Before His Death, Ozzy Osborne Revealed The 5 Artists He Hated The Most

When the world learned of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, the tributes were endless. The “Prince of Darkness” left behind a legacy that shaped heavy metal, influenced countless bands, and inspired generations of musicians. But true to his brutally honest nature, Ozzy shocked fans one last time before his death by revealing the five artists he truly couldn’t stand. It wasn’t just about the music. For Ozzy, these names represented something deeper—conflicts of attitude, philosophy, and respect for the craft.

Fans were stunned. Who could make Ozzy, the man who bit the head off a bat on stage, hold such grudges? Let’s dive into the five artists he disliked the most—and why these feuds cut so deep.

Ozzy Osbourne: A Legacy of Grit and Greatness

Before the drama, it’s important to understand the man himself. For more than five decades, Ozzy Osbourne was a titan of heavy metal. His raw voice became the anthem for outsiders, and his music—dark, heavy, and full of emotion—changed rock forever. From the gloomy riffs of Black Sabbath in the late ‘60s to his wildly successful solo career, Ozzy proved that chaos and art could coexist.

He gave fans not just music, but an identity. His stage presence was explosive, his lyrics explored fear, redemption, and love, and his honesty about addiction and struggles made him relatable. Festivals like Ozzfest opened doors for countless bands, shaping the metal scene for decades. Twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ozzy was more than an artist—he was a cultural force.

Yet even legends have their breaking points. Behind the charisma and madness, Ozzy kept a list—names of people who, for one reason or another, crossed the line. And when he finally spoke, the rock world trembled.

1. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)

The feud between Ozzy and Iron Maiden’s frontman Bruce Dickinson is rock history. It all blew up during Ozzfest 2005. Bruce strutted into the tour with confidence—too much confidence for Ozzy’s taste. Rumors swirled about Dickinson mocking the festival, the setup, and even Ozzy himself during his sets.

For Ozzy, the stage was sacred. Ozzfest wasn’t just a gig—it was his lifeblood. So when Bruce’s comments surfaced, it felt personal. Sharon Osbourne, who co-ran the festival, famously clashed with Dickinson, escalating the tension into a full-blown public feud.

To Ozzy, Bruce wasn’t just being arrogant—he was disrespecting everything Ozzy had built. From that point on, Dickinson wasn’t just another singer. He became a symbol of betrayal, and Ozzy never forgave him.

2. Gene Simmons (KISS)

On paper, Ozzy and Gene Simmons should have been kindred spirits—two rock icons with decades of success. In reality, they were worlds apart. While Ozzy lived for the music, Gene lived for the brand. From lunchboxes to comic books, Simmons turned KISS into a marketing machine, and Ozzy hated that approach.

“Rock is about feeling,” Ozzy once said in an interview. “It’s not about selling toys.” Simmons’ constant focus on business and money clashed with Ozzy’s belief in raw authenticity.

What really sealed the dislike? Gene’s harsh comments about addiction and mental health—issues Ozzy had battled his whole life. To Ozzy, it wasn’t just tone-deaf. It was cruel. Over the years, the gap widened, and any respect Ozzy once had for Simmons evaporated.

 3. Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

This one shocked fans. After all, Ozzy had often expressed admiration for The Beatles, calling them his first real inspiration. But while he loved the band, his feelings toward Paul McCartney soured over time.

Why? Ozzy believed Paul became too polished, too safe after The Beatles split. To him, McCartney’s solo work lacked the fire that once made rock dangerous. The relentless praise McCartney received didn’t help either. “It felt like Paul could breathe and people would call him a genius,” Ozzy reportedly joked.

For a man who clawed his way from Birmingham’s factories to global stardom, watching someone glide effortlessly through fame—and still dominate the spotlight—was infuriating. Ozzy saw McCartney as a symbol of a music world that rewarded charm over grit.

4. The Sex Pistols

Ozzy was never shy about his opinion of punk, and the Sex Pistols bore the brunt of his disdain. While many hailed them as revolutionaries, Ozzy saw them as posers. To him, their shock tactics and chaotic shows were empty rebellion—noise without meaning.

He came from a world where music was survival, where every lyric came from pain and experience. The Pistols, in his view, skipped the struggle and went straight for headlines. Their rise felt like a cheat, and their quick collapse only proved his point.

“They didn’t build anything,” Ozzy once said. “They just came in, smashed things up, and left.” In a career built on endurance and evolution, Ozzy had no respect for a band that burned out before they really began.

5. Boy George

The final name on Ozzy’s list raised eyebrows everywhere: Boy George. The flamboyant pop star of Culture Club seemed to exist in another universe from Ozzy’s dark kingdom. But that was exactly the problem.

Ozzy couldn’t stand the glitz, the bright colors, the polished pop image. To him, Boy George represented everything fake about the music industry—style over substance, image over emotion.

“It felt like music had turned into a fashion show,” Ozzy once said. “That’s not what it’s supposed to be.” Their paths crossed at events, but Ozzy kept his distance. He respected struggle, rawness, and rebellion. In his eyes, Boy George was a costume, not a musician.

The Final Word

Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just a musician—he was a mirror for the music world. His likes and dislikes told us what he valued most: authenticity, effort, and respect for the stage. Whether you agree with his grudges or not, one thing’s clear: Ozzy never played it safe. He spoke his mind, lived his truth, and left behind a legacy that will echo long after the amps go silent.

As for the five artists who earned his ire? They’re just another part of the wild, untamed story of the man who gave heavy metal its soul—and never let anyone tell him how to live it.