In the summer of 2002, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Golden Jubilee, marking her 50th year on the British throne. The festivities were a blend of tradition and eccentricity, creating a memorable national celebration.
Picture Big Ben chiming in sync with flashing golden lights on Tower Bridge, while towns across the country played the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” in unison. But among these quirky celebrations, one event truly stood out: Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal, performing at Buckingham Palace.
Yes, you read that correctly. The “Prince of Darkness,” famous for his electrifying stage presence and infamous bat-biting incident, received a royal invitation to perform a Black Sabbath classic.
Ozzy Rocks the Palace
Ozzy wasn’t your typical choice for a royal celebration. On June 3rd, he joined the “Party At The Palace” mini-festival, part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee festivities. The lineup featured British pop royalty like Annie Lennox, Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton, and even Paul McCartney.
But Ozzy, known for his wild onstage antics, stood out as an unexpected addition. He later recounted the experience to Classic Rock magazine in 2008. He described the unusual list of rules at the venue, including instructions to avoid “foul language” and “abusive terms.” Joking about it, Ozzy said, “I’m thinking, I’m sure this ain’t for anybody else. ‘Don’t chase the animals.’ ‘Don’t throw anything in the lake’… unless you’ve got a brick tied to your neck.”
A Supergroup of British Rock Titans
Ozzy wasn’t alone in his unlikely royal performance. He was joined by his former bandmate, guitarist Tony Iommi. This reunion was particularly special as Black Sabbath had reformed in 1997.
For their performance of “Paranoid,” they were backed by the concert’s house band, with none other than Phil Collins on drums. The trio – Ozzy, Tony, and Phil – shredded through the Black Sabbath classic in front of the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and the rest of the royal family.
This historic performance cemented its place in rock and roll history. Check out the video below to witness this epic collaboration!
