Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan recently opened up about what makes Ozzy Osbourne such a compelling frontman — and his take is both unexpected and deeply personal. In an interview with Louder Sound, McKagan explained that Ozzy’s greatness doesn’t lie in mythic perfection, but in something far more powerful: relatability.
When asked what sets the Black Sabbath icon apart from other legendary vocalists, McKagan responded candidly:
“He made it seem like anyone could get up and sing,” McKagan said. “Not that he’s not a great singer — he is.”
To illustrate his point, McKagan drew a sharp contrast with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant:
“But Robert Plant — I can’t sing like that,” he continued. “But Ozzy? He was one of us.”
That distinction lies at the heart of how McKagan sees Ozzy — not as a distant rock god, but as a raw, authentic figure who connected with fans through presence, not perfection. This admiration is more than casual fandom. McKagan has described Ozzy as “a constant in his life since he was about six years old,” as reported by Blabbermouth. Ozzy’s music wasn’t just an influence — it was a blueprint.
That early impact would eventually lead to a powerful professional collaboration decades later. In 2020, McKagan joined forces with Ozzy on his album Ordinary Man, alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and producer Andrew Watt. Recorded over just four days, the project revealed a natural chemistry that transcended generations and genres.
McKagan’s respect for Ozzy also reflects a broader appreciation for Black Sabbath’s foundational role in heavy music. As he told Louder Sound, “Sabbath were there for me before punk.” Their unpolished, gritty sound struck a chord with McKagan, who grew up immersed in Seattle’s raw music scene.
All of this helps explain why Duff McKagan doesn’t place Ozzy on the same pedestal as the larger-than-life frontmen of classic rock — not because Ozzy isn’t worthy, but because his power lies elsewhere. Ozzy didn’t ascend to rock stardom by being unreachable. He did it by being real.
To McKagan, that’s what makes Ozzy timeless: a frontman who showed generations of musicians and fans that you don’t have to be flawless to be legendary — you just have to be yourself.
