94.5 FMX Remembers The Man Who Made Us, Ozzy Osbourne

It is impossible to overstate the importance that Ozzy Osbourne has had and will always have on FMX.

I could get very technical about why this is true- how entire genres of rock and metal would not exist without the influence of Ozzy and Black Sabbath. Many people with much more expertise will write about that, so instead I will simply write from the heart.

When I saw footage of Ozzy from Back To The Beginning, I noted with sadness but also admiration that Ozzy was unable to stand up. It is how we treat others in our most difficult moments that proves our character. Here was a man who must have known the end was near, giving every last little bit of love to his fans. Thinking about it today, I realize how incredibly brave and heroic he was at that show.

That concert raised approximately $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acom Children’s Hospice. It also made many, many people around the world happy.

As for myself, my parents met for the first time at an Ozzy concert. So I quite literally owe my existence to him. More importantly, my entire life, career, and personality (for better or worse) has been shaped in large part by Ozzy's influence.

I am overcome with grief, but mostly, I am grateful. I am grateful I got to see him perform with Type O Negative and Sepultura in 1996 as a 13-year-old with my parents and my extended FMX family.

I am grateful for Decline of the Western Civilization Part 2: The Heavy Metal Years, which is my favorite documentary by miles, in large part because of Ozzy.

I am grateful for an epic, uplifting, magical soundtrack for my life, one that so many of the dearest people to me also consider required listening.

So I will set aside as much grief as I can to let the gratitude take its place.

From the bottom of my heart, and from every single person who was ever on FMX throughout its 40+ years, we all thank you.

See you on the other side "poppa" Ozzy. We love you.