ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The world lost one of the most iconic musicians of all time on July 22 with the passing of singer and frontman Ozzy Osbourne. Throughout his nearly 60-year career, the Prince of Darkness made several stops along his “Crazy Train” ride to perform in and around New York’s Capital Region.
Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox!
Osbourne and his band Black Sabbath are often credited with pioneering the genre of heavy metal. Most famous for songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Children of the Grave,” the band featured the dark, powerful guitar riffs and solos of Tony Iommi, the thunderous rhythms of bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward, and Ozzy’s wailing, haunting melodies.
The legendary band’s musicianship, paired with eerie, foreboding lyrics and themes, set the foundation for nearly all metal bands to come. World-class groups such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pantera, Megadeth, and Soundgarden have all been cited as drawing inspiration from Black Sabbath.
Progressive metal band Dream Theater to perform in Schenectady
After departing the band in 1979, Ozzy would go on to have a solo career arguably as popular and influential as Sabbath. With classic hits like “Crazy Train,” “Bark At the Moon,” “Shot In the Dark,” and “Mr. Crowley,” Osbourne’s new group featured the singer’s quintessential sound and vocals with a fresh, sharp bite, highlighted by new, young musicians that would soon become household names all their own, including guitarists Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, and Jake E. Lee.
Osbourne performed over a dozen times in the Capital Region and its surrounding areas during his touring years. Between 1981 and 2001, Ozzy performed in cities ranging from Albany and Saratoga Springs to Troy and Poughkeepsie, seemingly favoring Warren County, with six performances at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Hard rock band Buckcherry to perform in Albany
Blizzard of Ozz Tour
- May 3, 1981
- Mid-Hudson Civic Center – Poughkeepsie
- August 4, 1981
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
- with Def Leppard
Diary of a Madman Tour
- May 10, 1982
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
Speak of the Devil Tour
- April 5, 1983
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
Bark at the Moon Tour
- January 12, 1984
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
The Ultimate Sin Tour
- April 27, 1986
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
No Rest For the Wicked Tour
- June 1, 1989
- The Chance Theatre – Poughkeepsie
- July 1, 1989
- Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls
Theatre of Madness Tour
- January 21, 1992
- Mid-Hudson Civic Center – Poughkeepsie
- January 22, 1992
- The Palace Theatre – Albany
No More Tours Tour
- August 30, 1992
- Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs
Retirement Sucks Tour
- January 27, 1996
- RPI Fieldhouse – Troy
Ozzfest 2000 Tour
- July 26, 2000
- Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs
- with Pantera, Godsmack, Disturbed
Merry Mayhem Tour
- December 18, 2001
- Pepsi Arena – Albany
- with Rob Zombie
Black Sabbath continued to perform and release music beyond Ozzy’s departure, working with several different lead singers, including Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, and Tony Martin. The band reconnected with Ozzy a handful of times throughout the years, and reconvened for one final concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sabbath’s hometown. Osbourne died just over two weeks after the band’s last show, but his legacy will reverberate throughout music’s history for years to come…