"I've seen Ozzy's arse more times than I've seen my own": That time Ozzy mooned the audience because he didn't think they were rocking hard enough
· louderBy Fraser Lewry
( Classic Rock )
published 1 November 2024
How Bill Ward's final performance with Black Sabbath was overshadowed by Ozzy Osbourne's buttocks
The UK Music Hall of Fame was a short-lived affair. Launched to great fanfare in 2004, it lasted less than four years before being quietly closed for lack of funding.
The inaugural event, held at Hackney Empire in East London, saw 10 artists inducted – two from each decade, from the 1950s to the 1990s – and the stars showed up: Madonna and Bono were both on hand to pick up their awards, while Priscilla Presley flew in to accept Elvis's.
In year two it was even bigger. The ceremony moved to the iconic Alexandria Palace in North London. Pink Floyd were inducted by The Who's Pete Townshend. Jimi Hendrix received a posthumous induction from Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and then-Velvet Revolver man Slash. Bob Dylan was recognised by Hollywood star Woody Harrelson. And, over in the hard rock corner, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath were both inaugurated.
"Brian May inducted us," Tony Iommi wrote in his autobiography, Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath. "There was a bit of a commotion about that, because Sharon wanted Angus Young of AC/DC to do it. I wanted Brian. Then she wanted Angus and Brian to do it together, but Brian just didn't want to do it that way.
"I'm glad he stuck to his guns. He wasn't going to do it and I had to phone him up and said: 'Please do it. Do it for me.' He came and made a great speech, absolutely fantastic. I was really proud of him."
In the end, Ozzy – the solo performer – was inducted by Angus and, as you might expect, the speech was less effusive.
"Angus Young said about three words about that," wrote Iommi. "Well, his first few words were: 'Hello, can you hear me? Can you hear me?' He's probably as good a talker as I am on those bloody occasions."
Classic Rock Newsletter
Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
Black Sabbath's performance was notable for a couple of reasons. First, it would be the last time all four original members would play together onstage. And second, for something that happened during the short set, in which the band played the intro to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath before launching into Paranoid. Halfway through the latter, a cheeky grin creeps over Ozzy's face before he turns to face drummer Bill Ward, drops his trousers, and moons the audience.
Ozzy, who reportedly exposed his buttocks because the crowd weren't enjoying the music as much as he thought they should be, "stole the show with a bottom-baring performance," according to the BBC, who went on to say that he received a standing ovation at the song's climax.
Iommi, meanwhile, was less enthusiastic. "I've seen Ozzy's arse more times than I've seen my own," he said.
Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 38 years in music industry, online for 25. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.
More about classic rock
"Irresistibly seductive": Warren Haynes craft some songs of deep-pile quality on Million Voices Whisper
See more latest ►
Most Popular
The best new rock songs you need to hear right now