I always look forward to a new Ozzy release because of the victory laps that the first two Randy Rhoads albums provided.

And Ozzy hit it out of the ballpark again with Zakk Wylde on “No More Tears”.

So Ozzy is finally releasing new music as a solo artist since 2010. In between there was a Black Sabbath album and a few tours to bring that era to a satisfying end.

And do we forgive and forget how Bob Daisley and Jake E. Lee got ripped on the publishing for the “Bark At The Moon” album?

Do we forgive and forget how the bass and drum parts of the classic RR albums got re-recorded for an anniversary release so Daisley and Kerslake don’t get any royalties?

Do we forgive and forget how “The Ultimate Sin” album will never get the anniversary treatment because that means Jake E. Lee and Bob Daisley will need to get paid?

The only song from that album still doing the rounds is “Shot In The Dark” and even though “Bark At The Moon” was written by Jake, Ozzy is listed as the songwriter. In other words, no cut which has Jake listed as the songwriter gets played live by Ozzy.

But that’s what we do. We forgive and forget, for to be human is to make mistakes, piss people off, to fall and to rise. And man Ozzy has fallen and risen so many times, and reinvented himself so many times, he has earned our attention and respect.

The song (which is also the title track) is written by Ozzy Osbourne, Andrew Watt (a guitarist/writer more known for his work with pop artists), Chad Smith from RHCP, Duff McKagan from GNR and Billy Walsh, who I have no idea who he is.

Slash plays guitar on the track. Elton John plays piano and does vocals on a verse. Like seriously, it’s a super group.

And Ozzy has done songs like this before. “Road To Nowhere” comes to mind, “Old LA Tonight” as well. “Dreamer” as well.

I was unprepared for fame
Then everybody knew my name

Nobody is prepared for it but when you take a guy out of gloomy Birmingham and send him to the US with hippies, flowers and cocaine, all hell broke loose.

Don’t forget me as the colors fade
When the lights go down it’s just an empty stage

The audience and the adulation, but what happens when the crowds are gone. The loneliness of the hotel room, the bus trip, the private plane. And all of the people, depending on you to deliver so you get paid and they get paid as well. It’s why so many artists turn to their addictions, because the highs then remain.

And the truth is I don’t wanna die an ordinary man

We will all die. That is certain. Some get to see old age and others don’t.

Ozzy pushed every limit, broke every rule and norm and even though he wanted to drink himself to death, he had people for better or worse, who kept him going. And for the amount of drugs and alcohol he’s consumed, people have died/overdosed for lesser amounts.

But Ozzy continues.

And did I mention the Slash plays on the song. His solos for these kind of “November Rain” style songs are just perfect.