As he prepares to say his final goodbye to the stage, Ozzy Osbourne—the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness—is reflecting not on the chaos, the controversy, or even the heavy metal empire he helped build. Instead, he’s talking about something far more vulnerable.
Meeting Paul McCartney, he says, was “like seeing God.”
And coming from Ozzy, that means everything.
Before the Bat. Before Black Sabbath. There Were The Beatles.
Long before the world knew him as a rock legend, Ozzy Osbourne was just a working-class kid growing up in Birmingham, England. Life wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. Money was tight. The future felt uncertain. Like so many kids in post-war Britain, he was surrounded by gray skies and limited opportunities.
Then came The Beatles.
When Ozzy first heard their music, something shifted. It wasn’t just catchy melodies or screaming fans on television. It was possibility. It was proof that ordinary boys from Liverpool—boys not so different from him—could change the world with guitars and songs.
That realization lit a fire.
“The Beatles gave me hope,” Ozzy has said in various interviews over the years. And now, as he prepares for his farewell to touring, that gratitude feels even more profound. They weren’t just a favorite band. They were the reason he believed music could be a lifeline.
The Moment That Felt Divine
For decades, Ozzy built a legacy that reshaped rock music. Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal. His solo career became the stuff of legend. Stadiums filled. Records broke. Myths multiplied.
But idols don’t disappear just because you become one.
So when Ozzy finally met Paul McCartney, the experience didn’t feel like a casual industry encounter. It felt surreal. Overwhelming. Sacred.
“Like seeing God,” he said.
Imagine that for a second. One of the most influential figures in rock history—someone who inspired generations himself—reduced to awe in the presence of the man who inspired him.
It’s a powerful reminder that no matter how high you climb, the people who first showed you the sky still matter.
Music as Escape, Music as Salvation
Ozzy’s story has always carried elements of darkness—addiction, health struggles, personal battles. The chaos became part of his public persona. But behind the theatrics has always been something deeper: a man who genuinely loves music.
The Beatles didn’t just entertain him. They gave him direction.
In a world that felt small and suffocating, their songs opened doors. They proved that creativity could be a ticket out. That you didn’t have to accept the hand you were dealt. That imagination was powerful enough to rewrite your story.
Without The Beatles, there may never have been Black Sabbath. Without that spark, heavy metal as we know it might look very different.
The ripple effect is staggering.
Even Legends Have Legends
There’s something beautifully human about seeing your heroes through the eyes of someone you consider a hero.
We tend to think of icons as larger than life—untouchable, self-made forces of nature. But moments like this peel back the curtain. They remind us that greatness is often born from admiration. That inspiration is cyclical.
Paul McCartney inspired Ozzy Osbourne.
Ozzy Osbourne inspired countless others.
And the chain continues.
It’s not about ego. It’s about gratitude.
A Final Bow, Full Circle
As Ozzy prepares for his final performances, emotions are understandably high. Health challenges have slowed him down physically, but his connection to music remains fierce.
Reflecting on The Beatles at this stage of his life feels poetic. The band that ignited his dream is now part of the story he’s telling as he steps away from the spotlight.
From a kid staring at the television in awe…
To a global rock icon standing backstage, shaking hands with his hero…
To a legend himself, looking back with gratitude.
It’s full circle.
The Bigger Lesson
Ozzy’s words resonate beyond rock history. They tap into something universal: we all have that moment. That person. That song. That spark that makes us believe life can be bigger than our circumstances.
Sometimes, meeting the source of that spark feels overwhelming. Almost spiritual.
“Like seeing God.”
For Ozzy Osbourne, The Beatles weren’t just a band. They were proof that dreams were possible. That noise could become art. That chaos could become creation.
And as the curtain slowly closes on one of rock’s wildest, most enduring careers, it’s fitting that the story ends where it began—with a young boy who dared to believe because four lads from Liverpool showed him how.