The Story Behind Ozzy’s Cocaine Duel With David Lee Roth

Ozzy Osbourne has always embraced the chaos of life, and he’s the first to admit he’s a medical mystery. Living his life to the extreme, he’s earned his reputation as the Prince of Darkness, and his journey reads like a rock anthem—wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable. As Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, life isn’t about arriving safely but rather about “skidding in broadside in a cloud of smoke… loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” That pretty much sums up Ozzy’s philosophy.

Near-Misses and Wild Times with Black Sabbath

Ozzy’s journey with Black Sabbath was filled with close calls and pranks that often went a little too far. One legendary incident involved drummer Bill Ward, who almost became the victim of one of Ozzy’s “dark jokes” involving a toxic aerosol spray. Reflecting on the prank years later, Ozzy famously quipped, “I poisoned Bill through his [expletive].” It was this mix of humor and danger that made the Black Sabbath days unforgettable, capturing the spirit of a time when rock ’n’ roll was wild, edgy, and completely unfiltered.

But as the flower-child era faded, so did the peace and love. By the late 1970s, rock had become harder and darker. It was November 1978, and two of the biggest bands, Van Halen and Black Sabbath, found themselves sharing a tour—and a love for risky behavior. In a classic tale of rock excess, Ozzy and Van Halen’s frontman David Lee Roth engaged in an absurd “contest” to see who could handle the most cocaine without collapsing. According to legend, their combined stash could have fueled a month of Hollywood parties. Ozzy would later refer to this period as his “snowblind” years.

The Infamous Alabama Incident

One of the wildest nights on that tour happened in Alabama, where the Ozzy-Roth showdown reached legendary proportions. After partying into the early hours, Roth eventually crashed. Ozzy, however, kept going—and then vanished. When the tour bus reached Nashville, the crew realized Ozzy was missing, sparking a frantic search. With police involved and a feeling of doom setting in, things looked bleak. Then, hours later, a dirt-covered figure stumbled into the hotel lobby. It was Ozzy, looking like he’d risen from the dead. Relieved, the crew greeted him with shouts of “Ozzy’s alive!”

Rock ’n’ Roll Farewell… For a While

Despite the undeniable excitement Ozzy brought to Black Sabbath, his antics eventually became too much even for his bandmates. His extreme lifestyle pushed the limits, and Black Sabbath ultimately had to let him go, marking a turning point for both the band and Ozzy. Even for rock ’n’ roll, where outlandish behavior was the norm, Ozzy’s exploits had crossed into uncharted territory.

This decision wasn’t easy. Ozzy was a wildly popular frontman and a cash cow for the band. But the unpredictability and chaos had reached a breaking point. Strangely enough, this wasn’t the end for Ozzy; it was just the beginning of a new chapter. His dismissal from Black Sabbath freed him to carve his own path as a solo artist and made him a true rock legend.