“Can you believe I’m in Ozzy’s hometown tonight?” It’s nearly 10 PM, and Lita Ford, 66, is backstage at K.K. Downing’s club in Birmingham, clad in leather, with an atmosphere thick with anticipation. Ford is ready to perform “Close My Eyes Forever” — her heartfelt 1989 ballad with Ozzy Osbourne, which marked Osbourne’s first and only Top 10 success.
“It’s going to be incredibly emotional,” she remarks. “I didn’t get choked up until I saw the beautiful stage setup in Ozzy’s honor, and everything hit home. I keep reflecting — how did we get here? How did Ozzy pass away? And now we are in Birmingham — Birmingham! — the place where it all started.”
This eerie connection mirrors the song’s creation. Back in 1987, Ford, then 29, was carving out her identity post-Runaways, while Osbourne, at 39, was battling addiction. One fateful night at Record One Studios in Los Angeles, the two musicians entered a small room with a keyboard and amp, and by morning, they had crafted something powerful and timeless.
Ford shared with Rolling Stone the details of that evening, her admiration for Black Sabbath, and a memorable Easter dinner that culminated in a comical situation with Osbourne wielding a carving knife.
“Tonight is about honoring our roots, where Ozzy came from, and the music that resonates within us. I know the audience will get emotional when they hear ‘Close My Eyes.’ Ozzy has always played a significant role in my life; I grew up listening to Black Sabbath and even played their riffs around the house,” she recalled. “Attending my first concert—Black Sabbath in 1972—was a milestone. My parents didn’t always approve of my choices, but they supported my love for Black Sabbath, and my mom would always encourage me to play their songs.”
During one Easter dinner, the scene was unforgettable. Ozzy and Sharon arrived in a limousine, stunning the neighbors. Sharon, looking radiant and chatty, crossed her legs on my bed and asked about her belt from her teenage years, while Ozzy relaxed in the corner, finishing a bottle of wine. When my father handed him the carving knife to cut the Easter lamb, chaos ensued when it slipped off the table, making everyone laugh as Ozzy nonchalantly announced, “I don’t eat meat.”
Interestingly, Ozzy always had impeccable style, often dressed impeccably, with Sharon playing a role in that. The creative process of writing “Close My Eyes Forever” began soon after that chaotic Easter. With Ozzy hanging out at the studio after Sharon brought a life-sized gorilla as a gift, their collaboration flowed naturally, and by sunrise, the song was born. Although Sharon later expressed her discontent, they had created a Top 10 hit, a source of pride for both.
The song has since become a staple at funerals, deeply loved by many for its beauty. In Ozzy’s name, let’s keep the music alive. True rock stars never really fade away.
