Judas Priest singer Rob Halford explained why he believes Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne should be knighted.
The Black Sabbath frontman has had a sizeable impact on rock music, particularly heavy metal. He formed the band in 1968 alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
The band, who hail from Birmingham, are pioneers of the heavy metal genre, greatly influencing bands like Judas Priest. In a recent interview with Classic Rock magazine, Halford said, “If one person deserves a knighthood, it’s Ozzy Osbourne. Just for the joy he’s given people over the years.”
Halford has actively shared his love for the band for years, previously telling MTV, “They were and still are a groundbreaking band…you can put on the first Black Sabbath album, and it still sounds as fresh today as it did 30-odd years ago.”
He added, “And that’s because great music has a timeless ability: To me, Sabbath are in the same league as the Beatles or Mozart. They’re on the leading edge of something extraordinary.”
A campaign advocating for Osbourne to be knighted was made in 2014, which was signed by over 21,000 Black Sabbath fans.
Halford’s hopes for Osbourne to be knighted comes after the recent news that the singer will no longer tour due to his deteriorating health.
Last year, Judas Priest filled in for Osbourne at Power Trip in California, after he was forced to pull out of performing due to his health problems. They shared the bill with Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Tool, Metallica and AC/DC
When announcing his replacement, Osbourne said: “They are personal friends of mine and I can promise that you will not be disappointed.”
