Ozzy Osbourne was one of eight acts inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Sunday (April 21), and the former Black Sabbath singer had some choice words to say about his old band when he reacted to the solo induction.
"Thank You @RockHall Voters & Fans for this induction," he wrote on X/Twitter. "My solo career, has been a much larger part of my overall music career as a whole, so this feels more special. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band."
Ozzy was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979 for his alcohol and drug use, but reunited with the band on numerous occasions—most recently for their final tour in 2017. He released his first solo album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980.
The metal legend expanded on his comments in a statement given to Billboard. “I definitely wouldn’t say I was confident” he confessed about his solo career. "With every new music venture there’s always a certain amount of surprise that comes when you see the fans embrace it, because no one wants to make a record and have it flop. I feel like I was invited to a party in 1980, and it hasn’t stopped.”
Ozzy also admitted this induction "feels different" than Black Sabbath's in 2006. “[It] feels more special, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels that way,” he said. Ozzy's been eligible for a solo induction since 2005.
The Rock Hall Class of 2024 also includes Dave Matthews Band, Cher, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, and Kool & The Gang. The induction ceremony will be held October 19 in Cleveland. Of course the question arose of whether or not Ozzy plans to perform at the ceremony. "You never know," he teased.
See Ozzy's X post below.