Alex Van Halen has recently confirmed that discussions took place regarding a potential musical collaboration between himself, his brother Eddie Van Halen, and legendary rock vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. However, a significant twist in pop culture history ultimately prevented this pairing from materializing.
Rumors of Collaboration Confirmed
In a recent interview with Gastão Moreira of Brazil’s KazaGastão, Alex Van Halen addressed the long-circulated rumor of an Ozzy-Van Halen collaboration. He revealed that the idea advanced to the discussion phase but never progressed further due to unforeseen circumstances in Ozzy’s life at that time.
Why Didn’t the Ozzy Osbourne-Van Halen Brothers Album Ever Happen?
The relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and the Van Halen brothers has always been one of mutual respect. Notably, Black Sabbath took Van Halen on one of their early tours, fostering a friendship that lasted over the years. Consequently, it seemed natural for the Van Halens to reach out to Ozzy for collaboration.
During the interview, Alex recounted, “Ed and I met with Sharon [Osbourne] because we were kind of at a loss of which direction we wanted to go. That was probably around 2000, because it was right before the TV show. The next day they had that TV show.”
He spoke highly of Sharon, calling her “a lovely lady,” and shared that, by the end of their meeting, both parties were enthusiastic about the possibility. However, a pivotal moment arose during their discussion.
READ MORE: What Eddie Van Halen’s Favorite Black Sabbath Riff Was
“We got together and the final thing we talked about was she says, ‘Ok, sounds like a good idea. Let’s do that. Let’s make a record together. Only one thing. I have a meeting tomorrow with some people about a television show,'” Alex explained. “And the rest is history. That’s how close it got.”
Following this meeting, the Osbournes’ reality series was greenlit, which led to an increasingly busy schedule for Ozzy, ultimately derailing the potential collaboration with the Van Halen brothers.
Alex Van Halen Speaks With Brazil’s KazaGastão
What Else Has Been Said About the Ozzy-Van Halen Brothers Pairing?
The notion of an Ozzy-Van Halen collaboration has been revisited multiple times in conversations. In a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Alex reflected, “When you get a dog, you don’t expect it to be a cat. When you get an Ozzy, you get Ozzy. Play the music, he’ll sing and it’s gonna be great.”
He added, “It is something that if it had come to fruition, would have been phenomenal. Eddie and Alex were great friends of mine for a very long time, and it’s a regret of mine that we never got it together. The Osbournes got in the way of creating new music at that time, unfortunately.”
In a 2020 episode of SiriusXM’s Ozzy Speaks, Ozzy himself recounted a humorous incident where Eddie drunkenly called him, suggesting that he sing for Van Halen. “He phoned me up one time and asked me if I wanted to sing in his band — way after Sammy [Hagar had exited the band]. I think he was a bit drunk,” Ozzy recalled, adding, “We’ve all done one of them — calling at four o’clock in the morning.”
The potential collaboration would have taken place between Ozzy’s Ozzmosis album (1995) and his 2001 release, Down to Earth. Meanwhile, the Van Halen brothers were navigating their own transitions, having parted ways with Gary Cherone in 1999 after the Van Halen III album, and were still a few years away from reuniting with Sammy Hagar in 2003.
Conclusion
While the collaboration between Ozzy Osbourne and the Van Halen brothers never came to fruition, it remains a fascinating “what if” scenario in rock history. The mutual respect and camaraderie between these iconic musicians continue to be celebrated, even if the stars never aligned for them to create music together.
FAQs
1. Why was the Ozzy-Van Halen collaboration never realized?
The collaboration was discussed but ultimately fell apart due to Ozzy Osbourne’s commitments related to the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”
2. When did the discussions between the Van Halen brothers and Ozzy Osbourne take place?
The discussions occurred around the year 2000, just before the launch of “The Osbournes.”
3. How did Ozzy and Eddie Van Halen interact regarding a potential collaboration?
Ozzy mentioned a humorous incident where Eddie drunkenly suggested that he sing for Van Halen after Sammy Hagar left the band.
4. What was the relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen like?
There was a longstanding mutual respect and friendship, with Black Sabbath having taken Van Halen on tour early in their career.
