Ozzy Osbourne Reunites With Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi on New Song ‘Degradation Rules’
Ozzy is back again! Today (July 22), Ozzy Osbourne released "Degradation Rules," the second single from the metal singer's forthcoming solo album Patient Number 9. The song finds half of Black Sabbath's classic lineup reuniting, as Osbourne is joined by former Sabbath bandmate and guitar icon Tony Iommi on the track.
The rest of the album — it features contributions from not only Iommi, but also Zakk Wylde, Eric Clapton and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready — was first previewed last month with the Jeff Beck-assisted title track. Patient Number 9 is out Sept. 9. Pre-order it here.
Listen to "Degradation Rules" below.
During a chat with co-host and fellow musician Billy Morrison on "Ozzy Speaks" on Sirius XM's Ozzy's Boneyard channel, Osbourne hinted that the song was about masturbation.
"You know what it's about, don't you?" the singer asked Morrison. The co-host responded, "Is [it] that the lyrics [mention] 'masturbation' and 'red'? The RedTube thing is funny. I mean, that's really funny." Osbourne added, "Yeah, it's — I didn't know."
Patient Number 9 is Osbourne's first new material since his 2020 album, Ordinary Man. The "Prince of Darkness" revealed in April he'd completed the follow-up. "I'm so happy to let everyone know that I finished my new album," he wrote on his website. The LP is produced by Watt (Andrew Watt), the producer and guitar player who broke through with Post Malone and has since won over several other rockers, including Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
In June, Osbourne shared an interview where he touched on recent life difficulties, including contracting COVID. Around the same time, Sharon Osbourne, his wife and manager who's an entertainer herself, said Ozzy was "on the road to recovery" after neck and spine surgery. Ozzy also shared a recuperative message. His injuries stem from a 2003 ATV accident that required previous surgery.
Ozzy Osbourne, "Degradation Rules" Lyrics (via Genius)
Twisted little fantasy
Gambling with tragedy and doom, and doom
Addicted to debauchery
Staring at the ceiling in his room, in his roomAsphyxiation
Masturbation
Degradation rulesPulling on his memories
He's ready for the pearl to hit the sky, the sky
Used up all his energy
He wakes up with twinkle a in his eye, in his eyeAsphyxiation
Masturbation
Degradation rules
Degradation rules
Join the other foolsSticky little magazines
He locks the door and crawls into his mind, in his mind
Stuck inside a dirty dream
The hand that feeds you also turns you blind, turns you blindAsphyxiation
Masturbation
Degradation rules
Degradation rules
Beating on your jewelsAsphyxiation
Masturbation
Degradation rules
Degradation rules
Masturbating fools
Watching RedTube rules
(Hahaha, hahaha)