Ozzy Osbourne has reacted to his induction to the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, calling the nod “special”.
Yesterday (April 22) saw the Rock Hall announce the inductees for this year’s class, which consists of 16 acts and figures in the music industry.
Osbourne appears on the list alongside the likes of Cher, Mary J. Blige, Dave Matthews Band, A Tribe Called Quest, Peter Frampton, Foreigner and Kool & The Gang.
He has previously been inducted as part of Black Sabbath, but had been snubbed as a solo musician for years before being nominated in February.
Writing on Instagram, Osbourne said: “Thank You @RockHall Voters & Fans for this induction.
“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 #rockhall #rockandroll #rocknroll #rockandrollhalloffame #halloffame #rockhall2024.”
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During an appearance on The Adam Carolla Show last November, the singer’s wife and manager Sharon called for him to be considered for a Rock Hall induction as a soloist. “They know that Ozzy deserves to be there,” she said (via Billboard).
“They know he’s been a solo artist. You’ve gotta be doing it for 24 years. He’s been 43 years as a solo artist. He sold nearly a hundred million albums as a solo artist. So where is he? Induct him!”
She went on to say that she and Ozzy had attended a dinner for the 2023 Rock Hall inductees: “And people were saying to Ozzy, ‘Oh, you’ve been inducted in’, and we were like, ‘No, actually. We were just invited for the food, so we’re here’. That’s as near as we’ve got, but no.”
But Sharon said she would “never beg” for Ozzy to be inducted, adding: “And I will never ask for favours. I’ve never asked anyone for a favour.
“So, my thing is fuck you if you don’t realise that somebody really deserves to be here. And you don’t recognise that? Then, see ya!”
Taking to social media yesterday, Sharon said: “Thank you to all of you who voted!! This means the world to Ozzy!!! 🙏❤️.” See that post below.
Thank you to all of you who voted!! This means the world to Ozzy!!! 🙏❤️ https://t.co/qiejaV9Ozg
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) April 22, 2024
Responding to his eventual nomination earlier this year, Ozzy wrote: “I’m deeply honored to receive this news from the @RockHall. To be one of the few musicians who’s being considered for a second entry, now as a solo artist, is something I could never have imagined.
“After 44 years as a solo artist the fact that I can continue to record music and receive this recognition is something I am incredibly proud of.”
However, Ozzy later explained that he was “not expecting to get in” to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame this year. “I’m up against some serious people,” he said. “If I get in, I get in. If I don’t, I don’t.”
The Rock Hall’s class of 2024 will be inducted during a ceremony held in Cleveland, Ohio on October 19.
Ozzy said last November that he had to “accept the fact” that a live return may not be possible owing to his ongoing health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and a recovery from multiple surgeries.
This January, however, Sharon revealed that Ozzy was planning “two more shows to say goodbye” before he fully retires from performing.
Ozzy Osbourne recently said he was “dying to make more music” with producer Andrew Watt. The pair worked together on the star’s latest two albums, 2020’s ‘Ordinary Man’ and 2022’s ‘Patient Number 9’.