How Ozzy Osbourne visited the USSR & Russia 

Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989 - Koh Hasebe / Shinko Music / Getty Images
Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989 - Koh Hasebe / Shinko Music / Getty Images
The ‘Prince of Darkness’, as he called himself, loved Russia and visited it several times with his band ‘Black Sabbath’, as well as solo concerts. In response, the Russian public invariably bought up tickets in stadium quantities and endearingly called the musician ‘Ozzik’.

Rock musician and founder of rock band ‘Black Sabbath’ Ozzy Osbourne visited Russia more than once. He first performed in 1989 in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium as part of the ‘Moscow International Peace Festival’. It was unofficially called ‘Rock Against Drugs’. ‘Skid Row’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Mötley Crüe’, ‘Bon Jovi’ and ‘Scorpions’ also performed at the legendary festival in the capital of the then still USSR.

Musicians arriving at the airport for the Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989 at Luzhiniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, 9th August 1989. (L-R) Tom Keiger (vocals and guitar) (Cinderella), Klaus Meine (vocals) (Scorpions), Alexei Belov (guitar) (Gorky Park), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Jon Bon Jovi (vocals) (Bon Jovi), Richie Sambora (guitar) (Bon Jovi). - Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music / Getty Images
Musicians arriving at the airport for the Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989 at Luzhiniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, 9th August 1989. (L-R) Tom Keiger (vocals and guitar) (Cinderella), Klaus Meine (vocals) (Scorpions), Alexei Belov (guitar) (Gorky Park), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Jon Bon Jovi (vocals) (Bon Jovi), Richie Sambora (guitar) (Bon Jovi). - Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music / Getty Images

However, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ did not fit the festival theme well: The organizers recalled that he looked very drunk, if not stoned, and the security guards of the event almost detained him, mistaking him for a drunk plumber.

1989. Ozzy Osbourne answers journalists' questions at a press conference with the organizers and participants of the Moscow International Music Peace Festival at the Press Center of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held on the eve of the opening of the festival. - Vladimir Vyalkin / Sputnik
1989. Ozzy Osbourne answers journalists' questions at a press conference with the organizers and participants of the Moscow International Music Peace Festival at the Press Center of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held on the eve of the opening of the festival. - Vladimir Vyalkin / Sputnik

“It was a very bright event and a great experience for me. I came to Russia for the first time then and was very surprised how so many people here knew about me. I didn’t think that they had even heard of me and suddenly I saw homemade posters saying: “I love Ozzy”. It was very touching,” the musician later recalled in an interview.

2010. Ozzy Osbourne. - Igor Mikhalev / Sputnik
2010. Ozzy Osbourne. - Igor Mikhalev / Sputnik

He then returned to Russia several times, performing at large venues in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The last visit took place in 2018 as part of a farewell world tour dedicated to the 50th anniversary of ‘Black Sabbath'. 

2010. Ozzy Osbourne during a concert at the Megasport Sports Palace. - Valery Melnikov / Sputnik
2010. Ozzy Osbourne during a concert at the Megasport Sports Palace. - Valery Melnikov / Sputnik

This time, the musician, who in the past had shocked concert audiences by biting off the heads of pigeons and bats, bragged to journalists that he had given up all excesses and was leading a healthy lifestyle: “I exercise every day. I no longer smoke, drink or take drugs. I think that’s the reason I’m in good shape. Besides, I always do what I like. And I like performing on stage, giving people pleasure. The stage is my home away from home.” 

2014. The vocalist of the British rock band Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne at a press conference in Moscow. - Vladimir Astapkovich / Sputnik
2014. The vocalist of the British rock band Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne at a press conference in Moscow. - Vladimir Astapkovich / Sputnik

He also confessed his ardent love for Russia: “I love Russia and will definitely come again, I’ll be happy to play for you again. <…> This is my last world tour, I won’t go on any more world tours. But, I will perform, give concerts. I can’t leave music – it’s my whole life.” The Russian public reciprocated his feelings and affectionately called him ‘Ozzik’. 

2010. Ozzy Osbourne in the Soyuz store. - Georgy Kurolesin / Sputnik
2010. Ozzy Osbourne in the Soyuz store. - Georgy Kurolesin / Sputnik

In Moscow, a star was installed in his honor on the ‘Walk of Fame’ and he personally came to unveil it on May 31, 2018.

2018. Ozzy Osbourne at the ceremony of signing his star on the Walk of Fame in the Vegas Crocus City shopping center. - Sergey Bobylev
2018. Ozzy Osbourne at the ceremony of signing his star on the Walk of Fame in the Vegas Crocus City shopping center. - Sergey Bobylev
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