August 13, 2025
Tim McGraw wrote:
To Hell With Ozzy Osbourne: Paul Kengor
Hi Lew,
I think it was in January of 1971, I was 18, almost 19, when four of us hippies drove from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Wichita, Kansas, in a VW Beetle to see Black Sabbath in concert. It was about 0°F with blowing snow over the highway.
When we made it to Wichita, we had dinner in a diner, then went to the show. It was a small venue, just a thousand people (maybe). I don’t remember much about the show. All I remember was the freezing cold.
Mr. Kengor can chastise Ozzy Osbourne as much as he wishes, but it isn’t easy being a rock star on the road all the time. Ozzy grew up poor in London (I think). He came from nothing. The lead guitarist in Black Sabbath was brilliant. Ozzy had a good voice. What they really had was the stamina of the slums.
Perhaps if Mr. Kengor were in a tour bus going across America in winter from small city to small city playing music every night, he’d have a bit more compassion.
I’m frankly surprised that Ozzy made it to 76.
