Ozzy Osbourne: “You know, the four of us have fallen out over the years. But all I need to do is go back and listen to this album to realise just how much I love the other three. It’s just magic. I can’t put it better than that, I’ve been lucky in my career to have played with some great musicians. But, with great respect to all of them, this was the best of times for me. That album was so special, and changed all of our lives forever. Whatever I’ve been lucky enough to do, and the same goes for the other three guys, we owe it to that record. There were no egos, just four friends who meant the world to one another.”ーMetal Hammer/Malcolm Dome

Ozzy Osbourne: “You know, the four of us have fallen out over the years. But all I need to do is go back and listen to this album to realise just how much I love the other three. It’s just magic. I can’t put it better than that, I’ve been lucky in my career to have played with some great musicians. But, with great respect to all of them, this was the best of times for me. That album was so special, and changed all of our lives forever. Whatever I’ve been lucky enough to do, and the same goes for the other three guys, we owe it to that record. There were no egos, just four friends who meant the world to one another.”ーMetal Hammer/Malcolm Dome

 

**Ozzy Osbourne Reflects on the Magic of Black Sabbath’s Breakthrough Album: “That Was the Best of Times for Me”**

 

*July 2, 2025 – Birmingham, UK*

 

In a heartfelt and deeply personal reflection, legendary vocalist **Ozzy Osbourne** has opened up about the bond between the original members of **Black Sabbath**, crediting one landmark album with not only shaping their lives, but with uniting them in a way few bands ever experience.

 

Speaking to *Metal Hammer’s* Malcolm Dome in a retrospective interview, Osbourne shared a rare moment of vulnerability and gratitude — a far cry from the bat-biting antics and “Prince of Darkness” bravado fans have come to expect.

 

> *”You know, the four of us have fallen out over the years,”* Ozzy admitted. *”But all I need to do is go back and listen to this album to realise just how much I love the other three. It’s just magic. I can’t put it better than that.”*

 

While Ozzy didn’t name the album directly in the excerpt, fans and critics alike point to **1970’s *Paranoid*** — the band’s second studio record — as the game-changer. Featuring iconic tracks like *“War Pigs,” “Iron Man,”* and *“Paranoid,”* the album didn’t just launch Black Sabbath into superstardom — it **cemented their place as the godfathers of heavy metal**.

 

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### 🎸 “The Best of Times”

 

Osbourne, reflecting on his five-decade career, made it clear that despite playing with many talented musicians over the years, **nothing ever matched the chemistry of the original Sabbath lineup** — himself, guitarist **Tony Iommi**, bassist **Geezer Butler**, and drummer **Bill Ward**.

 

> *”I’ve been lucky in my career to have played with some great musicians. But, with great respect to all of them, this was the best of times for me.”*

 

He emphasized that during the creation of their defining work, **egos were left at the door**, and **friendship came first**.

 

> *”There were no egos, just four friends who meant the world to one another.”*

 

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### 🖤 An Album That Changed Everything

 

Released in September 1970, *Paranoid* became one of the most influential records in rock history. It introduced a heavier, darker sound that laid the blueprint for all metal to come. But for Ozzy and his bandmates, it wasn’t just about changing music — it changed **their lives**.

 

> *“That album was so special, and changed all of our lives forever,”* Ozzy said. *“Whatever I’ve been lucky enough to do, and the same goes for the other three guys, we owe it to that record.”*

 

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### 🔄 Looking Back as the Final Tour Nears

 

Ozzy’s remarks arrive at a poignant time — just months after Black Sabbath announced their **joint 2026 farewell tour with Judas Priest**, *“The Metal Titans Final Roar.”* Fans are seeing more reflections like this from the band’s founding members, marking the **twilight of an era** that reshaped the musical world.

 

Despite past feuds, lineup changes, and personal struggles, Osbourne’s words serve as a powerful reminder: **at the heart of Black Sabbath was brotherhood**.

 

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### 🎤 Final Words from the Prince of Darkness

 

In an industry built on image, few moments hit with the sincerity and weight of Ozzy’s recent reflection. After decades of showmanship, chaos, and global fame, he offered something truly simple — and human:

 

> *“It’s just magic. I can’t put it better than that.”*

 

For fans across the globe, it’s a reminder that while albums like *Paranoid* gave birth to heavy metal, they also captured the spirit of four young men who, for a moment in time, created something **eternal**.