Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76. Known as the Prince of Darkness, he was anything but scary, according to KISS bassist Gene Simmons.
Simmons first met Ozzy 50 years ago when both KISS and Black Sabbath were just starting out. He shared that the Ozzy he knew was very different from the dark persona many fans recognize. “The Ozzy I got to know was a pure soul who never spoke badly about anyone,” Simmons said.
Even on stage, Ozzy showed his love for fans. “He would blow kisses and say, ‘I love you,’” Simmons recalled. “That’s not how you scare people. He was a sweetheart, and that makes his passing even more heartbreaking.”
Simmons believes there was no one like Ozzy in music history. “There was no Ozzy before Ozzy,” he explained. “He was what scientists call a singularity.” While Ozzy never copied anyone, Simmons is sure many musicians will be inspired by him in the future. “Trust me, there are going to be a lot of Ozzys from now on,” he said. “They’ll all be studying him, but he was unique and a giant.”
Ozzy’s legacy will live on, and his impact on music will continue to inspire future generations.
