Rehearsal Tape from 1980 with Ozzy Osbourne & Randy Rhoads Unbelievably Unearthed
Being a heavy metal fan back in 2025 was a rough ride. We’re still processing the loss of the Prince of Darkness himself last July, and the world just feels a little quieter without Ozzy Osbourne screaming (barking) at the moon. But just when you think the book is closed on the most chaotic, iconic, legendary career in rock history, the universe throws us a bone. And not just any bone – it’s a literal time capsule from the most pivotal moment in Osbourne’s life.
A Lost Ozzy Osbourne Tape Found
A long-lost rehearsal tape from 1980 has been dragged out of an attic in Suffolk, England. For anyone who worships at the altar of the Blizzard of Ozz era, this is monumental. We aren’t talking about some polished studio outtake; this is a raw, unfiltered fly-on-the-wall listen to a band finding its footing before they changed the world.
The “Ozzie Last Day” Discovery
The story behind this find is almost too perfect. The cassette, hand-labeled with the misspelling “Ozzie Last Day,” was discovered by David “Chabby” Jolly. Chabby wasn’t some high-flying record exec; he was just a local guy who befriended Osbourne during a weird transitional period in early 1980.
Context is key here. In 1979, Osbourne had been unceremoniously fired from Black Sabbath. He was, by his own admission, “unemployed and unemployable.” He had been holed up in Le Parc Hotel in West Hollywood, convinced his life was over. But then came the lifeline: a new band, a new management team (enter Sharon), and a relocation to the English countryside to get his head straight.
Chabby found the tape in his attic after decades of gathering dust. He admitted to Sky News he was terrified to play it, fearing the ancient magnetic tape might just snap or “crinkle up” the second he hit play. Very thankfully, it didn’t!
What is Actually on the Rehearsal Tape?
If you’re expecting a secret, unreleased studio album, lower your expectations. This is something more intimate. The tape captures about 12 minutes of a jam session featuring Osbourne, bassist Bob Daisley, and the guitar God himself, Randy Rhoads.
The audio kicks off in the most hilarious way possible: with the organ intro to “Free Bird.” Yes, even the Prince of Darkness and his crew weren’t above the oldest joke in the rock n’ roll playbook. But once the jokes stop, the musical magic starts. It’s a bluesy, improvisational jam. You can hear Osbourne’s distinctive wail cutting through the room, and more importantly, you can hear the interplay between him and guitarist Rhoads.
Daisley, the only surviving member of that original trio (drummer Lee Kerslake hadn’t even joined yet), confirmed the tape’s authenticity. He noted that they weren’t working on a specific track like “Crazy Train” or “Mr. Crowley” in that moment; they were just jamming and feeling out the chemistry.
The Randy Rhoads Connection Matters
Here is why this rehearsal tape brings a tear to the eye. We have precious little material from Rhoads. He was taken from us far too soon in a tragic 1982 plane crash. He left behind a legacy that is incredibly massive but a catalog that is heartbreakingly small.
Hearing guitarist Rhoads in a casual setting, just jamming and riffing with Osbourne before the pressure of the Blizzard of Ozz tour and fame kicked in, is special. It captures the start of a brotherhood that saved Osbourne’s life. Osbourne had always credited Rhoads with giving him the confidence to stand on stage without Black Sabbath behind him. This tape is the audio proof of that bond forming in real-time. It’s the sound of a band clicking.
A Final Gift for Ozzy Osbourne Fans
With Osbourne passing away at age 76 just last year, this discovery feels like a message from the beyond. It’s a reminder that legends never really die; they just leave stuff in dusty attics for us to find 45 years later.
Per NME, bassist Daisley admitted he shed tears when he heard about Osbourne’s death, and hearing this tape brought it all flooding back. “It’s great to hear that stuff,” Daisley said. “To think, wow, we were good.”
They were more than good. They were the architects of 80s metal. While we mourn the man, it’s comforting to know that pieces of his history are still out there, waiting to be spun one last time. Long live the Prince of Darkness.
