Retro Raunch Revisit

Happy 45th Aniversary to Ozzy's solo debut following his being fired from BLACK SABBATH in Apr 1979 because of his alcohol & drug binging. For 1980 alone, BOO was one of the year's huge rock albums alongside AC/DC, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, MOTORHEAD, VAH HALEN, BLACK SABBATH (their first with Dio), RUSH and DEF LEPPARD. Ozzy's departure from his former band had at one point left him thinking his career in music was over but once BOO was released to critical acclaim, he then would consider himself in direct competition with his ex-outfit. The album's 3 hit singles would become staples of classic rock radio, would see Ozzy mired in controversy over the song 'Suicide Solution' (which was wrongly blamed as an advocacy for youth to take their own life when infact it was about both his own substance abuse issues and the tragic death of friend Bon Scott) and was the first of 2 studio records with guitarist Randy Rhoads before his plane crash death in Mar 1982. In 2019, BOO was certified 5x platinum and in 2002 was controversially re-released by wife/manager Sharon and with new recorded parts by bassist Robert Trujillo (who joined METALLICA in 2003) and drummer Mike Bordin (ex-FAITH NO MORE). The release was highly unpopular with fans and saw the original musicians filing a lawsuit for unpaid royalties. Their case was dismissed and in 2010, BOO's 30th Anniversary box set restored the original version. The 2020 expanded 40th Anniversary edition features bonus tracks, outtakes & live songs from the 1980-81 tour.