The news that Ozzy Osbourne passed on Tuesday (July 22) at age 76 brought a raft of tributes from a lot of the people you’d expect to pay homage to the heavy metal trailblazer. From Metallica to Osbourne’s Black Sabbath bandmates, good friend Elton John, longtime solo band guitarist Zakk Wylde, KISS’ Gene Simmons and Korn, the kind words about the beloved hard rock rogue with a heart of gold came pouring in from all quarters.
The one place you’d think would not be looking back with love is San Antonio, Texas’ Alamo Cenotaph, the 60-foot monument commemorating the men and women who died during the 13-day siege of the Alamo Mission in 1836. One of the legendary stories about Osbourne was the time in Feb. 1982 when an admittedly inebriated Ozzy urinated in Alamo Plaza, leading to his arrest and a 10-year performance ban from the city.
Osbourne later apologized for the incident, which was considered a grave insult to the memories of the Lone Star brave who died during the two-week battle, which made the tribute posted on the Alamo’s Instagram account on Tuesday all the more touching.
“We at the Alamo are saddened to hear of the passing of legendary musician Ozzy Osbourne. His relationship with the Alamo was marked initially by a deeply disrespectful incident in 1982. This act profoundly and rightfully upset many who hold this site sacred,” read the post, which featured an image of the rocker and son Jack filming at the Alamo three decades later.
“However, redemption and reconciliation eventually became part of his history as well,” it continued. “In 1992, Ozzy personally apologized to then-Mayor Nelson Wolff and expressed genuine remorse for his actions. Decades later, in 2015, he revisited the Alamo grounds to learn and appreciate the site’s profound history, openly demonstrating humility and understanding.”
In addition to his public apology, in 1992 Osbourne returned to San Antonio while on a tour and donated $10,000 to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. “What I did was wrong,” he told reporters at the time. “It was disrespectful, and I’ve been trying to make it right ever since.”
The Alamo’s tribute concluded with a sweet message about forgiveness and love. “At the Alamo, we honor history in all its complexities. Today, we acknowledge Ozzy Osbourne’s journey from regret to reconciliation at the historic site, and we extend our condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world. May he rest in peace.”
See the Alamo’s post below.
