The roar of the crowd. Stadium lights blazing. Then—Ozzy.
At the Rams’ 2022 season opener, the halftime energy hit historic heights when Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Prince of Darkness, took the stage. The rock icon stunned fans with a high-octane performance that opened with his haunting single “Patient Number 9,” just one day before the album’s official release. Moments later, the crowd erupted as Ozzy launched into his timeless anthem “Crazy Train,” proving that age and adversity have only sharpened his edge.
The performance was more than entertainment—it was a declaration. Ozzy, now 73, stood tall, clad in a leather trench coat, surrounded by an all-star lineup featuring Zakk Wylde, Andrew Watt, Tommy Clufetos, and Jane’s Addiction’s Chris Cheney. As his voice cut through the stadium with fierce power, it was clear: the Prince of Darkness still reigns.
“Patient Number 9,” Ozzy’s thirteenth studio album, explores the inner turmoil of a mind unraveling inside a psychiatric hospital. Dark, poetic, and deeply personal, it marks one of his boldest musical ventures to date. Though he recently collaborated with Billy Morrison on 2024’s “Crack Cocaine,” this record stands as a defining moment in his late-career resurgence.
Ozzy’s journey to metal royalty began in 1968 when Black Sabbath emerged from Birmingham, England, pioneering the heavy metal genre with hits like “Paranoid” and “Iron Man.” After parting ways with the band in the late ’70s due to his turbulent lifestyle, Ozzy roared back with his solo debut Blizzard of Ozz in 1981. With guitar wizard Randy Rhoads by his side, he gave the world “Crazy Train” and proved that his solo career would be just as legendary.
In 2002, Ozzy broke new ground again—this time on television. The Osbournes, a reality show centered around his unpredictable family life with wife Sharon and their children, offered fans a raw, humorous look at the man behind the music. With a swing-style rendition of “Crazy Train” as its theme, the show added yet another layer to Ozzy’s larger-than-life persona.
In recent years, Ozzy has faced formidable health battles. A serious spinal injury in 2019 and a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020 led to the postponement of his farewell tour. He’s dealt with complications including blood clots and nerve pain. But through it all, he’s remained sober for over a decade and unwavering in his love for music.
His performance at the Rams game wasn’t just a comeback—it was a statement of resilience. With over 6.7 million views on YouTube and counting, fans around the world are celebrating a legend who refuses to fade. Ozzy Osbourne may have once joked, “I’ll retire when they nail the lid on my box—then I’ll blast out a f**ing encore,”* but after that electrifying show, it’s clear: the encore has only just begun.
