Fans recall Ozzy Osbourne’s performance in Kitchener 44 years ago

Al Ridley posed with an autographed program from the Ozzy Osbourne 'Blizzard of Ozz' tour stop in Kitchener, Ont. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

As people around the world mourn the loss of the ‘Prince of Darkness,’ people in Waterloo Region are fondly remembering a stop he made in Kitchener exactly 44 years ago.

On Tuesday, Ozzy Osbourne’s family confirmed the death of the music icon and frontman of Black Sabbath.

On July 23, 1981, shortly after he had been kicked out of the band, Osbourne made a solo appearance at Centre In the Square for his ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ tour.

“He was you and me. He wasn’t this big huge rock star – he didn’t hold court with his people,” Al Ridley recalled. “Seeing this guy out on stage who suddenly became somebody else, with the white jumpsuit and the white tassels off the arms and the screaming – and this was Centre In the Square!”

“I was thinking, Centre In The Square - everyone sits in their chairs and they’re comfortable and they listen to the KW Orchestra or cultural events. And here’s this rock ‘n roll mad man,” he said.

Ridley can still picture the crowd holding up their fists and flashing devil horns as the deafening music enveloped the crowd.

“It was a fantastic evening of theater,” Ridley said.

Ridley was just 15-years-old at the time and was part of a catering group for the event. He still has an autographed program from the performance.

Ridley told CTV about an experience few others can lay claim to: in the green room, he watched his friend’s mom ask Osbourne to stop swearing so much.

Later, he had a more personal moment with the musician.

“At the far end of the hall, Ozzy Osbourne and his manager come walking out, and they walk down the hall towards us. I thought this is the opportunity. So I said, ‘Hey Ozzy can you sign my program?’ ‘Yeah, sure mate, sure.’ And he signs the program, gave me a pat on the shoulder and walked on,” Ridley said.

While Ridley didn’t think too much of it at the time, it’s a memory he cherishes to this day.

Sean Jasmins was 16-years-old when he saw the show in Kitchener. Jasmins said the performance was amazing and included Randy Rhoads on guitar.

“I remember our seats were front row balcony, Ozzy and Randy rocked the house!” Jasmins said in an email. “I was a big fan and expectations were high. Ozzy delivered with a blistering show!”

Jasmins told CTV News it may have been the first rock act to play at Centre In The Square, and he recalls hearing the venue didn’t book any rock shows for quite awhile after that.

Mark Logan, who is now the owner of Encore Records Ltd., was also there in 1981. He was 17-years-old at the time and stood at the front of the packed crowd.

“It was amazing. At the time, we didn’t know. It was his first tour before he did big rooms. It was sort of testing things out. Band was great. [We] got to see Randy Rhoads,” Logan said. “Ozzy, I remember, came out across the stage, shook hands. His hands were really sweaty, and I remember him standing at centre stage, shaking and not really moving as he’s known now for running around and clapping and ‘go crazy.’ He was pretty scared.”

Logan calls Osbourne’s passing incredibly bittersweet after he performed with Black Sabbath earlier this month.

“For him to get to experience that level of adoration that normally you see after you pass, I think it was really special,” Logan said. “It was one of those things where you wouldn’t be shocked if you heard it. But yet, conversely, never expected to hear it because he just kept going no matter what happened to him.”

Logan said customers are now looking for Black Sabbath and Ozzy albums at the store. Industry experts say Ozzy’s legacy will always live on.

“The influence of that music led every other rock band to follow, from Guns N’ Roses to Metallica to Motley Crue and Poison right up until Green Day, and every 16-year-old kid that picks up a guitar now is eventually going to get into Black Sabbath and Ozzy. That’s just the power of the influence that they have,” Eric Alper, a music industry expert said.