Austin Musicians Remember Ozzy Osbourne, Dead at 76

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at age 76. The news comes just three weeks after his farewell show in Birmingham, England on July 5. Austin musicians have posted remembrances on social media upon learning the news.

The rockstar has a sordid history with the Lone Star State. The night before Black Sabbath was slated to play San Antonio’s HemisFair Arena in 1982, Osbourne was jailed for urinating on the side of the Alamo’s Cenotaph and subsequently banned from the city for a decade. He later returned to San Antonio and donated $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas who manage the Alamo’s upkeep as an apology.

Osbourne played Austin as a solo artist numerous times throughout the 1980s and '90s at venues including Austin Opry House, Southpark Meadows, Frank Erwin Center and Austin Music Hall. In 2013, he performed with Black Sabbath at the Frank Erwin Center.

Austin's Brown Sabbath offered a Texas salute to Ozzy

Greg Gonzales, a member of the Austin band Brownout, a band that also toured as a Latin-infused Black Sabbath cover band called "Brown Sabbath," posted a picture of the crew posing with Osbourne on Instagram with the caption "RIP." Brown Sabbath released two projects in 2014: an EP with covers of "The Wizard" and "Hand of Doom," and the album "Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath."

The "Crazy Train" singer even gave Brown Sabbath his stamp of approval. In a 2016 Boston Globe article, he called their cover of his songs "a lot of fun." Brown Sabbath got a chance to meet and play a show for Osbourne and his son Jack Osbourne at Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon in 2017 when the pair was filming an episode of their show "Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour." In the episode, Osbourne praised the group’s unique premise and told Rolling Stone that the band had "a good vibe."

Austin producer recalls working with Ozzy Osbourne

British-born, Austin-based mix engineer and producer Tim Palmer worked with Osbourne on the singer's eighth studio album "Down To Earth" in 2001 for the single "Get Me Through."

"Shocked at this news right now. Ozzy was not only a legendary vocalist but also a kind, sweet man," Palmer wrote in a tribute posted to Instagram. "So many fond memories. Sending love and condolences to his whole family."

After his farewell show on July 5, Palmer congratulated Osbourne on his retirement.

"What an extraordinary career. People sometimes forget that being a legendary vocalist means more than just hitting the right notes. It's about having a voice with unmistakable character and being able to perform with emotion," Palmer wrote on Instagram. "Ozzy has one of the most instantly recognizable voices I've ever had the honor to record. He is a true original in every sense."

"Working with Tim on this album reminded me of [late guitarist] Randy [Rhoads]," Osbourne said of Palmer in a 2002 Classic Rock magazine article. "If it hadn't been for him, there wouldn't have been an album ... He has incredible patience, just like Randy."

Members of Austin's boutique booking agency Resound Presents were also fans. The company posted on Instagram: "RIP to THE Icon. There can only be one and Ozzy was it. Inventor of an entire genre of music that dominated the entire word. Thank you for everything."