45 Years Ago: Ozzy Osbourne Plays First Solo Gig

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Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, but that wasn’t the end for The Prince of Darkness.

While Osbourne’s career seemed grim at that moment, his life took a turn when Sharon Arden (future wife Sharon Osbourne) was assigned to manage the rocker.  That’s when he met guitarist Randy Rhoads and began working on his first solo record Blizzard of Ozz.  

The first concert Ozzy performed as solo artist took place on September 3rd, 1980 at the Norbeck Castle Hotel in Blackpool, Northern England where the new band was billed as “the Law.”

They setlist included Mr. Crowley, Suicide Solution, and Crazy Train before they became well-known hits.

Following the show and tour, Osbourne proved his career was far from over.