Prince of Darkness dons white cowboy hat
Last Updated: Saturday, July 26, 2008 | 2:22 PM MT
CBC News
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne receive their white Stetsons from Elizabeth Wesley, right, manager of hospitality relations at the Calgary airport. (CBC)Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, the royal couple of heavy metal, were given a taste of Calgary hospitality Friday when they received white cowboy hats, part of the city's traditional welcome to notable visitors.
At times chanting "Ozzy!" and "Sharon!" about 100 people — from 12-year-olds to much older heavy-metal fans — gathered at the arrivals terminal of the Calgary International Airport on Friday afternoon to greet the singer and his manager wife.
The Osbournes arrived in the city for the all-day Monsters of Rock festival on Saturday at McMahon Stadium featuring Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.
As part of the white-hat ritual, the Osbournes were asked to recite the traditional pledge that having been "duly treated to exceptional amounts of heart-warmin', hand-shakin', tongue-loosenin', back-slappin', neighbour-lovin' western spirit" they "solemnly promise to spread this here brand of hospitality to all folks and critters who cross my trail hereafter."
While Ozzy Osbourne, sometimes dubbed the Prince of Darkness, gained fame in the '70s and '80s as lead singer of Black Sabbath, his popularity surged with a reality show that premiered in 2002 about his family life.
'Have a good time. Don't get too crazy. You don't need to get drunk or stoned but it helps if you do.'—Ozzy Osbourne
Wife Sharon Osbourne is a judge on the TV show America's Got Talent.
The couple joins a long list of people who've been white-hatted in Calgary, including Bill Clinton, Bob Dylan and Pope John Paul II.
Calgary's bylaw officers will be at Monsters of Rock ensuring that it doesn't exceed legal noise limits. McMahon Stadium stopped booking concerts for almost two decades following noise complaints from neighbours after a 1979 Eagles concert.
When asked about potential noise from the concert, Ozzy Osbourne said, "The noise police? Are you serious?" then added, "Oh, they'll hear it."
He had some advice for fans who are headed to the show: "Have a good time. Don't get too crazy. You don't need to get drunk or stoned but it helps if you do."
