A Rock Legend’s Unfiltered Legacy

The death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, at age 76 sent shockwaves through the music world, marking the end of an era for the Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath frontman. Just weeks after his emotional final concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park on July 5, 2025, fans and peers mourned the loss of a heavy metal pioneer. Amid the tributes, a claim surfaced on August 1, 2025, via a YouTube video titled “After Ozzy’s Death, Keith Richards Reveals the 6 Musicians He Hated The Most,” suggesting Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards used the moment to air old grudges. Known for his unfiltered opinions, Richards has a history of slamming contemporaries like David Bowie and Led Zeppelin, but no credible sources confirm a new list tied to Ozzy’s passing. This 1500-word article explores the speculation, Richards’ past criticisms, his connection to Ozzy, and the cultural context, questioning whether this “reveal” is truth or clickbait.

The Context: Ozzy’s Passing and Keith’s Longevity

Ozzy’s death, announced by his family, came after years battling Parkinson’s disease and injuries from a 2003 quad bike accident and a 2019 fall, which left him unable to walk (,). His final show, “Back to the Beginning,” reunited Black Sabbath’s original lineup—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward—and featured Metallica, Slayer, and Yungblud, drawing 45,000 fans and 5.8 million livestream viewers (,). Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife, noted his voice remained strong despite his physical decline, a testament to his resilience (). The funeral on July 30 and 31, 2025, saw thousands line Birmingham’s streets, with rock royalty like Elton John and Marilyn Manson attending the private Buckinghamshire ceremony ().

Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones’ 81-year-old guitarist, trended online after Ozzy’s death, with fans marveling at his survival despite a similar history of excess (,). Sharon once quipped, “At the end of the world, there’ll be roaches, Ozzy, and Keith Richards” (), a nod to their shared reputation as hard-living survivors. Posts on X, like “Keith Richards outlived Ozzy—let that sink in,” reflected this fascination (). Richards’ 2010 autobiography Life details his heroin and cocaine battles, but he quit hard drugs by 2006 and smoking by 2020, crediting luck and moderation for his longevity (). The timing of the YouTube claim suggests it capitalized on this buzz, framing Richards’ past outspokenness as a fresh reaction to Ozzy’s death.

The Alleged List: Who Did Keith Richards “Hate”?

The YouTube video’s claim that Richards named six musicians he hated post-Ozzy lacks corroboration from outlets like The Guardian or NBC News. However, Richards’ history of blunt critiques provides a plausible basis. Drawing from sources like Far Out Magazine and Rock and Roll Garage (,), here are six artists Richards has criticized, likely fueling the speculative list:

David Bowie
In a 2008 interview, Richards called Bowie’s work “all pose,” saying, “It’s nothing to do with music,” and claimed Hunky Dory’s “Changes” was the only song he remembered (). Despite this, he later called Bowie a “good friend” and “true original” after his 2016 death, suggesting personal respect despite musical disdain.

Elton John
Richards labeled Elton John “an old bitch” whose writing was “limited to songs about dead blondes,” sparking a feud (). Elton retaliated, calling Richards a “monkey with arthritis” and suggesting the Stones should’ve ousted him (). Their beef, rooted in a disastrous 1975 Stones gig, underscores Richards’ sharp tongue ().

Led Zeppelin
In 1969, Richards said Robert Plant’s voice was “too acrobatic,” and in 2004, he called John Bonham “heavy-handed,” claiming Zeppelin “never took off musically” despite praising Jimmy Page (,). Page shrugged off the critique, noting mutual respect ().

Metallica
Richards dismissed Metallica and Black Sabbath as “great jokes” in a 2015 New York Daily News interview, saying, “I don’t know where Metallica’s inspiration comes from, but if it’s from me, I fucked up” (). This jab at Ozzy’s band adds irony, given Metallica’s tribute at Ozzy’s final show ().

Oasis
Despite Oasis’ Stones-inspired sound, Richards criticized their posturing, aligning with his dislike for flamboyance over substance (). Oasis covered Stones songs, showing respect despite the barbs.

The Grateful Dead
Richards called the Grateful Dead “boring shit” in a Rolling Stone interview, one of his many swipes at peers he found overhyped ().

