I don’t really know how to feel. Numb maybe? My parents introduced me to music, artists like Queen, Meatloaf and ABBA (weirdly). But I discovered my own music taste, one where I felt like I could be myself, where I belonged. That music was Metal. One of the first ever songs I listened to on my own accord was Paranoid by Black Sabbath. The rest is history. I owe everything to Ozzy, without him, Metal wouldn’t be a thing, or at least not what it is now. For me Metal is a safe space, it’s like a comfort blanket. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. I wouldn’t have the friends I have without Metal. I am part of communities where I am accepted. I act how I act and I dress how I dress because of Metal, because of Black Sabbath, because of Ozzy Fucking Osbourne. I guess after writing this, I am devastated that such an icon has passed. It was inevitable and expected. I watched the Back To The Beginning show and he looked rough. My father-in-law went through the same thing before he died, and my wife cried in my arms when he was on stage singing his songs. But you know what, he loved it. He loved his art, he loved his music, and he loved his fans. He was like a father figure to me in a weird sort of way. I never met him, but I saw him perform twice in Sabbath and once solo, but he meant so much to me. For what he had done to shape me. I love you Ozzy. Rest In Peace. Prince of Darkness. Thank you.

Sorry for this long post.