4 Ozzy Osbourne Songs That Changed Rock Guitar History

Ozzy Osbourne’s improbable journey from a laborer in Birmingham, England, to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame happened on the shoulders of great rock guitarists.

It began with Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath and continued throughout an enduring and remarkable solo career. The guitar slot in Osbourne’s band became one of the most coveted in rock and roll.

So this list focuses on Osbourne’s solo output and examines the groundbreaking work of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde, and four songs that changed rock guitar history.

“Crazy Train” from Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

The guitar riff to “Crazy Train” is an essential part of the rock and roll vernacular. When Osbourne emerged with his solo debut following his departure from Black Sabbath, few would have bet on his success. But Sharon Osbourne did. The album features a young guitarist named Randy Rhoads, who was the only one then capable of challenging Eddie Van Halen’s dominance in the Los Angeles music scene. “Crazy Train” is now a rite of passage for aspiring rock guitarists, and Rhoads became the benchmark for those dreaming to fill his shoes in Osbourne’s band. Recording only two studio albums with Osbourne, Rhoads changed rock guitar forever before he tragically died in a plane crash at age 25.

“Bark at the Moon” from Bark at the Moon (1983)

After a couple of stopgap live guitarists, Jake E. Lee landed the gig of his life. Lee replaced an icon, but he arrived with a legendary riff of his own, “Bark at the Moon.” Though Lee’s tenure in Osbourne’s band is sometimes overlooked in the space between Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde, his contributions are undeniable. The title track to Osbourne’s third solo album is a blazing piece of virtuosic heavy metal brilliance. Just dare your guitar-playing friends to attempt the climbing outro lick to the song’s finale.

“No More Tears” from No More Tears (1991)

Zakk Wylde had already proved his extraordinary shredding skills on No Rest for the Wicked. (Check out the scorching opener “Miracle Man.”) But Wylde has the unique ability to thread Tony Iommi and Randy Rhoads with his own Southern rock influences. No More Tears ushered in a new chapter for Osbourne. Wylde’s compositions, earthy blues licks, and manic harmonics—along with key songwriting contributions from Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister—helped Osbourne make his strongest solo album since Diary of a Madman. The title track’s solo is so undeniably epic that it requires an orchestra to set it up. On No More Tears, Wylde solidified his place among guitar legends.

“Mr. Crowley” from Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

You don’t get to Lee’s impossible outro lick in “Bark at the Moon” or Wylde’s ascending solo in “No More Tears” without “Mr. Crowley.” Rhoads was a dedicated student who, even while touring with Osbourne, continued to study classical music. His multitracked solos and use of modal scales inspired generations of guitarists, from Wylde to Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello to Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. There are two guitar solos in “Mr. Crowley,” and the first is one of the most revered in heavy metal.

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Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns