Ozzy Osbourne’s bold naming of the seven artists he **“hated the most”** at age 76 sent shockwaves through the music world—yet, for a man known as the “Prince of Darkness,” it wasn’t entirely out of character. Below is a deep dive into each figure he called out, the context behind the animosity, and enduring implications for Osbourne’s legacy.
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## 1. Ronnie James Dio 🎤
### A Feud Forged in Metal
After Ozzy was booted from Black Sabbath in 1979, Dio stepped in. The two quickly clashed, with Dio blasting Ozzy’s ego and musical ability as “stupid” and “devoid of intelligence” ([iloveclassicrock.com][1]).
Dio once said of Ozzy:
> “Replying to them… is like dueling with an unarmed man.” ([iloveclassicrock.com][1])
This rivalry wasn’t just personal—it was very public, laying bare former bandmates turned enemies.
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## 2. Bill Ward 🥁
### A Brotherhood Breached
Osbourne’s relationship with original Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has been rocky. Ward declined reunion tours over pay disagreements and accused Ozzy of spreading “inaccurate statements” ([iloveclassicrock.com][1]).
Their communication broke down as Ozzy publicly questioned Ward’s fitness to perform ([iloveclassicrock.com][1]), keeping this fallout alive.
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## 3. Don Arden
### Family Feud’s Fallout
Don Arden—Sharon Osbourne’s father and the band’s original manager—became enemy number one after Sharon replaced him. In 1985, Arden sued Ozzy for slander and financial interference ([grunge.com][2], [iloveclassicrock.com][1]).
The family business dispute went public, with decades of bitterness following Arden’s departure.
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## 4. Bob Daisley
### Credit and Cash Conflict
Bob Daisley played bass and wrote songs on *Blizzard of Ozz* and *Diary of a Madman*, only to be removed from remastered editions in 2002. He sued Ozzy twice over royalties and credits ([iloveclassicrock.com][1]), winning credits in 1986 but haunting the camps again in 2016.
Ozzy’s camp erased Daisley from their own history—indicative of deep resentment.
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## 5. Neil Carter
### A Drummer Who Disdained the Prince
Neil Carter of UFO called Ozzy’s performance talent into question, writing Ozzy had “no appeal” and succeeded only due to his supporting musicians ([iloveclassicrock.com][1], [musictimes.com][3]).
Carter’s harsh dismissal tapped into a toxic vein of rivalry and jealousy in rock circles.
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## 6. Kanye West
### Clash of Culture and Ethics
In 2024, Ozzy refused permission for Kanye West to sample Black Sabbath songs, citing West’s antisemitism. When Ye used the sample anyway and sparked outrage, Ozzy declared:
> “He is an antisemite… I want no association with this man.” ([businessinsider.com][4])
> This wasn’t about music—it was about moral stance, making it deeply personal.
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## 7. James Hetfield & Dave Mustaine
### Metal vs. Metal
Though less documented, tension simmered between Ozzy and other iconic metal peers. Critics accuse him of “petty or excessive attacks,” especially targeting Iron Maiden (tour conflicts) and Metallica’s James Hetfield (bus parking dramas) ([celebhatelove.com][5]).
Rather than unite metal legends, these clashes highlighted Ozzy’s volatile charisma.
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## Why Now—At Age 76?
At this stage, Ozzy is confronting mortality and legacy. His recent Parkinson’s diagnosis (announced March 2020) may have emboldened him to speak his truth .
Moreover, his disputes over royalties, respect, and authenticity span decades. Perhaps now he feels the time is right for unfiltered honesty.
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## The Broader Picture
| Rival | Source of Conflict | Status |
| ——————- | ———————— | ——————- |
| Ronnie Dio | Creative ownership & ego | Feud unresolved |
| Bill Ward | Reunion disagreements | Standoff |
| Don Arden | Family/business split | Litigation |
| Bob Daisley | Songwriting royalties | Legal battles |
| Neil Carter | Talent accusations | Critical rebuke |
| Kanye West | Sampling + antisemitism | Public condemnation |
| Hetfield & Mustaine | Rivalries/tour tension | Lingering grudges |
These feuds revolve around recurring themes: **legacy**, **control**, **authorship**, and **morality**.
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## Fan & Industry Reaction
### Divided but Declared
* Some applaud Ozzy’s **fearlessness**: at 76, he’s unfiltered.
* Others criticize him for **burning bridges** late in life.
Reddit commentary captures this divide:
> “Ozzy developed a major inferiority complex towards Dio… going so far as to hire a dwarf to call himself Ronnie on stage… fraudulently interfering…” ([thesun.co.uk][6], [reddit.com][7])
> Yet fans also defend Ozzy’s right to **speak truth**, no matter how uncomfortable.
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## Redemption or Ruin?
Despite his candid call-outs, Ozzy remains an enduring metal figure. His “Prince of Darkness” brand thrives even as he fights Parkinson’s ([thesun.co.uk][6]).
He’s also critical of the term “heavy metal,” insisting it lacks meaning and isn’t how he views his music ([faroutmagazine.co.uk][8])—a revelation that reframes his rebellion as **artistic independence**, not just controversy.
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## Final Verdict
At 76, Ozzy Osbourne remains the same volatile, unapologetic force he’s always been—only now, there’s no filter. His naming of music’s greatest rivals is more than a countdown; it’s a reflection of battles fought over **authorship**, **respect**, and **identity** in an industry he helped define.
He may be angry, bitter, even vulnerable—but he’s never silent.
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### Could this be Ozzy’s last word?
It might be. But if 50 years have taught us anything, it’s that Ozzy never goes quietly. As he once bit the head off a bat onstage and built an empire on shock and charisma, so too does he now claim his right to offense and truth.
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