THE BEAST

Legendary former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach has opened up about the devastating news of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, revealing in a heartfelt interview with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips that he is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of the Prince of Darkness.

Bach, who recently attended the Back To The Beginning charity concert marking Osbourne’s and BLACK SABBATH’s final performance, described the experience as both joyous and overwhelming. As transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Bach said:

"Oh, man. I was still recuperating from the concert… when I found out Ozzy had died. I watched footage from the pro-shot livestream on YouTube and cried watching it ‘cause I love BLACK SABBATH. I invited friends over to watch it on my stereo, but it had been pulled by Sharon [Osbourne]. I bought the stream from the official site and we watched it together. Watching them that close to his passing, I wasn’t prepared. None of us were."

Bach reflected on the personal coping mechanisms he’s developed over the years, admitting that he sometimes compartmentalizes grief to get through the day—a method he learned after losing his father in 2002. He said:

"Sometimes now when a family member dies or one of my heroes dies, like Ozzy or Gregg Allman or Eddie Van Halen or Neil Peart, sometimes I pretend that it never happened… And I still haven't accepted that Ozzy Osbourne is dead, because a part of my childhood dies with Ozzy."

Bach recently paid tribute to Osbourne during his July 25 performance at the Labadie Rib Fest in Bay City, Michigan, covering classics like “Crazy Train” and “I Don’t Know.” Addressing the crowd before launching into “Crazy Train,” Bach said:

"They called him the Prince of Darkness, but all he did was make us all fucking happy, man. This show tonight is dedicated to fucking Ozzy Osbourne, Bay City… How many people wanna go fucking crazy tonight? Let's go off the rails on the crazy train."

Currently, Bach is touring with his band featuring Paris Bach (drums), “Bruiser” Brody DeRozie (guitar), and Fede Delfino (bass).

Bach has long admired Osbourne, previously citing him as a major inspiration following his 1996 departure from SKID ROW. In 2014, he defended Osbourne against critics, saying:

"Some people think, 'Oh, Ozzy, he's not a great singer.' I say, bullshit. I feel what’s in his crazy fucking mind. He sounds… crazy."

Bach also honored Osbourne a decade ago with a cover of “S.A.T.O.” as part of a Randy Rhoads tribute album, featuring notable players including Brent Woods, James LoMenzo, and Brian Tichy. The CD was debuted at the Randy Rhoads Remembered show in Santa Ana, California in January 2015.

Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, due to a heart attack, with his death certificate noting coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease. His private funeral on July 31 in Buckinghamshire, England, was attended by 110 friends and family members, including his BLACK SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo, Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson, and Corey Taylor. The day prior, thousands of fans gathered in Birmingham to pay tribute, joined by Sharon Osbourne and their children.

Sebastian Bach’s candid reflections highlight just how deep Ozzy’s impact was—not just on fans worldwide, but on the musicians who grew up inspired by his music. As Bach put it, losing Ozzy feels like losing a piece of childhood itself.