Warrant singer Robert Mason has revealed details about his hidden role as Ozzy Osbourne’s background vocalist. He shared this information in an interview with Krash Kourse Metal Show.
“I had auditioned for Cry of Love. They were unsure, so I was home technically without a gig,” Mason said. “Apparently, Sharon Osbourne was looking for a background singer for the Ozzy tour.”
“They just made the ‘Ozzmosis’ album,” he continued. ” [I’m not on the album] but I’m credited on the tour program. This was the very beginning of the internet, with no social media and no smartphones. So news did not travel as fast. It still traveled in the old fashioned way 90% of the time. And they wanted to keep it kind of under wraps.”
“Honestly, they ran no samples and no tape,” Mason explained. “They had John Sinclair playing live keyboards and me singing live background vocals off the side of the stage for that whole tour. Any little bit of weird or bad press would make them go nuts on Oz.”
“I absolutely love the guy and treasure the experience,” he added. “I was hidden because they didn’t want rumors to fly or lose control of the narrative. They feared people might think, ‘Oh, Aussie can’t sing anymore, so he’s got this guy singing.’ It wasn’t like that. I was doing the harmony parts that Ozzy sang on the Ozzy records for the whole tour.”
The revelation emerged as part of Mason’s broader discussion about his career experiences in the pre-social media era.
Mason’s involvement coincided with a crucial period in the Prince of Darkness’s career. A report from LA Weekly highlighted how offstage musicians commonly enhanced live performances while preserving the headlining artist’s presence.
The collaboration spanned the 1995 and 1996 tours supporting Ozzy’s album ‘Ozzmosis,’ released on October 24, 1995. Industry publication Ultimate Metal noted that Sharon Osbourne specifically selected Mason. Several producers, including Keith Olsen, who had worked with both artists, recommended him for the role.
The ‘Ozzmosis’ album showcased performances from notable musicians. Zakk Wylde handled guitar duties while Geezer Butler contributed bass on select tracks. Ozzy’s live shows during this period featured theatrical elements and complex soundscapes. These elaborate productions often needed additional vocal support to match the studio recordings.
Mason’s contributions proved especially valuable during performances of Black Sabbath songs. He provided harmonies and vocal depth that enhanced the live sound while preserving the authenticity of the original recordings.
