
How Ozzy Osbourne visited the USSR & Russia
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.

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.

“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.

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'.

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.”

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’.

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.
