Ozzy Osbourne has inspired musicians for years. The Prince of Darkness, who died on July 22, 2025, changed music forever. That’s true with both Black Sabbath and his solo records.
Even before his death, musicians of all genres spoke out about how Osbourne inspired them in their lives and careers.
Keep reading to see how Osbourne did just that for four artists.
Metallica
Metallica firmly believes that, “if there was no Black Sabbath, there would be no Metallica.” Lars Ulrich, the band’s drummer, told The New York Times as much in a recent interview. It’s a sentiment he and the rest of the band have been expressing for years.
In a 2023 interview with Howard Stern, Ulrich recalled how Osbourne “was known to bring out bands that were kind of on the verge of breaking” out on tour with him. He did so with Metallica in 1986, a period that Ulrich said wound up being “transformative” for his band.
Their connection continued in the years that followed, culminating with Metallica’s performance at Osbourne’s Back To The Beginning concert.
Following Osbourne’s death, Metallica reflected on the late singer’s legacy on Instagram.
“It’s impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica. Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend are a few that come to mind,” the band wrote. “Ozzy and Sharon believed in us and transformed our lives and careers. He taught us how to play in the big leagues while at the same time being warm, welcoming, engaging, and all around brilliant.”
Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready
https://x.com/PearlJam/status/1947736337538322683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1947736337538322683%7Ctwgr%5Eb1b8978e37a62dd12e30042bbc9c04495f4371a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Famericansongwriter.com%2F4-musicians-whove-spoken-out-how-the-late-ozzy-osbourne-inspired-them%2F
After Osbourne died, Mike McCready, the lead guitarist and founding member of Pearl Jam, took to X to recall what the Black Sabbath singer’s music had meant to him over the years.
“When I was in high school I discovered Sabbath. ‘War Pigs’ was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time,” McCready, who collaborated with Osbourne in 2022, wrote. “It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. A great escape.”
“Then when The Blizzard of Ozz record came out I was instantly a fan,” he continued. “Randy Rhoads was an influence on me to play lead guitar. Luckily I got to play on the song ‘Immortal’ on the last record. Thanks for the music, Ozzy it makes our journey in life better.”
Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan
Speaking to The New York Times before Osbourne’s death, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan recalled the late singer’s impact on his life and career.
“I first heard Black Sabbath’s ‘Master of Reality’ when I was 8 years old and have been chasing that sound as a musician ever since,” he said. “What drew me to them was this sense of cosmic ennui and a shadowy warmth that is only theirs.”
Corgan went on to call Osbourne “one of the greatest singers of all time of hard rock and ballads.” He added that Osbourne’s “voice is a singular vehicle like Lennon or Sinatra in that it conveys emotions and hues beyond the lyric being sung.”
“There isn’t a single thing in my own music that hasn’t been touched by the immense shadow of Ozzy’s approach to singing and Tony Iommi’s approach to guitar,” he added. “I am forever in their debt.”
Yungblud
Yungblud has never been shy about Osbourne’s impact on his life and career. The singer performed Black Sabbath’s 1972 song, “Changes,” at the Back to the Beginning concert.
“It was me saying thank you to my f**king hero,” he told NME of his time on stage. “Backstage there were artists that collectively have probably sold a billion records, and Black Sabbath started it for all of us.”
When the journalist noted that some fans saw Yungblud’s Back to the Beginning performance as Osbourne passing him the torch, he recalled a sweet moment with the now late singer.
“I was speaking to Ozzy yesterday about it and I just said ‘Thank you, I’m going to try my best to make you proud,’” he said. “I do really love rock music and it feels like it’s coming back. People are ready for it again, so I’m going to hold onto the ball and I’m going to run with it.”
When Osbourne died shortly after Yungblud’s interview, the latter singer praised the former one in two Instagram tributes.
“I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage,” he wrote. “Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own.”
“You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough,” Yungblud continued. “You took us on your adventure – an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time.”
In his second post, Yungblud added, “You have been my North Star for everything for as long as I can remember from when I was misunderstood as a child to the way people thought I was just a little ‘too much’ or ‘strange’ in my life and career.
“I owe so much to you, your wife and your family – you all gave me a road to run down and supported me when people would turn their nose up,” he added. “You loved life so much and you adored music. It was your smile man. You taught me it was beautiful to be out of the box.”
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
