Ozzy Osbourne Band
| Company type | Supporting band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Ozzy Osbourne |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Ozzy Osbourne (vocalist), Randy Rhoads (guitarist), Bob Daisley (bassist), Lee Kerslake (drummer), Zakk Wylde (guitarist), Mike Inez (bassist), Adam Wakeman (keyboardist, rhythm guitarist), Tommy Clufetos (drummer) |
The Ozzy Osbourne Band—originally known as Blizzard of Ozz—served as the supporting group for British heavy metal vocalist and songwriter Ozzy Osbourne on both studio recordings and live performances. The ensemble experienced frequent personnel shifts and was commonly identified simply as the Ozzy Osbourne Band.
Following his exit from Black Sabbath in 1979, Osbourne assembled a solo outfit comprising guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake. Subsequent members included guitarist Zakk Wylde (active 1987–1992, 2001–2009, rejoining in 2017), bassist Mike Inez (joined 1989–1992, toured in 1996 and 1998, returning in 2025), keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Adam Wakeman (touring since 2004 and officially part of the band from the Scream album in 2010), and drummer Tommy Clufetos (since 2010).
Up until 2020, Osbourne’s touring musicians also participated in album recordings; however, starting with Ordinary Man, studio projects primarily featured session players and guest artists with limited involvement from his touring band.
1979–1982
Osbourne was dismissed from Black Sabbath on 27 April 1979 due to issues related to substance abuse. After trying out various musicians, he finalized a lineup in November 1979 featuring guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist and backing vocalist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake.
The debut album Blizzard of Ozz, released in September 1980, showcased keyboard contributions by Don Airey; Lindsay Bridgwater managed keyboards during the supporting tour. The follow-up album Diary of a Madman included uncredited keyboard work by Johnny Cook. Following recording, Daisley and Kerslake were dismissed amid creative and financial disagreements. Their replacements were Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums, who received credit on Diary of a Madman despite not performing on the record. This album was released in November 1981.
The ensuing tour commenced in December with Don Airey taking over keyboard duties from Bridgwater. On 19 March 1982, the tour was abruptly interrupted when Rhoads tragically died in a plane crash caused by a reckless flight near the tour bus. After a two-week pause, Robert Sarzo temporarily filled Rhoads's role; however, label Jet Records had promised the position to Bernie Tormé, who joined but departed after seven shows due to an unpleasant atmosphere following Rhoads's death and his desire to pursue a solo career. On 13 April, Brad Gillis of Night Ranger assumed guitar duties for the remainder of the tour.
Osbourne was contractually obligated by CBS Records to release a live album before year’s end; this led to the creation of Speak of the Devil, which consisted of Black Sabbath cover songs. After the tour wrapped up in September, Sarzo exited the group.
1982–1992
During the initial phase of the Speak of the Devil Tour in December 1982, bassist Pete Way from UFO performed with Osbourne’s band. Following Gillis’s return to Night Ranger, guitarist Jake E. Lee, formerly associated with Ratt and Rough Cutt, joined at year-end. George Lynch, who had auditioned back in 1979, briefly held the position but was swiftly replaced by Lee. Don Costa took over bass duties from Way for the remainder of the tour before Bob Daisley rejoined for the US Festival in May. After recording Bark at the Moon, drummer Tommy Aldridge was replaced by Carmine Appice, although Aldridge returned early in 1984 due to internal conflicts. By January 1985, Aldridge departed once again, reportedly dissatisfied with his role following Randy Rhoads’s passing.
Jake E. Lee and Bob Daisley began work on The Ultimate Sin during Osbourne’s rehabilitation period. Initial drum tracks were recorded by Fred Coury and later by Jimmy DeGrasso, but these sessions were ultimately discarded as both Daisley and DeGrasso left the project. Recording resumed with Osbourne, Lee, bassist Phil Soussan, and former Lita Ford drummer Randy Castillo. Keyboard parts were contributed by Mike Moran. For promotional touring, backup keyboardist John Sinclair joined the lineup.
Following The Ultimate Sin Tour, Osbourne and Lee parted ways reportedly on amicable terms. After conducting auditions, Zakk Wylde (then known as "Zack Wylant") was selected as Lee’s successor, making his debut at a private performance at Wormwood Scrubs Prison in July. Phil Soussan soon exited due to disagreements over songwriting credits; Bob Daisley returned to record bass on No Rest for the Wicked. In May 1988, former Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler joined for that year’s tour.
After touring concluded, Terry Nails worked with the band on bass but was replaced by Mike Inez before the close of 1989. Nevertheless, Inez was substituted during recording sessions by Daisley because his contributions did not meet Osbourne’s standards. Despite this, Inez remained credited as official bassist and acknowledged for "bass and music inspiration" on No More Tears. Keyboardist Kevin Jones replaced Sinclair for the subsequent Theatre of Madness Tour.
