Because the world mourns the lack of Ozzy Osbourne, one of the vital notorious tales from his legendary profession is resurfacing — a ‘cocaine duel’ with Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth in Nashville, Tennessee.
The wild ordeal practically sparked a riot in downtown Nashville.
Ozzy Osbourn VS. David Lee Roth: Who May Do Extra Cocaine?
In 1978, Black Sabbath and Van Halen had been touring collectively when Ozzy met his match in Roth.
The 2 frontmen determined to settle the age-old rock star query: Who might do extra blow?
Based on Roth’s 1997 memoir Crazy From the Heat, what adopted was “a tequila and cocaine contest that lasted for days.”
The celebration kicked off in Birmingham, Alabama and raged all the way into Nashville — with each males operating on fumes by the point they rolled into city.
What occurred subsequent would go down as one of the vital weird nights in touring folklore.
When Ozzy Osbourne Vanished in Nashville
On Nov. 9, 1978, Black Sabbath and Van Halen checked into their Nashville lodge forward of a present at Municipal Auditorium for a crowd of 10,000 followers.
Van Halen, the opening act, made it to soundcheck. Ozzy? He by no means confirmed.
Safety panicked. Rumors flew. Was he kidnapped? Misplaced? Hospitalized? Seems, the Prince of Darkness had merely wandered into the incorrect lodge room.
He’d apparently used his lodge key from the earlier night time in Birmingham (once more, Alabama — not Birmingham, England) to enter a room on the Nashville Hyatt that occurred to have the identical quantity.
A housekeeper supposedly let him in, and he instantly fell asleep — fully unaware he wasn’t even in the appropriate metropolis anymore.
The Riot That Nearly Was
With no signal of Ozzy, Van Halen stretched their set so long as they may — however ultimately, the present was canceled.
That’s when issues bought uncontrolled.
Followers started rioting inside Municipal Auditorium. Based on then-venue supervisor Bob Skoney (per The Tennessean), individuals hurled chairs into piles, tossed trash cans from the balcony and even tried to mild the curtains on fireplace.
Nobody was critically harm, however the venue took a beating earlier than police might settle issues down.
What Occurred After Ozzy Osbourne Disappeared in Nashville?
Whereas the bands braced for the worst, Ozzy casually stepped out of the lodge elevator at 6:30AM the subsequent morning — groggy, confused and really a lot alive.
Three days later, Black Sabbath and Van Halen returned to Nashville and made up the date.
Ozzy Osbourne + David Lee Roth + ‘Cocaine Duel’: Contained in the Evening Nashville Misplaced the Prince of Darkness
The rescheduled present kicked off a grueling 10-night stretch with no nights off. Roth would later name it one of the vital intense runs of his career.
Ozzy Osbourne Lifeless at 76
On July 22, Ozzy’s household confirmed that the rock icon had died peacefully on the age of 76.
“It’s with extra disappointment than mere phrases can convey that we’ve got to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has handed away this morning,” his spouse Sharon and youngsters Jack, Louis, Kelly and Aimee wrote in a press release.
“He was together with his household and surrounded by love.”
In recent times, the Black Sabbath frontman had battled quite a few well being points, together with Parkinson’s illness, a number of spinal surgical procedures, and persistent mobility challenges.
Nonetheless, his affect by no means pale — from “Iron Man” to “Loopy Practice,” Ozzy remained a towering power in rock music and popular culture.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Wild Trip By means of Music Metropolis
Ozzy might have belonged to the world — however Nashville still claims a wild chapter of his legacy.
That notorious night time in 1978 proves that Music Metropolis isn’t nearly rhinestones and nation appeal. Generally, it’s the positioning of full-throttle, blackout-fueled rock and roll mayhem.
g