These criticisms, spanning decades, reflect Richards’ preference for raw blues and rhythm over theatricality or technicality. The YouTube video likely repackaged these old quotes, tying them to Ozzy’s death for clicks, as no 2025 interview confirms a new list.

Did Richards Target Ozzy or Black Sabbath?

Richards’ 2015 comment dismissing Black Sabbath as a “joke” alongside Metallica is the closest link to Ozzy (). However, he never singled out Osbourne, and their shared history suggests no personal animosity. Both were blues-inspired rebels who shaped rock—Richards with the Stones’ Satisfaction and Ozzy with Sabbath’s Paranoid (,). Ozzy’s firing from Black Sabbath in 1979 for substance abuse mirrored Richards’ own struggles, and Sharon’s comparison of their resilience hints at mutual respect (). Richards’ absence from Ozzy’s funeral, attended by Metallica and Yungblud, wasn’t noted as a snub, likely due to his U.S. residence or Stones commitments ().

The claim’s timing feels opportunistic, as Richards trended post-Ozzy for outliving him, not for new feuds (). A satirical NewsThump piece even joked Richards “absorbed” Ozzy’s power, highlighting the cultural meme of his immortality (). If Richards made fresh comments, they’d likely echo his past disdain for theatrical acts, not target Ozzy directly.

The Cultural Context: Richards’ Outspoken Persona

Richards’ reputation as rock’s unfiltered voice drives such stories. His 2010 memoir Life and interviews, like one with The Daily News slamming rap as “tone-deaf,” show his willingness to provoke (). Fans on X celebrate this, with one calling him “the ultimate riff machine” who “never holds back” (). Yet, his critiques often spark backlash—Jimmy Page called them “hollow,” and Elton John’s “monkey” jab escalated their feud (). Richards’ defenders argue his honesty is refreshing in a “vanilla” music landscape, while critics see it as petty ().

Ozzy’s death amplified comparisons to Richards, both survivors of rock’s excesses. A 2011 study labeled Ozzy a “genetic mutant” for his drug tolerance, a trait Sharon linked to Richards (). Reddit posts marveled, “How TF did Keith Richards outlive Ozzy?” citing Richards’ cleaner lifestyle post-2006 versus Ozzy’s Parkinson’s and injuries (). This context makes the “hated musicians” claim a grab for attention, leveraging their shared mythology.

X posts post-Ozzy’s death focused on Richards’ survival, not new feuds. One user quipped, “Ozzy takes the crazy train to the other side and Keith Richards is trending?” (). Another, @mariomojc, recalled Sharon’s roach joke, adding, “Keith said he didn’t know how he was still alive” (). No posts mention a 2025 “hate list,” suggesting the YouTube claim didn’t gain traction. Fans instead shared tributes, like @TheRealSambora’s “Ozzy was a hero, and then he and Sharon became my friends” (), and @godsmack’s praise for Ozzy’s final show ().

The Bigger Picture: Ozzy’s Legacy

The focus on Richards’ alleged list risks overshadowing Ozzy’s impact. Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut and Paranoid birthed heavy metal, influencing Metallica and Slayer, who played his farewell concert (,). His solo career, with hits like “Crazy Train,” and The Osbournes reality show cemented his cultural status (). Despite biting a bat’s head in 1982, Ozzy was a “working class hero,” as fan Jack Ryland-Smith told BBC News, with Birmingham honoring him with a bridge and ballet ().

Richards, too, is a legend, with the Stones’ Hackney Diamonds (2024) and a potential 2025 tour showing his vitality (). His critiques, while biting, often come with respect—he called Bowie a friend despite slamming his music (). If he made a post-Ozzy list, it’d likely rehash old gripes, not target the late icon.

The claim that Keith Richards revealed six hated musicians after Ozzy’s passing appears to be a sensationalized rehash of his past critiques, with no 2025 evidence beyond a YouTube video. Richards’ history of slamming Bowie, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Oasis, and Black Sabbath fuels the rumor, but his silence on Ozzy post-death suggests respect, not rivalry. Both men, survivors of rock’s wild era, shared a blues-driven ethos, and Sharon’s roach quip linked them as legends (). Fans should focus on Ozzy’s legacy—100 million records, a genre born—rather than manufactured feuds. Check Guitar World or The Guardian for more on Ozzy’s farewell, and join the conversation about rock’s enduring rebels.