Nearly seven months after his passing, ‘s name is once again making headlines in the music world. A previously unknown cassette tape, hidden away in an attic for over four decades, has surfaced, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in rock history: the formation of the band that would ultimately create the legendary album Blizzard of Ozz.
The discovery was made at the home of David Jolly, a friend of Osbourne’s during the period following his departure from Black Sabbath. Jolly befriended Osbourne as the singer began rebuilding his career.
The 12-minute recording, labeled “Ozzie Last Day,” captures a jam session featuring Osbourne, guitarist Randy Rhoads, and bassist Bob Daisley. This predates the addition of drummer Lee Kerslake, who would complete the lineup that recorded Blizzard of Ozz.
A Spontaneous Record of a Decisive Stage
Initially shared by Sky News, the audio doesn’t contain structured songs or demos of well-known hits. Instead, it presents a bluesy jam session where the musicians explore sounds and demonstrate their natural chemistry. The recording offers a raw, unfiltered look at the early stages of collaboration that would define Osbourne’s solo career.
According to experts, the tape captures the essence of the group before its final formation. Daisley confirmed the authenticity of the material after hearing it for the first time in decades. “As soon as I heard it, I thought, yes, that’s us, that’s Ozzy’s voice,” he stated. “I don’t know if we were auditioning a drummer and just loosening up a bit, or we’re just clowning about… but it wasn’t a song we were working on because we had definite songs by then, we had several songs.”
The session, as Daisley clarified, wasn’t part of the formal songwriting process. It appears to be a spontaneous exploration of ideas and a demonstration of the musicians’ interplay. The recording took place in January 1980 during a brief rehearsal window in Suffolk, England, before the band moved to studios in Monmouth, Wales, and Surrey to record Blizzard of Ozz, according to Vice.
Jolly explained to Sky News that Osbourne gifted him the tape after rehearsals concluded. He kept it stored in a briefcase in his attic for decades, hesitant to play it for fear of damaging the recording. He ultimately contacted Sky News and invited them to a mastering studio owned by his friend Leon Smith to listen to the tape.
The unearthed recording, while not containing previously unknown musical material, provides valuable insight into Osbourne’s creative process immediately after his departure from Black Sabbath. It’s a snapshot of a musician rebuilding his career and forging new musical partnerships. The discovery comes just months after Osbourne’s death in , and following an all-star tribute performance at the Grammy Awards led by Post Malone and Slash, as reported by Consequence.
The 12-minute segment of the 60-minute tape offers a unique window into the early days of what would become one of heavy metal’s most iconic solo careers. While it doesn’t reveal lost songs, it does reveal a glimpse of the raw energy and collaborative spirit that defined the birth of the Ozzy Osbourne solo project.
