Revisiting a stellar cover honoring Ozzy Osbourne.
Yesterday, the world was hit with the tragic news that Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, passed away at the age of 76. Just a few weeks after his final show in London, Osbourne took his final breath with his family surrounding him. The family shared the following statement on social media:
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
Over the last few years, Ozzy’s health had considerably deteriorated after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in February of 2019. Ozzy disclosed his diagnosis in 2020 and shared that the disease was significantly affecting his legs.
By the time Ozzy took the stage for his final performance, he sat down due to his inability to walk, but his voice sounded just as good as ever.
As we reflect on the life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne, it’s apparent that his music inspired artists of all genres, not just rock and roll. Carrie Underwood has been open about her admiration for the Prince of Darkness, but she’s just one of many artists who love Ozzy’s creative genius.
Back in 2024, Indiana-born singer Alex Williams paid homage to an artist he greatly admired, teaming up with Cody Jinks to cover Ozzy’s solo tune “Flying High Again.”
At the time of the single’s release, Alex Williams shared that this song is personal for him, given he’s a massive fan of Osbourne. Williams, who says he “grew up on ’80s hair metal,” wanted to preserve the roots of the song while adding his outlaw flair to the melody.
“I’ve always been a fan of all the Black Sabbath records, especially Ozzy’s solo stuff. ‘Flying High Again’ has always been a favorite of mine, and it was a lot of fun to work up my own version of this monster of a song. Also, an honor to have my friend Cody Jinks be a part of it.”
Cody Jinks shared similar sentiments when he was approached by Williams to be featured on the tune.
“Alex got a hold of me and asked if I would be a part of ‘Flying High Again.’ I said Hell Yeah. Alex and I have played a lot of shows together, and singing on an Ozzy song with him makes all the sense in the world!
Jinks, who is also a fan of classic rock and roll, most recently covering AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock’N’Roll),” was the perfect addition to this tune.
Ozzy Osbourne released “Flying High Again” in 1981 as part of his second solo album, Diary of a Madman. The aggressive guitar shreds on the track struck a chord with fans, bringing commercial success to the tune. “Flying High Again” eventually reached the number two position on the Billboard Top Tracks chart for rock music and related styles in 1982.
While Ozzy Osbourne’s stylings do not lend themselves to country music, William brilliantly incorporates a twangy guitar riff into the song that mimics the original melody, softening it to fit his respective genre. Williams’ thick, smooth, and rich vocals coat your ears in the first verse and chorus before Jinks joins him in the second verse.
The two men shred it on their guitars, just like Ozzy does in the original recording, before bringing it home with the final lines of the tune.
“Mamma’s going to worry
I’ve been a bad, bad boy
No use saying sorry
It’s something that I enjoy
Flying high again
Flying high again
Flying high again
Flying high again….”
This cover is a perfect example of taking a classic tune and making it your own. Turn this one all the way up.
Long live Ozzy Osbourne.
