The Blog of clairemobey

Ozzy Osbourne, John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (3 December 1948 – 22 July 2025) Image Source The Prince of Darkness

I woke up at "stupid o'clock" again this morning. I am a massive insomnia sufferer and would rather be productive during my waking hours that fighting with myself to sleep. So I got up and checked my social media, as I do... How did I miss this?

Unexpected tears started streaming down my face. No matter where you are or what music you listen to, if you are a true muso, then this man would have had an impact on you in some way or another. Part man and part myth, Ozzy went beyond any Rock Star and influenced the birth of Metal with the formation of Black Sabbath in the 1970s

The year was 2001. A blink of an eye ago for those of us born in the 80s and 90s... even before. But I was just 15, going on 16 when I was first introduced to Ozzy Ozbourne and Black Sabbath, properly. Almost an entire 20 years ago now.

My boyfriend, the leader of a bike club called the Mandalorian, had a massive vinyl collection. At first, we lived together in his parent's spare room before they found us our own flat in the same complex in Pinelands. I distinctly remember, right from the beginning, my boyfriend having "sacred time" where he would put on his vinyls, from Megadeath, to Sound Garden, to Metallica ,to Black Sabbath... We did not speak during this time, which could often last up to an hour.

We would smoke cigarette after cigarette, just letting the music course through our veins and thus my musical education into the "dark side" officially began.

This ritual would take place as soon as he got home from work and had seated himself in his "thinking chair"... properly attired with black leather pants and sleeveless rock shirts that had seen more than almost decade of partying.

My sister went though a "goth phase" and I adopted most of her clothes, so making the transition from being a rave bunny to a goth girl was not hard for me.

Suddenly, thinking time would be over and we would suit up and bike up for the evening's journey of recklessness and wild abandon. A time where we acted without thinking of any consequences. The Bike Club's Motto was " Immortal Till We Die."

A few onths after my ex and I met, we watched our 21 year old friend die from horrific bike injuries after he was hit by a car, going way to fast. The bie was still registered to my ex, so the cops came to us as our friend was still fighting for his life. We had to call his parents.... his girlfriend... and the rest of the bike club and we all stood around between hospitals, starting at Somerset and then transferred to Groote Schuur for MRI's that confirmed a shattered pelvis and massive internal bleeding on the brain. Even if he survived the accident, he never would walk or ride again, and he would probably have little to no cognitive function.

It lasted four days... before his parents were advised that there was no hope left and they pulled the plug.

The bike he was riding, A Suzuki GSXR750 Preslingshot, was sold to him by my ex so we could afford the security deposit on our first home. The guilt was overwhelming. We all blamed ourselves in some way or another...

This song reminds me so much of that time. Music is absolutely, undoubtedly magical that way.... if you close your eyes, you can teleport back to any part of your life.

This one is for you, Mouse, the young man who died in front of us, And for you, The Prince Of Darkness, Ozzy Ozbourne.

https://youtu.be/_eBCxYVma1g?si=CHHBvUiTRbayUQKF