Memoirs Of A Madman
For all of the sometimes outrageous things Ozzy Osbourne has been known for, this year’s comprehensive greatest hits compilation, ‘Memoirs Of A Madman’, puts the focus squarely on the thing he does best: crafting some of the best, most passionate rock and roll of all time.
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Ozzy first rose to prominence as the frontman of one of the most influential rock bands and the true architects of heavy metal: Black Sabbath. In 1979, after a ten-year journey, Ozzy and Sabbath parted ways, leading to the start of Ozzy’s incredible solo career. Delivering his debut album ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and follow-up ‘Diary Of A Madman’ with his then partner, groundbreaking guitarist Randy Rhoads, Ozzy immediately had the attention of fans of heavy music with rock staples “Crazy Train”, “Mr. Crowley” and “Flying High Again.”
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Throughout the ’80s, there was arguably no singular performer with the same amount of charisma and undeniable effect on hard rock and heavy metal as Osbourne. As classic tracks “Bark At The Moon” and “The Ultimate Sin” influenced a new generation of rock performers, and the introduction of Ozzy’s new guitarist Zakk Wylde in 1987 (following the tragic death of Rhoads at age 25) led to another amazing chapter in Ozzy’s solo career.
With the 1991 release ‘No More Tears’, Ozzy continued his radio success with singles “No More Tears” and the smash hit “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Ozzy’s influence never stopped, from the creation of the successful rock event Ozzfest to an unlikely turn as a television star on MTV’s hit series ‘The Osbournes’. For Ozzy, though, his heart remained in the music: his tenth studio album, 2010’s ‘Scream’, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts and featured the No. 1 Mainstream Rock smash “Let Me Hear You Scream.”
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‘Memoirs Of A Madman’ offers, for the first time in one place, all of Ozzy’s greatest hits—an offering of richly melodic, deeply influential rock songs, from classic radio staples to modern triumphs. This package puts into crystal clear focus, for fans both new and old, the influence and boundless enthusiasm of Ozzy Osbourne as a solo performer and rock and roll icon.
