Iron Maiden put aside their differences and paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne , who died last Tuesday, July 22nd, at the age of 76. Fans attributed the 24-hour delay in offering condolences to the feud between the two British artists.
The band used social media to post a photo of the Madman and express gratitude for Black Sabbath , stating that Ozzy helped shape heavy metal. See the post below:
"It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that everyone connected with Iron Maiden sends their sincere condolences to Sharon and the Osbourne Family on the sad announcement of Ozzy's passing. He helped shape heavy metal as we know it and we will be eternally grateful to Black Sabbath for forging the path that so many have followed. Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne."
The fight between Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden
Many felt Iron Maiden was absent from Black Sabbath's farewell event. Bruce Dickinson recorded a cover of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" for the 1994 Nativity in Black
But it's worth remembering that Dickinson is persona non grata due to his troubled relationship with Sharon Osbourne , which began with the infamous incident at Ozzfest in 2005 , when Sharon orchestrated an act of sabotage against Bruce Dickinson and company, including an egging on stage.
Sharon also accused Bruce Dickinson of disrespect and envy towards Ozzy , claiming that he made derogatory comments about the artist's relevance and the reality show "The Osbournes" – Bruce is known for hating reality shows.
The untimely death of Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal icon and vocalist for Black Sabbath, died on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76. The family has not released the cause of death, although Osbourne had faced several health problems in recent years.
The news was confirmed via a statement from the Osbourne family [via The Guardian ]:
"It is with greater sadness than words can express that we have to inform you that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family's privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
His death occurred less than three weeks after his retirement from the stage, when Ozzy participated in Black Sabbath 's farewell show . Approximately 40,000 people attended the event, with 5.8 million people watching the show online.
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