Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey, former drummer of The Who who also worked with Oasis, revealed on social media following Ozzy Osbourne’s death that he was invited by the late musician’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne to be Black Sabbath‘s drummer on their 2013 reunion album 13. He was also invited to perform with them at the Download Festival later that year but he declined the offer and said it is one of the biggest regrets of his life.
The original drummer Bill Ward did not agree with the terms of the reunion and left the band being ultimately replaced in the studio by Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave) and by Ozzy’s solo drummer Tommy Clufetos live.
Zak Starkey said about being invited to record with Sabbath in 2013
The e-mail Sharon Osbourne sent him: “Zak, Black Sabbath is headlining Download on June 10 and then Lollapalooza in August. The guys need a drummer for their album, which will be recorded in September with Rick Rubin producing. We would probably need you for 2-3 weeks for the album. Also, they need a drummer to play at Lollapalooza which is on August 3 in Chicago. Also, Ozzy wants to have sex with you while he is singing ‘Iron Man’. Big Kiss, Sharon.”
The musician said on his social media: “Regrets, I’ve had a few -this is one – (not the sex part!). Ozzy will always be one of the greatest, natural, brilliant singers of all time. I send much love and strength to his family at this sad, sad time. If u aren’t familiar with the ‘Never Say Die’ record – get into it – it’s so far out – X,” Zak Starkey said.
The record mentioned by him was the final Black Sabbath album with Ozzy Osbourne during his first tenure with the band. He was fired one year later and would only record a new studio album with them in 2013, which became the band’s final record. Bill Ward’s final studio album with Sabbath was “Born Again” (1983), which had Ian Gillan on vocals. He reunited with the band again in the 90s and in the early 00s.
