Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, two of the greatest bands to emerge from the United Kingdom in the late 1960s, were founded in 1968 and went on to revolutionize rock & roll in the years that followed. Zeppelin introduced the world to Hard Rock music, while Sabbath further startled the public by inventing what would later be dubbed Heavy Metal.
Ozzy Osbourne, the singer and co-founder of Black Sabbath, has discussed numerous colleagues and shared his thoughts on other bands over the years. Led Zeppelin and singer Robert Plant was one of them.
What is Ozzy Osbourne’s opinion on Led Zeppelin
Before becoming well-known, members of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin were already acquainted. In an interview with Lauch Radio Networks in 2007, Ozzy Osbourne recounted that in 1968, he was strolling through Birmingham’s streets when they made their way to the subway. There, Geezer’s friend, singer Robert Plant, was spotted by the two musicians.
When they inquired about his current activities, he informed them that he had recently accepted an invitation to become a member of The New Yardbirds, a band. The original incarnation of Led Zeppelin was that group. Jimmy Page was a member of The Yardbirds, a band that had recently disintegrated, and that is where the name originated.
The two first Zeppelin albums were a huge influence for Ozzy
During the conversation, Ozzy discussed the significance of the original Zeppelins. The first two albums had a profound effect on both my life and voice. like The Beatles when I originally heard them.
In 1995, he had made much the same statement during an interview for the film “History of Rock and Roll.” Zeppelin’s debut album was a “breath of fresh air,” according to Ozzy.
“I remember listening to the first Zeppelin album. It was like such a great breath of fresh air for somebody doing something acceptable but yet so different”.
When Rolling Stone asked him in 2004 to name five of his all-time favorite songs, he included “Dazed and Confused,” which was featured on Led Zeppelin’s 1969 self-titled first album. Ozzy said, “My world stood still the first time I heard this.”
These two albums served as inspiration for Black Sabbath, who had not yet released their debut album, to write songs that incorporated a more aggressive style of rock and roll. When Ozzy mentioned that Zeppelin was really heavy to Tony Iommi, the band’s co-founder and guitarist, Iommi responded by suggesting that Black Sabbath will be heavier than Zeppelin.
The Led Zeppelin album Ozzy Osbourne chose as one of his favorites
He admitted to Rolling Stone in 2017 that “Led Zeppelin IV” (1971) is one of his favorite Heavy Metal albums, even though he still adores the band’s first two albums. I’ve always had a deep admiration for Led Zeppelin. Ozzy Osbourne stated, “This is one of my all-time favorites, but all of their studio albums are classics.”
Numerous timeless tracks, like “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Going to California,” and “When the Levee Breaks,” may be found on that record.
The album continues to be their best-selling record despite being a critical and commercial triumph. Worldwide, it is projected to have sold over 37 million albums.
Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin played together once in the studio
The members of both ensembles remained close friends even after they achieved popularity. They even got to perform together in a studio at one point. It occurred in 1973, midway during Black Sabbath’s highly acclaimed album “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” recording sessions.
In a 2019 interview with Classic Rock, the band’s guitarist Tony Iommi reminisced about that particular instance. Strangely, drummer Bill Ward would not let John Bonham of Zeppelin play his kit. The instrument would always become damaged because he would beat it so hard.
“We were really good mates with Led Zeppelin. Especially Robert Plant and John Bonham who came from the Midlands. Zeppelin had wanted us to be on their label, Swan Song. But we couldn’t make it work out. During the recording of the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album, Zeppelin came into the studio for a jam.”
“John wanted to play “Supernaut” (Released on their previous album ‘Vol 4’). But we jammed instead. We were in the middle of recording so it fucked up the session. I know that it was recorded. I’d love to hear it. The tape must be around somewhere.”
Ozzy Osbourne and John Bonham were friends
Following the untimely death of their renowned drummer John Bonham at the age of 32, Led Zeppelin came to an end in 1980. Bonham noted in a 2005 interview with Planet Rock that Ozzy was a close friend and they used to hang out a lot in the 1970s.
Ozzy said, “John Bonham was a great dear friend of mine. I used to go out and drink with him sometimes. I was in Liverpool, I just fold it up. And I was going through a divorce and all these stuff when John died.”
“I was in bed in my ex-wife’s house. The doctor comes, because I wanted to say that I was unfit for work. The guy goes ‘Did you know John Bonham?’ (If you keep) drinking you gonna end up just like him. And I was like ‘what?’ I was just plastered.”
Ozzy once texted Robert Plant because he was looking for his cat
Ozzy is still not very tech savvy, but he still loves dogs and cats. In a 2017 interview with Conan O’Brien, he disclosed that he once unintentionally texted Robert Plant while trying to find his cat.
“I try (To use the phone), but I end up sending the wrong message to the wrong person. I can’t work a bloody digital watch, never mind a phone.”
Ozzy’s son Jack came along after that, adding, “He once sent Robert Plant a text message like, ‘I can’t find the cat.’” And Ozzy said that Plant replied, saying: “You can’t find the cat?”.