SAN ANTONIO — Legendary rock and roller and ‘Prince of Darkness’ Ozzy Osbourne passed away Tuesday morning at age 76. His death comes just weeks after he reunited with his Black Sabbath band mates for a farewell show on July 5.
While Osbourne is known globally for his pioneering musical talents and wild onstage antics, he shares a special history with the Alamo City and the Alamo itself.
Back in 1982, a drunken Osbourne infamously relieved himself on the Alamo Cenotaph in Downtown San Antonio —landing him in the Bexar County Jail on the same night he was slated to perform at a sold out show in town.
We spoke with concert promoter and Stone City Attractions President Jack Orbin, who remembers going down to the county jail to bail Ozzy out that night.
“I got him out of jail posting a bond of $40 for public intoxication and we were off to the sold out concert that night at the Hemisfair Arena,” Orbin said.
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Despite his run in with authorities and subsequent temporary ban from the city, Ozzy turned it around with an official apology in 1992 and even donated $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic in Texas, who were caretakers of the Alamo at the time.
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The Alamo released a statement Tuesday reflecting on the rock star’s changing history with the beloved landmark and expressed their sadness at the news of his passing.
“At the Alamo, we honor history in all its complexities. Today, we acknowledge Ozzy Osbourne’s journey from regret to reconciliation at the historic site, and we extend our condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world. May he rest in peace.”
We also spoke with local radio personality and former KISS-FM DJ Chuck Stanley, who interviewed the star many times over the years. He reflected on Ozzy’s deep ties to the city, also dubbed the “Heavy Metal Capital of the World.”
He had a love affair with the city because the city embraced him and he embraced the city because this city is just rock and roll to its core, and has been since the 70s, and all the way through the Joe Anthony era, all the way through the era of San Antonio radio. So he’s just loved and he will be missed,” Stanley said.
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and his children.