Alex Van Halen recently revealed how close Eddie Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne came to collaborating on a record together. He shared details about the failed plans in an interview with Kazagastão.
The Van Halen drummer explained how the brothers met with Sharon Osbourne to discuss potential directions for their music career. He described the meeting and how close the collaboration came to fruition.
“Ed and I met with Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and manager], because we were kind of at a loss as to which direction we wanted to go,” Alex Van Halen said. “So we sat with Sharon. I mean, it was kind of an interesting evening because she’s a lovely lady. I don’t know what people would say about her, but she’s a lovely lady who really had to fend for herself in a male-dominated world.”
Alex Van Halen then revealed how the plans fell through at the very last moment due to an unexpected opportunity.
“The final thing we talked about was, she says, ‘Okay, it sounds like a good idea. Let’s do that. Let’s make a record together. Only one thing. I have a meeting tomorrow with some people about a television show,'” he continued. “And the rest is history. That’s how close it got.”
The television show Sharon Osbourne was referring to would later become “The Osbournes.” This changed the trajectory of the Osbourne family’s career.
This near-collaboration represents one of rock music’s most intriguing “what if” scenarios. The timing of when these discussions took place and the deep history between the two legendary acts make it particularly fascinating.
Loudwire reported that the meeting occurred around 2000, when Van Halen was experiencing significant lineup turmoil after splitting with Gary Cherone following the Van Halen III album. This was before their eventual reunion with Sammy Hagar. The band was at a crossroads, searching for a new direction that could revitalize their career.
The connection between Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen dates back to the late 1970s. Black Sabbath took Van Halen on their 1978 Never Say Die! tour as opening acts. This early relationship established a foundation of mutual respect that would endure for decades. It made the potential collaboration seem like a natural progression rather than an unlikely pairing.
The timing of Sharon Osbourne’s television meeting proved to be a pivotal moment in entertainment history. Guitar Player noted that this meeting would lead to “The Osbournes” reality show, which became a cultural phenomenon. The show shifted the family’s focus away from music collaborations. The show’s success fundamentally changed how the Osbourne family approached their careers.
Reflecting on this missed opportunity, Ozzy later expressed regret about the situation. “Eddie and Alex were great friends of mine for a very long time, and it’s a regret of mine that we never got it together. The Osbournes got in the way of creating new music at that time, unfortunately,” he said. He acknowledged how close they came to creating what could have been one of rock’s most significant collaborations.
