As you have probably heard, Ozzy Osbourne has died on July 22, 2025, just a couple of weeks after his farewell show, and a week after his last public appearance. His splendid career had so many crossovers with the Purple family that we had to consult the experts to catch many of them besides the obvious. The obvious are Don Airey and Bob Daisley. The not-so-obvious include Bernie Torme, who stood in at a handful of shows after Randy Roads’ death, Whitesnake’s Rudy Sarzo & Tommy Aldridge, Lee Kerslake, who later played in Living Loud with Don Airey and Steve Morse, and Glenn Hughes, who claimed to have been involved in the early version of Blizzard of Oz (Ozzy himself denied that). Not to mention that Ozzy was replaced in Black Sabbath by Ronnie James Dio, who was succeeded by Ian Gillan, and eventually by Glenn Hughes.

Tributes to the Prince of Darkness have poured in from all walks of life — from Kermit the Frog to Pat Boone.

Here is a lovely anecdote shared by Don Airey:

Ozzy: the world without you is suddenly a little smaller and much quieter. Thanks for those wonderful years on tour in the 80s. I remember the first Rock in Rio Festival 1985 with you sat at the bar complaining of 15 years travelling the world and all you’d ever seen were gigs and hotels. So you and me took a taxi up to Christo Redemptor, the huge statue that overlooks the city and climbed the 200+ steps to the top, the view from which was absolutely astounding. That was until we looked down to the base of the statue and saw our tour manager and security frantically scurrying about. We were duly whisked away to a photo shoot on Ipanema beach, which involved you cavorting in the waves with 50 stuffed piranha fish. Next day, a gig in front of 350,000 people sharing a bill with Queen, Scorpions and Whitesnake.. As you used to say, not bad for a boy from Aston. Rest in peace old mate. Our deepest sympathies to Sharon and the family.

Don & Doris Airey

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A post shared by Don Airey (@donaireykeys)

Ian Gillan’s tribute is short and sweet:

Dear Ozzy,

I can’t help smiling, even now.
You improved my life,

Thanks mate.
ig

Blabbermouth has a quote from Bob Daisley:

This is a sad day and it has brought me to tears. When I reminisce about Ozzy’s and my times together, I think about the fun, the laughs and of course what we created together musically, which will live much longer than these mortal bodies that we inhabit.

My condolences to everyone who you’ve left behind, Ozzy. Nothing can change the true friendship that we once had; I’ll see you ‘on the other side’.

David Coverdale also chimed in:

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

My Sincere Condolences To Sharon, The Family, Friends & Fans…💔💔💔

[Update Jul 24] Ritchie BlacKmore sends a carrier pidgeon:

I had the good fortune to meet Ozzy a couple of times. He was a very humble man with no rock and roll attitude. I think he was very grateful to be doing what he loved. He had a melodic, warm and harmonious voice over hard rock tracks and it worked out incredibly well without having to resort to screaming over the music. A wonderful way of singing. The late 80s was my favourite period but that is just my opinion. His home show was my favorite. It reminded me of Faulty Towers. I make it a habit of trying not to smile and laugh very much but Ozzy made me crack up with laughter on his show every time I saw it. It was so honest. I think that’s what people loved about him.
Our hearts go out to Ozzys family. Candice and I share your grief. We have lost a brilliant singer, a great musician and a wonderful family man. Rest in peace Ozzy. #ozzy #rip #ozzyosbourne

Thanks to Doug, Tim, metaljim, and Trond for their wisdom.

Another track from Gillan’s performance at Rock Goes To College from February 23, 1981, has been posted. Here’s Big Ian seeking Vengeance. Continue Reading »

A live cover of Burn performed by Japanese kids Continue Reading »

A couple of historical clips.

The first one is about Mark 3, with snippets of contemporary interviews from Glenn Hughes and Ritchie Blackmore:

The second one is a report on the 1975 Sunbury Festival from Australian TV, including an interview with Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes:

Thanks to Ritchie Blackmore Official channel for posting these.

A new book about the 1980 bogus Purple debacle is available from a print-on-demand house Lulu Press. It is also said to be going out to regular retailer channels at the end of September.

In 1980, greed was good and you could get away with stealing just about anything, even a band name.

At the end of the 1970s, Rod Evans, the little known original singer of Deep Purple decided to relaunch the classic rock band for a continental American tour.

The only problem was that Evans reformed the group with no other original members and he had a very dubious legal claim to the band name.

What ensued was a tour plagued with bad performances, crowd riots, on-stage fighting and court cases.

The tour has become something of a legend among the fans of the band.

Using over 200 newspaper, book and magazine sources plus dozens of filmed interviews and brand new testimonies from people who were actually there, Steve McLean attempts to find out what actually happened.

“They all had something down their spandex pants. We couldn’t tell if it was vegetable or plastic…. Every time I watch that scene in Spinal Tap, I think of Deep Purple in 1980.” – Llory McDonald, Support Act.

What: Stealing Deep Purple: The Unbelievably True Story of the Most Audacious Stunt in Rock & Roll
Author: Steve McLean
When: July 9, 2025
Where: Lulu Press
ISBN: 9781300131847
Format: A5 (5.83 × 8.27 in / 148 × 210 mm) paperback, 373 pages
Price: € 18.10 + shipping

Thanks to BraveWords for the heads-up.

The official teaser for the season 5 of Netflix horror/fantasy series Stranger Things has a familiar theme for the soundtrack Continue Reading »

Louder Sound teases us with a Glenn Hughes interview slated to appear in an upcoming issue of the Classic Rock magazine.

Hughes’ latest solo album, Chosen, is set for release on September 5. It’s the first record to bear his name since 2016’s Resonate, but he tells Classic Rock that it may be the last.

“This may be the last Glenn Hughes solo album,” he says. “It was suggested that I needed to do one for the label, I owed them an album. So I thought, ‘OK, if that‘s the way it’s going to be’, and I wrapped my head around it.

“If I’ve got something else to say, then I’ll let you know, but I don’t know if i will have,” he tells CR. “I’m not going to retire, but making a solo album tears me up. They’re so personal, they just do a number on me.

Read more in Louder Sound.

A vintage interview Ritchie Blackmore gave to Melbourne radio in November 1976. Continue Reading »

A second single Voice In My Head from the upcoming Glenn Hughes’ solo album Chosen has been released. Continue Reading »

A music video for the Highway Star from Tokyo, August 17, 1972, has been released in anticipation of the Made in Japan remix due out in August. Continue Reading »