When Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, many thought the curtain had fallen on the Prince of Darkness. But just one year later, he roared back with Blizzard of Ozz—a thunderous, emotional, and genre-defining debut solo album. Released on September 12, 1980 in the UK, it introduced the world to Randy Rhoads, “Crazy Train,” and the beginning of a brand new madness. Here are 5 wild facts you might not know about the album that started it all:
1. Ozzy slept through a single—and missed his own guide vocal.
When Jet Records demanded a new song last minute, the band threw together “You Said It All” at soundcheck. Drummer Lee Kerslake sang the guide vocal—because Ozzy was passed out under the drum riser. The song was never properly recorded, but a live version made it to an EP.
2. “No Bone Movies” was added just to give someone a writing credit.
Drummer Lee Kerslake hadn’t joined early enough to help write most of the album. So the band threw together “No Bone Movies” as a late addition—just so he’d have a co-writing credit. The lyrics? A wild dig at the adult film industry.
3. It was meant to be a band album—until it wasn’t.
The group was originally called The Blizzard of Ozz, and they expected that name on the cover. But when the album dropped, “Ozzy Osbourne” got top billing—literally. That branding shift changed everything, and not all the bandmates were thrilled.
4. “Suicide Solution” landed Ozzy in court.
After a teen tragically took his own life, his parents sued Ozzy over the track. They claimed the song encouraged suicide. But the lyrics were about the dangers of substance abuse—and Ozzy said the line “Wine is fine but whiskey’s quicker” was inspired by Bon Scott’s death.
5. “Crazy Train” was built from a speed-up of a Steve Miller riff.
Randy Rhoads took inspiration from Steve Miller’s “Swingtown,” sped it up, and turned it into one of metal’s most iconic riffs. Whether it was Greg Leon or just Rhoads himself who helped shape it, one thing’s clear: the train left the station, and it never looked back.
After getting kicked out of Sabbath, Ozzy reinvented himself with Blizzard of Ozz, an album that launched a second act few artists ever get. It’s heavy, it’s haunted, and it’s still riding the rails of rock history. ALL. ABOARD. 🖤