing the stage with Ozzy in 1974. He highlighted how, despite his “Prince of Darkness” persona, Ozzy was a loving father and dedicated husband. He called Ozzy a “singularity” in music, emphasizing that there was never anyone like him, and he remained true to himself throughout his life and career.
“Well, I remember the man. In 1974, we were both trying to forge our paths and we actually played on the same bill. And I will tell you that the masses, the fans are grieving. What can you say? It’s just broken hearts. And when I tell you my heart, my prayers and millions of others’ to Sharon and the kids.
“People think of him as the Prince Of Darkness and on stage, of course, this huge persona, a giant, but at the same time, [he was] a loving father and a dedicated husband,” Gene continued.
“You can say whatever you want about Ozzy. There never was an Ozzy before Ozzy,” Simmons added. “You can’t really point to anybody and say, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s where he came from.’ Scientists call that a singularity, an anomaly. He was just kind of born Ozzy, and as far as I know, his entire life — to thine own self be true, the Greeks say. Ozzy was always Ozzy — through disco, through whatever musical genres there were, Ozzy was always Ozzy all the way to the end.”
Simmons added, “People don’t realize that Ozzy, though he didn’t play an instrument, those are his melodies. That’s him writing melodies and lyrics and crafting that sound, that enormous guitar that Iomi has that just shook the heavens, the guitar that ruled the world.
“Ozzy, there never was one like him and probably never will be.”
