Ozzy Osbourne 1980 Rehearsal Tape Featuring Randy Rhoads Unearthed After Decades In Storage

A previously unheard rehearsal recording from Ozzy Osbourne’s early solo era has resurfaced more than four decades after it was first captured. The tape, dating back to 1980, was recently discovered in an attic by David Jolly, who befriended Osbourne during that formative period.

The recording features Osbourne alongside the late guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Bob Daisley, captured while the trio were staying in Iketshall ahead of sessions that would eventually lead to Ozzy’s landmark solo debut Blizzard Of Ozz. Roughly twelve minutes of audio is preserved on the tape, consisting of loose, bluesy improvisation rather than fully formed songs.

Daisley — the sole surviving member of that lineup — has since verified the authenticity of the recording, confirming that it predates drummer Lee Kerslake joining the project. Speaking about the tape, Daisley explained that it was immediately recognizable once he heard it.

“As soon as I heard it, I thought, yes, that’s us, that’s Ozzy’s voice,” Daisley said.

He also clarified that the session wasn’t tied to the writing process for Blizzard Of Ozz itself.

“I don’t know if we were auditioning a drummer and just loosening up a bit, or we were just clowning about… but it wasn’t a song we were working on because we had definite songs by then.”

The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the raw, unpolished chemistry between Osbourne, Rhoads, and Daisley at a pivotal moment in heavy metal history, capturing the trio in an informal setting before the release of one of the genre’s most influential albums.

Footage of the tape being played, along with further background on how it was found, has since surfaced via a televised news report.

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