During the final leg of the 1992 No More Tours Tour, Osbourne announced intentions to retire from music. The tour culminated with reunion performances featuring former Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.
1994–2003
Although Osbourne declared his retirement as "completely genuine," he made a comeback to the music scene just two years later, admitting that "retirement was terrible" and resuming songwriting. With Inez joining Alice in Chains and Wylde forming Pride & Glory, Osbourne assembled a new group in 1994, rehearsing alongside Bob Daisley, Steve Vai, and Deen Castronovo. This ensemble disbanded early in 1995; subsequently, Zakk Wylde and Geezer Butler replaced Vai and Daisley for the production of the Ozzmosis album.
Osbourne’s initial performance after retirement occurred in Nottingham, England, in June 1995, featuring a brief appearance by Alex Skolnick before Joe Holmes assumed guitar responsibilities. The Retirement Sucks Tour kicked off in August with South American dates as part of the Monsters of Rock festival. Drummer Castronovo was succeeded by Randy Castillo, and bassist Butler departed due to homesickness, with Mike Inez stepping in as his replacement.
By March 1996, Robert Trujillo (formerly of Suicidal Tendencies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More) had taken over bass and drums from Inez and Castillo. Holmes briefly exited the band in 1997 but rejoined shortly thereafter. In early 1998, Osbourne reunited with Wylde, Inez, and Castillo for The Ozzman Cometh Tour across Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Meanwhile, Holmes, Trujillo, and Bordin remained official members and began working on a new album in 1999. During 2000, Bordin temporarily filled in for Korn’s injured drummer; Roy Mayorga and Brian Tichy covered drum duties during his absence.
Holmes contributed to writing three tracks on Osbourne’s subsequent album but was replaced by Wylde early in 2001. The album Down to Earth was released that year, featuring keyboards by Michael Railo and producer Tim Palmer. This lineup remained consistent throughout the Merry Mayhem and Down to Earth Tours until Trujillo departed to join Metallica in February 2003. Jason Newsted took over bass duties for touring that year but was replaced by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson by December.
2003–2019
Shortly after Nicholson joined the lineup, Osbourne experienced a quad bike accident that forced the cancellation of numerous tour dates in 2004. He made his return for the summer Ozzfest tour, which introduced keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Adam Wakeman. Around this period, Osbourne recorded Under Cover, an album consisting of cover songs featuring Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, former Cult bassist Chris Wyse, and drummer Mike Bordin. This lineup stayed intact for the release of Black Rain in 2007.
In July 2009, Osbourne ended his long-term collaboration with guitarist Zakk Wylde to pursue a new musical direction, promptly recruiting Firewind guitarist Gus G following his audition. During Gus G’s initial performances, Rob Zombie’s drummer Tommy Clufetos temporarily replaced Bordin, who had returned to Faith No More; Clufetos soon became a permanent band member. He made his debut on the 2010 album Scream, which also marked Wakeman’s formal inclusion.
The band saw limited activity as Osbourne and Clufetos toured with the reunited Black Sabbath during their final concert tour concluding in February 2017. Less than three months later, Osbourne announced a reunion with Zakk Wylde for a 30th-anniversary tour that eventually expanded into No More Tours II, planned as his last global tour through 2020 but postponed and ultimately canceled in 2023 due to health complications.
2020–2025, Osbourne's Final Years and Passing
After releasing Ordinary Man in 2020, Osbourne discontinued the use of his touring ensemble for studio recordings, opting instead for session players and guest artists. The album Ordinary Man did not feature any performances from his touring band, while on Patient Number 9, contributions were limited to Zakk Wylde, with no involvement from Nicholson, Wakeman, or Clufetos.
During this period, Osbourne appeared in two prominent live events: the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham alongside Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, Adam Wakeman on bass, and Tommy Clufetos on drums; and the 2022 NFL Halftime Show with Wylde, Clufetos, bassist Chris Chaney, and producer Andrew Watt. In July 2025, he delivered a solo performance at the Back to the Beginning concert, supported by Wylde, Wakeman, Clufetos, and former bassist Mike Inez.
His concluding live appearance took place at Villa Park in Birmingham on 5 July 2025 during the "Back to the Beginning" event featuring the original Black Sabbath lineup. Due to Parkinson's disease, Osbourne performed his solo repertoire seated alongside his touring band.
Osbourne passed away at his residence in Buckinghamshire on 22 July 2025 at the age of 76, marking the end of his solo career.
Last lineup
- Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals (1979–1992, 1994–2025)
- Zakk Wylde – lead guitar and backing vocals (1987–1992, 1995, 1998, 2001–2004, 2006–2009, 2017–2025)
- Mike Inez – bass guitar (1989–1992, 1996, 1998, 2025)
- Adam Wakeman – keyboards and rhythm guitar (2004–2025)
- Tommy Clufetos – drums (2010–2025)