Billy Morrison, a close friend of Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist for Billy Idol, has shared memories of the late rock star a year after his death, recalling a hair-raising Ferrari adventure and their mutual obsession with English chocolate.
Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman, died on July 22 last year at age 76, 17 days after his final farewell concert in Villa Park, Birmingham. Morrison, who knew Osbourne for nearly three decades and co-wrote some of his tracks, said the death still doesn't feel real.
Friendship and memories
“I honestly can’t believe it’s been a year. I still reach for my phone to text him about something funny that happened, or to send him a stupid meme. I miss him every single day,” Morrison said.
The last time they spoke was just days before Osbourne passed away. “He was in his house in the British countryside and I was in LA - he was telling me how he had been working out like a dog, because he didn’t want to get fat and old (but in language I can’t repeat here!!).”
Morrison saw him right before he flew back to the UK for the Back To The Beginning show. “We sat in the kitchen in his house, laughed together, ate some English chocolate… and I had no idea that would be the last time I gave the guy a hug.”
Marking the anniversary
Morrison is marking the anniversary today by playing Osbourne's music and watching outtakes from the Madhouse Chronicles podcast they filmed together. “Moments captured on film show the love we had for each other. I want to mark today with smiles and laughter, because that’s what he gave me when he was here.”
He remembered a different side to Osbourne behind closed doors. “Ozzy was one of the most gentle, caring people I’ve ever met. My relationship with him wasn’t built around music, but out of a mutual love of English chocolate and the childlike sense of humour we shared.”
Lessons and adventures
Morrison, who co-hosted the SiriusXM talk show Ozzy Speaks, said Osbourne taught him a lot. “Despite pretending not to know things, or care about things, the guy was sharp as a tack, kept his ears open, and understood way more than most people gave him credit for - he taught me about what it takes to make it in the music business.”
One standout memory is the day Osbourne took delivery of a new Ferrari despite not driving. “He called me up and told me to come take it for a spin. I show up, he tosses me the keys and says 'Let’s go!'. In typical Ozzy fashion, he’s telling me to put my foot down, and at 80mph on the 101 Freeway in LA, decides to show me it’s a convertible and unlatches the roof. The wind catches the top, whips it back, and I have to dive across five lanes of traffic with the roof bent back. The story ends with us parked in a gas station, screaming at each other and arguing about who’s gonna call Sharon and tell her we broke his brand new supercar!”
New album
Morrison’s new solo album Hollow, featuring Chuck D and Marilyn Manson, drops on August 7. He said, “The collaborations are fantastic, and I just know Ozzy would have been proud of me with this record.”
