“Bawled My Eyes Out for Hours”: Judas Priest’s Rob Halford Says He “Curled up in a Ball” After Ozzy Osbourne Died

While battling numerous health issues over the last few years, the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away still rocked the entire music industry. Having played such a crucial role in the popularity of heavy metal, the former Black Sabbath singer got the chance to perform one last time at the Back to the Beginning concert. Thanking fans for their continued support, Ozzy passed away only a few weeks later. And while time heals all wounds, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford still struggled with the news. 

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Remembering when he received the call about Ozzy’s death, Halford explained to WRIF that he could barely contain his emotions. Knowing at that moment the industry lost a true icon, the singer revealed, “I got a call the day (Ozzy’s death) happened. I just put the phone down in my hotel room – I think it was in Leeds, in England, and I just curled up in a ball and bawled my eyes out for hours.”

Although Ozzy’s family laid him to rest in Buckinghamshire, England, Halford remained torn. “I still can’t believe it now. I’m still grieving, like so many people.”

[RELATED: Statement: BBC Shelved Ozzy Osbourne Documentary Out of Respect for His Family]

Rob Halford Honors Ozzy With “Giants In The Sky”

Knowing the show must go on, Halford found himself on stage the day after Ozzy’s death. Having to power through the performance, the band decided to honor the icon with a song. “We did the show and we came to the song that we’ll be playing when we come to see you guys – it’s called Giants in the Sky, from the Invincible Shield album – and that song talks about people that we love in music that have moved on to this beautiful place.”

With Halford losing several friends throughout his career, he not only celebrated Ozzy but also others. “We reference Lemmy and Ronnie (James Dio) and Paul Di’Anno (from Iron Maiden) and Jill (Janus from) Huntress and Chris (Cornell) and all of these greats, Janis Joplin, Freddie Mercury. And then for that show we added Ozzy at the end.”

Not wanting to forget Ozzy or the legacy he left behind, Halford urged fans and fellow singers to always talk about the Prince of Darkness. “It’s great that we are talking about him now and we should keep talking about him forever…”

(Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)