Did anyone expect less?

Billboard.com wrote a story recently about Ozzy's recent announcement that he will be headlining OzzFest this year. What kind of OzzFest would it be without him, is what I always thought. OzzFest is a great summer all day event that has definitely had its ups and downs. There are many fans out there that will go each year no matter what the line up is. In fact, I am sure they have just as much fun. It is the atmosphere that makes the concert so much fun. However, some of us save our money for the best line-ups to get our money's worth.

Not much to say about that this past year, since the show was free. Personally, this didn't motivate me to go. It would be nice to see a show for free that ten years ago I was willing to pay over $80 for. However, a free show almost scares me away. For one, I don't want to have to worry about how I get one of these free tickets. Two, will I really be getting what I paid for?

The real reason to write about Ozzy is in response to Sharon Osbourne's brother, David Arden's comment. Arden made statements to the British press saying that Sharon would make Ozzy tour until he dies on the stage. Well, what response do I have about this? -- He better damn well die on stage! When he does, it will not be Sharon's fault at all. It is her job to make sure he continues to get out there and push these tours. What true rock star would want anything less than to die on stage? As with the late great Dimebag Darrell, as tragic as the loss was, few will ever say that they actually died on stage. This puts true meaning to the saying "Die with your boots on".

Of course, Ozzy's response was that his wife does not control his work and it is up to him to continue to tour. One would hope that he still loves to do what he was obviously put on this Earth to do. Sure there is some motivation from his wife, but I know for a fact that she is the first to make Ozzy cancel a concert when he is feeling under the weather.

Anyone who would criticize the hard work that Ozzy continues to put into his work is just trying to kill rock n' roll. His brother-in-law has no incentive to be looking out for Ozzy's, or Metal's, well being. Rather, only wanting to raise controversy to try to make the family look bad.

All I can say is, no matter what I think about the music he is producing, Ozzy is a lifetime icon that should never be held back. His contributions to the music industry out-match most other musicians. Even if the family did fall into the Reality TV trap. Which I must say like all reality TV, never really portrays much to reality, and in the case of The Osbournes, ended around the time the true reality of teen drug addiction and eating disorders set in. (Which opens up to a whole different rant.) The point is, as human as he may be, Ozzy is and always will be a true metal God. With true to heart hardships throughout his life, he has proven that even when things are horribly bad, the strong may overcome, and just because one hill is overcome, all the fame in the world will not lift you over the rest of the hills unharmed.

In short, anyone that wants to criticize Ozzy, should first look at their own life and ask themselves if they have even done 1% of the accomplishments of Ozzy.