Ted Nugent has opened up about the late Ozzy Osbourne, acknowledging the Black Sabbath legend’s impact on music while also criticizing the singer’s past struggles with substance abuse. Nugent delivered his remarks during the July 26 episode of his Spirit Campfire show on Real America’s Voice, just days after Osbourne’s passing.
❤️ “We Will Forever Celebrate Ozzy Osbourne”
In an emotional tribute, Nugent began by highlighting the lasting cultural and musical impact Ozzy left behind:
“What an emotional time for people who embraced and celebrate and will forever embrace and celebrate the incredible soundtrack of BLACK SABBATH and all things Ozzy Osbourne.”
While expressing admiration, Nugent didn’t shy away from commenting on Osbourne’s lifestyle choices.
“Now, did I disagree — in fact, I not only disagreed with a big part of his lifestyle, I condemned it. I think getting drunk and stoned and stupid is really disrespectful to God’s gift.”
⚠️ “Ozzy Made Some Mistakes” – Ted Reflects on the Price of Addiction
Nugent openly criticized the media portrayal of Ozzy’s personal struggles, particularly during the infamous reality TV era.
“And he made mistakes. We all make mistakes. I’ve made two. Anyhow, so Ozzy made some mistakes, so we won’t harp on that, because I was very critical of the TV show that made fun of his condition, made fun of his slovenliness, made fun of his disconnect, made fun of his mental decline through drugs and alcohol.”
Despite this, Nugent reaffirmed his affection for the late legend:
“But you know what? I loved Ozzy Osbourne. [Ted’s former band] THE AMBOY DUKES opened up for the BLACK SABBATH concerts in Detroit, Michigan, in 1971, 1972, I believe it was. AMBOY DUKES and BLACK SABBATH… But Ozzy Osbourne had an incredible musical force.”
🎶 “They Called It Heavy Metal, But It Was Blues”
Nugent went on to praise the musical roots of Black Sabbath, attributing their signature sound to American blues influences rather than traditional metal:
“They called it heavy metal, but basically it was blues… Remember, Ozzy always celebrated that he was just obsessed with the spirit, the energy, the authority, the musicality of THE BEATLES.”
He credited many pioneering Black blues artists as the foundation for not only Ozzy’s inspiration but also the entire British invasion movement:
“And you know where THE BEATLES musical authority came from? Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Mose Allison, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, ultimately Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, and Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis and the Motown Funk Brothers, the Motown supreme artists. Ozzy always represented that.”
🕯️ “Thank You, Ozzy” – Honoring a Legend
Ted also acknowledged Ozzy’s fellow collaborators, past bandmates, and the powerful force that Black Sabbath became:
“So Ozzy, thank you. And the BLACK SABBATH band and Tommy Clufetos and Tommy Aldridge and, and Zakk [Wylde] and Jake E. Lee and Brad Gillis and Randy Rhoads, thank you for enriching the world’s lives, all of our lives, with your incredible music.”
Even though it was branded as heavy metal, Nugent believes Sabbath’s music was always rooted in the blues:
“Because it was called heavy metal, but it was basically heavier, thicker, grinding rhythm and blues music. And he had an incredible, uncanny sense of melody and phrasing and cadence that he gleaned and created his own style and his own genre. Heavy metal — he was the God of heavy metal.”
He continued:
“So we’re gonna dedicate this whole first segment to Ozzy Osbourne. And not only just his memory, but it will never fade away. Just like Eddie Van Halen, his music will never fade away.”
💬 Final Thoughts: A Farewell to a “Bluesman in Disguise”
“So, back to Ozzy, he was a bluesman. Yeah, they intensified the inspiration of those black founding fathers of the most wonderful, stimulating, defiant, uppity fun music.”
In closing, Nugent offered heartfelt condolences to the Osbourne family:
“So, to the Osbourne family, we love you. We pray for your strength. We know these are difficult times. It’s always traumatic, it’s always heartbreaking and emotional, and we get lost, we become lost, uncertain of our every breath when we lose a loved one. Especially, I gotta tell you, it’s magnified when it’s such a historically profound, influential global figure like Ozzy Osbourne.”
