Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has opened up about the devastating loss of his longtime friend and fellow metal legend, Ozzy Osbourne. Speaking in a recent interview with Detroit’s 101 WRIF, Halford reflected on the grief he felt upon hearing of the Black Sabbath icon’s passing.
Halford recalled the exact moment he received the call:
“Oh, man. I got a call the day it happened. I was in a hotel room in Leeds, in England. I just put the phone down, curled up in a ball, and bawled my eyes out for hours. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it now. I’m still grieving, like so many people.”
Although Judas Priest’s touring schedule kept him from attending Osbourne’s farewell show Back to the Beginning, Halford described the deep impact Ozzy had on his life and career.
“He was someone I was always in awe of,” Halford said. “I’m still like that with Alice Cooper too. It’s that larger-than-life presence. With Ozzy, every time I was around him, I felt that same sense of awe.”
The two singers weren’t in frequent contact in recent years, but Halford said the memories they shared remain priceless. He recalled the honor of performing with Black Sabbath on two occasions, as well as Judas Priest’s ongoing tribute with their cover of War Pigs — a song he calls “one of the greatest metal songs ever written.”
Beyond admiration, the bond between Halford and Osbourne was defined by moments of loyalty and support. In 2004, Halford stepped in for an ailing Ozzy at Ozzfest in Camden, performing a full Sabbath set with only a few hours’ notice.
“Sharon [Osbourne] called and said, ‘Ozzy’s not feeling very well. Can you sing his show?’ I said, ‘When?’ And she goes, ‘Tonight.’ So you do what you do. We help each other, don’t we? We’ve got each other’s backs.”
It wasn’t the first time. During Sabbath’s No More Tours run in 1997, Halford again came to the rescue, with guitarist Tony Iommi later admitting that without Halford, “there wouldn’t have been a show at all.”
Osbourne himself often spoke highly of Halford, praising his commanding stage presence and powerful voice, calling him one of the greatest metal singers of all time.
For Halford, the grief of losing Ozzy is softened only by the legacy they built together. Their friendship, forged in music and mutual respect, remains a testament to the unbreakable brotherhood of heavy metal.
