Most classic rock and Ozzy Osbourne fans probably couldn’t pick Lee Kerslake out from a crowd, but the older musician once played a key role (and instrument) in The Prince of Darkness’ early solo career. Kerslake was the drummer featured on Osbourne’s first two solo albums, 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz, and 1981’s Diary of a Madman. Both albums would help launch Ozzy’s post-Black Sabbath solo career, in addition to selling millions of copies between the two of them.
Unfortunately, Father Time has not been as kind to Kerslake as he has for Osbourne, as the drummer has since been diagnosed with terminal prostate and bone cancer in recent years. Like any in Kerslake’s sad predicament, the former rock drummer made a bucket list of things he would like to do before he passes. One of the items on that list included the hanging of the album-sales plaque recognizing his participation in the two studio projects onto his living room wall before he died, which Osbourne was more than happy to help fulfill.
While the relationship between the two men may be coming to a heart-warming end, that wasn’t always the case over the years. Kerslake and bassist Bob Daisley both sued Osbourne for lack of royalty payments following the two albums’ releases in the early 1980s. Daisley also helped co-write a handful of songs which appeared on the first two albums, but both musicians were fired prior to the November 1981 release of Diary of a Madman. Apparently, the legal process aimed at collecting money from Osbourne left Kerslake in poor financial status.
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Regardless of their past history, that didn’t stop Kerslake from writing Ozzy and his manager/wife, Sharon, requesting to have the framed plaque recognizing the album’s sales achievement sent to his home. Kerslake still won’t be seeing any of the albums’ royalty earnings, but rather, was just simply hoping to have the plaque hung up on his wall as one of the last moments of pride before cancer took his life. Like the classy professional that we all know Ozzy can be, the famous musician obliged his dying former bandmate’s request and shared a photo of Kerslake with the plaque to his social media on Friday.
Osbourne has continued to stay busy in recent years. Black Sabbath closed the book on the live side of their career with a final tour that ended back in February 2017. Osbourne has since announced his own supposed “final tour” as a solo artist, with scheduled shows now slated to continue into 2020.
I’m so glad that Lee Kerslake is enjoying his Blizzard and Diary platinum albums. I hope you feel better.
Love, Ozzy pic.twitter.com/nhc8stldQz— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) January 18, 2019
[H/T: Consequence Of Sound]
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