KISS‘s Gene Simmons has shared what Ozzy Osbourne taught him before he died earlier this year.
- READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne, 1948-2025: culture-smashing revolutionary that redefined rock and reality TV
The Black Sabbath frontman and iconic soloist died in July, aged 76. It came just 17 days after he played his final-ever live shows at Sabbath’s ‘Back To The Beginning’ event in Birmingham.
In a new interview on the Fail Better podcast hosted by David Duchovny, Simmons has opened up about his relationship with Osbourne, saying the frontman remained a down-to-earth person despite his fame and calling his death “heartbreaking”.
“There was a unique human being, a giant, who, no matter what anybody said, was always Ozzy and treated you and the next-door neighbour exactly the same,” Simmons said. “‘Hey, how are you? Nice to see you,’ No airs about him, no anything.”
He went on to say that he knew Ozzy for “decades” and learnt from his nature. “It’s a good lesson for idiots like me who sometimes, guilty as charged, get full of themselves and say, ‘Wow, I’m Gene Simmons,’” he added. “And if you would have met Ozzy, you know, you’re on your best behaviour. You try to, because it is a big deal.”
“It is important to meet somebody like Ozzy who is just himself,” he added. “Now, of course, when he gets up on stage, it’s more like scream therapy. You get out there, and it’s just all energy coming.
“But strangely, the real Ozzy is supposed to be the Prince of Darkness, and yet in the shows, he blows kisses to the fans and goes, ‘I love you.’ If you were the Prince of Darkness, that’s like anti. That’s kind of like a good guy. He was a giant.”
Ozzy’s death certificate confirmed his cause of death to be a heart attack, while also mentioning that he was suffering from coronary heart disease and Parkinson’s. The document listed his occupation as “Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend”.
Earlier this week, his widow, Sharon, thanked fans for their support in her first public statement since his death.
“Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know. None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it’s carried me through many nights,” she wrote.
After the ‘Back To The Beginning’ show, Sharon revealed that Ozzy told her he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love at the concert. “He turned around and he said to me that night, ‘I had no idea that so many people liked me’. Ozzy’s always been in his own bubble,” she said.
It was the first time that the full classic lineup of Sabbath – Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward – had played together since 2005. They played a streamlined four-song set of their classic songs, with Ozzy telling the live crowd: “It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The family took part in a public funeral procession in Birmingham on July 30. Ozzy was then laid to rest in the grounds of his UK mansion after a private ceremony.
In other news, earlier this year, Simmons spoke about his net worth and how much money he has made over the course of his career.
