The day I saw Ozzy Osbourne in person

I will never forget the day I met Ozzy Osbourne. July 29, 2022. Friday. Los Angeles, California. SiriusXM Studios.

I can’t remember how I heard about it. It was either through an email or on the SiriusXM app. I found out that SiriusXM was giving away tickets to attend the release special of Ozzy Osbourne’s new album “Patient Number 9” at the SiriusXM studios in Los Angeles, CA. I clicked the link as soon as I saw it. Then, just a couple of days later I received an email informing me that I had won two tickets to the show!

I informed my supervisor and HR that I would not be going in to work on Friday, July 29th. I didn’t tell them why, I just said I would be out. I never ask for permission to miss work. I request to use PTO that I’ve earned to pay me for being out that day. I’m not coming into work just because you denied my PTO request. In fact, you denying my PTO would make me want to miss even more work. Maybe, even not ever come back to work.

Anyway, I live about 3 ½ hours southeast of L.A. The show was scheduled for 12:30pm. I told my girlfriend that I wanted to leave the house by 6:30am. My girlfriend said, “What? We’ll be there by 10!”

I told her there was a good chance we would run into traffic, because it was a Friday. I also reminded her that we would likely make 2 or 3 stops on the way up, so, “Yes, we’re leaving at 6:30.”

Of course, we woke up late that Friday and ended up leaving around 7:30am. We encountered traffic, as I expected. It took me a while to find parking. By the time we got into the building it was 12:27pm!

We had to check in for the show and have our temperature taken. They walked us around the building to the area where we would enter the studio. They made us leave our phones in envelopes at the door, so we wouldn't record or take pictures during the event, which was funny because in the area just after they take your phones there were signs with the wifi and password information on them!

They opened the doors to the studio at around 12:40pm. They walked us in, single file like little kids returning to their classroom after recess, and had us take our seats in the studio. The studio was smaller than I expected, yet bigger than I expected at the same time. There were four big chairs with mics in front of each on a platform in the middle of the studio. There was equal space from the chairs to the back of the studio and from the chairs to where we sat. The audience seats were bleacher-like; single bench-like rows, stadium seating. At the very back of the studio. there was a screen with a picture of Ozzy and a list of all the tracks on his new album. To the right of the studio, where we entered, there was what I believe to be a plexiglass sectional wall, where people could sit outside of the studio but still see what is happening inside.

Sometimes I forget that adults can act very childlike when we get really excited. You could see on everyone's faces that they were eager for Ozzy to enter the studio. Big smiles. Laughing and joking. Except for my girlfriend who was falling asleep.

Before Ozzy came in they had us listen to the entire "Patient Number 9" album. The album was very good. Better than I expected. I'm a big Ozzy fan, but I honestly expected to hear music that sounded dated. The music sounded fresh, though. It sounded like classic Ozzy or Black Sabbath, but more modern at the same time. I think this might be Ozzy's best album since "No More Tears".

At some point during the album listening portion of the event, we saw this huge biker with long blonde hair walk into the studio behind the plexiglass wall. Everyone recognized him immediately. It was Zakk Wylde! You could hear people in the audience excitedly telling each other, "That's Zakk! That's Zakk!"

After the album finished, they handed out some cards and pens for people to write down questions for Ozzy. They made it sound as if they would read our questions to him, so I didn't bother to put my name on my questions. It turned out that we were supposed to put our names on the questions! They actually called out people to read their own questions. I missed my opportunity to talk to Ozzy!

When they finally brought Ozzy into the studio all of us stood up, clapped, and whooped as he walked in. Ozzy walked slowly. Hunched over with a cane to support him. He looked old and frail. Sort of like my Tata. But it was still Ozzy and we were still excited to see him.

One of the SiriusXM deejays interviewed Ozzy and Zakk. He asked them about the meanings behind some of the songs and how they came up with certain parts. It was very interesting learning about some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into recording an album. Like, the fact that Ozzy and Zakk recorded their parts in their own home studios and sent the files back and forth between themselves, the other musicians, and the producer. They were never in the same room while recording their parts of the song!

Unfortunately, for us, we didn't get a chance to talk to Ozzy or for a photo op. After the interview was over, they asked us to remain in our seats until Ozzy left the studio. We still clapped and whooped as he slowly walked out. They did give us posters autographed by Ozzy after he left. That was cool.

As we were leaving, we saw a huge crowd in the parking lot. It was Ozzy! People were asking him for pictures and autographs in the parking lot. I started walking toward him, but security yelled at me to keep walking.

I might not have personally met Ozzy that day, but I was close enough to him in person and learned about some of the magic of recording an Ozzy album. Plus, we got an autographed poster and heard his new CD before anyone else. It was a great time that I will always remember and cherish. Unless I get Alzheimer's or become senile.