Ozzy Osbourne Nearly Passes Out During Randy Rhoads’ Audition – Moments That Nearly Destroyed Rock

Ozzy Osbourne is one of the most influential metal performers of all time, but in late 1979 the former Black Sabbath singer was unemployed, broke and attempting an unlikely solo career.

During auditions for his new band, in walked a then-little-known guitarist named Randy Rhoads. Not a Sabbath fan, Rhoads hadn't even wanted to audition, doing so only at the insistence of a friend.

Rhoads had only played a few warmup exercises when an astonished (and highly intoxicated) Osbourne promptly gave him the job before reportedly passing out. It's hard to imagine Osbourne's stratospheric solo career happening if he missed out on Rhoads.