5 Musicians on Why Ozzy Osbourne Is Genuine Metal Royalty. The world knows him as the “Prince of Darkness,” the godfather of heavy metal, and the voice that gave Black Sabbath its soul. But to his peers—fellow musicians who have…

The world knows him as the “Prince of Darkness,” the godfather of heavy metal, and the voice that gave Black Sabbath its soul. But to his peers—fellow musicians who’ve stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him on stage or been shaped by his legacy—Ozzy Osbourne is far more than just an icon. He’s genuine metal royalty. With decades of groundbreaking music, unapologetic showmanship, and raw humanity, Ozzy’s reign is carved into the granite of rock history.

Here, five legendary musicians open up about what makes Ozzy not just a metal pioneer, but the beating, screaming, and sometimes stumbling heart of the genre.

1. Rob Halford (Judas Priest): “Ozzy Is the Cathedral of Metal”

Rob Halford, frontman of Judas Priest, never hesitates when asked about Ozzy’s place in metal history. “Ozzy’s voice was the original battle cry of heavy metal,” Halford says. “He didn’t just sing—he invoked something. Every note he hit in ‘Black Sabbath’ or ‘War Pigs’ felt like the gates of hell creaked open.”

He adds with a grin, “Ozzy is the cathedral of metal. You don’t question his status. You worship in his shadow. And he’s been nothing but humble about it. That’s what makes him the real deal.”

2. James Hetfield (Metallica): “He Made It OK to Be Weird and Loud”

James Hetfield credits Ozzy with giving Metallica their earliest big break—taking them on the Ultimate Sin tour in 1986. “That tour changed our lives. Ozzy looked at us, a bunch of scrappy kids with loud guitars, and said, ‘Hell yeah, you’re coming with me.’”

But beyond that, Hetfield says Ozzy’s genius lies in his raw individuality. “Ozzy made it okay to be weird. To scream. To laugh maniacally on stage. He wasn’t pretending to be a rock god—he just was. That’s what gave us the freedom to be ourselves in metal.”

3. Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour): “Ozzy Bleeds Honesty”

Corey Taylor, known for his wild stage antics and blistering vocals, says Ozzy’s influence is more than sonic—it’s spiritual. “What people don’t always get is that Ozzy bleeds honesty. He’s not trying to be scary or insane—it’s just him, raw and real. That’s why we trust him. That’s why we believe him when he sings about madness and despair.”

Taylor adds, “I’ve met him a few times and every time I walk away thinking, ‘That guy lived everything he sings about.’ He is the music.”

4. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne Band): “He’s Family. He’s the King.”

No one knows Ozzy’s world like Zakk Wylde, the guitar virtuoso who’s been at his side on and off for over three decades. “Ozzy isn’t just my boss. He’s my brother. My family,” Wylde says.

He remembers being just 19 when he first auditioned for Ozzy. “I didn’t believe it when they told me I got the gig. I still don’t, some days,” he laughs. “But the truth is, Ozzy took me in and treated me like one of his own. He does that with everyone.”

According to Wylde, Ozzy’s loyalty, heart, and ability to laugh at himself are what elevate him. “He’s not just a king in metal. He’s a king in life.”

5. Sharon Osbourne: “He Never Played a Part—He Is Metal”

Though not a musician herself, Sharon Osbourne’s insight into Ozzy’s soul carries weight unmatched by anyone. As his wife, manager, and lifelong partner in chaos and triumph, she’s witnessed every high and low.

“Ozzy never played a character,” she says. “He never wore a mask, never followed a script. What you saw was what you got—whether it was biting the head off a bat or crying backstage after a show.”

Sharon adds with pride, “That’s why the world loves him. Because he’s real. In a genre full of myths and monsters, Ozzy is the real beast—and the real heart.”

A Legacy Beyond the Crown

Ozzy Osbourne’s journey from working-class Birmingham to heavy metal throne hasn’t just shaped a genre—it’s shaped generations. Whether it was inventing the doom-laden riffage of Black Sabbath or baring his soul on No More Tears, Ozzy never compromised. He hurt. He healed. He laughed. He howled.

And every musician who has followed knows that if metal has a king, it’s Ozzy. Not because he declared it—but because the music did.