In a recent interview on the podcast Fail Better With David Duchovny , KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons opened up about the loss of BLACK SABBATH Ozzy Osbourne . In the conversation, Simmons shared valuable lessons he learned from the metal icon .
“It was devastating news, because I’d known him for decades,” Gene began [transcription via Blabbermouth ]. “He was a unique human being, a giant who treated everyone the same, from a rock star to the next-door neighbor. He’d simply say, ‘Hey, how’s it going? Nice to see you.’ He had no arrogance whatsoever. Consequently, this is a great lesson for idiots like me who, I admit, sometimes let ego get the better of us. Around Ozzy, you behaved better because he was authentic and wasn’t interested in impressing. He’d just ask, ‘Hey, how are the kids?’ Without a doubt, this taught me a lot about humility, especially for someone like me who’s based my life on creating armor.”
Furthermore, Simmons reflected on his own public image: “People think I’m much richer than I actually am. I mean, I’ve done well, but they imagine billions. In reality, it’s just an image I like to maintain because it protects you. However, humility is fundamental, which is why meeting someone like Ozzy was so important. He was simply himself. Interestingly, the real Ozzy, the supposed Prince of Darkness, would blow kisses to fans and say 'I love you guys.' He was a good guy. A giant.”
The First Encounter and the Simplicity of a Legend
On another occasion, Gene recalled the first meeting between the bands. “I was reading Rolling Stone magazine when I saw an ad that said: 'BLACK SABBATH, louder than LED ZEPPELIN'. I thought: 'My God, I need to check this band out'. And so, in 1974, we did a few shows together. I remember that, as we were leaving the stage, we crossed paths with Ozzy. I was totally in character, but he simply approached, extended his hand and said: 'Hello, I'm Ozzy. Nice to meet you'. I was totally taken aback by his simplicity.”
“What a giant,” Gene continued, visibly emotional. “I received calls from people in the industry and from fans I knew. They were on the phone and couldn’t speak, they were just sobbing. He truly was a giant. What a terrible loss.”
Authenticity and unique talent
When questioned about Ozzy's vocal quality, Simmons was emphatic: “He never got the credit he deserved. After all, Ozzy never tried to modify his voice. When I sing in KISS, or when Hetfield sings in Metallica, we add a rougher tone. Ozzy, on the other hand, was always Ozzy; he sang melodies.”
“It’s funny,” he added. “Once, I met Ozzy and he told me he loved the Beatles and ABBA. While the rest of us try to choose the right words to maintain the image, Ozzy didn’t care. He was simply himself. Maybe the Greeks were right: ‘Know thyself.’ Ozzy was always true to himself and gave his all on stage. That’s why the love and admiration he received is unparalleled.”
Final tributes and an eternal legacy.
Later, on the day of Ozzy's death, Gene also spoke to NBC News. "People saw him as the Prince of Darkness, but at the same time, he was a loving father and a devoted husband. He was a singularity, an anomaly. He was simply born Ozzy and remained so until the end."
Similarly, Paul Stanley , co-founder of KISS, paid tribute on X (formerly Twitter): “We lost a legend. From SABBATH to 'Blizzard' and beyond, Ozzy influenced countless bands. KISS had the honor of opening for SABBATH in the 70s. Throughout the decades, I always knew Ozzy as a kind and very fun soul. Fly high now.”
Finally, the death certificate revealed that Ozzy passed away on July 22nd, at the age of 76, a victim of a heart attack. The document also mentioned that the musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.
Check out the full interview:
READ ALSO: Gene Simmons talks about how organizing his finances guarantees the future of his next generations.
