The Power of Music and the Grief of Losing Our Idols: Thank You, Ozzy

How one legend reminded me why music is my lifeline — and why I refuse to give up on where I belong.

Music has a way of reaching into our souls in ways words can’t. It connects us, it heals us, and it becomes the light that cuts through even our darkest days. For some of us, music isn’t just something we listen to it's something we live and breathe. It’s the rhythm that keeps us moving when everything else feels heavy.

Watching Ozzy Osbourne’s documentaries and listening to his audiobook Last Rites showed me just how powerful that connection truly is. Through his story, we saw a man who grew up with nothing, yet turned his pain, passion, and voice into something that changed music forever. Ozzy proved that where you start doesn’t define where you can go. He showed the world that dreams can come true, even if you have to fight like hell to make them happen.

What struck me the most was watching him, in severe pain, come alive the moment he stepped into a recording studio or onto a stage to sing. It didn’t matter how broken his body felt — the music gave him life. It lifted him out of his pain and depression and took him to another level. That is the proof of what music does. It’s not just sound; it’s a force that can revive your spirit, even if only for a brief moment.

This year, we lost Ozzy, just 17 days after his final performance at Back to the Beginning. It was his heartfelt goodbye to his fans and his thank you for a life built on music. In my opinion, Ozzy knew his time was coming. And when it happened, it felt like the world stood still. Losing him wasn’t just losing a legend — it was losing a piece of ourselves. As we age, we’re faced with the heartbreaking truth that our idols are aging too. One by one, the musical game changers, the raw, real talent that shaped entire generations will leave us. And no matter how much time passes, that grief never really goes away.

I’m grateful beyond words that I got to witness Ozzy live, to be part of that history, to feel the electricity in the air when he stepped on stage. His music has pulled me out of darkness more times than I can count. I hope he knows how much we loved him, how much we miss him, and how deeply we thank him for touching our lives.

For the longest time, I thought I was strange because my entire life revolves around music. From the time I was 13, it has been my lifeline. I wake up to music, work with music in my pods, clean and shower with music playing. I live for live shows, and when there aren’t any, my depression hits hard. I used to think I was obsessed, like something was wrong with me. But through Ozzy’s story, I realized I’m not alone. Just like him, music is the air I breathe.

There are so many of us out there musicians, promoters, fans, crew members, managers, agents, who don’t just listen, we live it. And there’s something comforting in knowing that.

I want to thank Ozzy and Sharon for opening up their lives in these documentaries, because they helped me understand a truth I’d been avoiding. My depression grew worse when I stopped doing shows. I used to book bands and put on events because I loved every second of it — the energy, the connections, the magic behind the scenes. But when I lost access to a venue, I lost a part of myself. Being DIY, without money to open my own place, I had to let go of something that meant everything to me.

The truth is, I wish I had the money to open my own venue. I know in my heart that’s where I’d find true happiness again. Working with bands, promoting, building something from the ground up — that’s where I come alive. People don’t always see what it takes behind the scenes: the mental, physical, and financial toll. But when I stopped, a part of me broke. I let myself go. I let go of who I truly am. And now, I need to find my way back to myself, and to the life I truly want.

I will still do concerts here and there when I can, but it won’t be like it used to be, back when I could say “yes” to a tour because I had a room available to me. Now, it will be harder. But I refuse to give up. Because in my heart, I know where I belong. I belong behind the scenes. I belong watching the reactions of the fans. I belong immersed in music, whether it’s booking, promoting, stage-hand, tour managing, you name it. That is where I belong.

The way music connects people is something magical. It can take you from the darkest places and bring light where there was once only shadow. I never had anyone to talk to about what music means to me. I thought I was weird for feeling it so deeply. But now I know I’m not. Ozzy showed me that this passion — this way of breathing music — is real, and it’s shared by countless others.

Ozzy wasn’t just a musician — he was a force. He defined generations, he created metal, he created a home for us all to be our true selves. His life and music inspired millions, including me. He reminded us that no matter where you come from, music has the power to change lives, your own and everyone else’s along the way.

Thank you, Ozzy, for the music that became our light. 🖤

Peace, Love and Loud Music,

Mickey 🤘

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCCiwPEdEpg

Fits in the world we are living right now.