Bowling for Soup- Talk Ozzy
A Song That Changed My Life: Bowling For Soup Talks Ozzy
The Band Members: Jaret Reddick, guitar, vocals; Rob Felicetti, bass, backing vocals; Gary Wiseman, drums.
The Storyteller: Jaret Reddick, frontman.
The Song: Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” The Prince of Darkness’ iconic holler —“All aboard! Ayy, ayy, ayy ” — heralded his first solo ascent from the depths of Black Sabbath’s dark cave of metal mayhem, summoning future rockers to heed the call and join in the madness and magic of music.
The Background: Jaret Reddick — the exuberant, affable frontman of the much-adored, all-the-fun-feels pop-punk favorite, Bowling for Soup — describes Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” as a song that “didn’t just make me want to listen to music — it made me want to be a part of music.”
This statement rings true. Bowling for Soup has spent more than 30 years creating catchy, sing-along songs filled with frivolity and slick wit for fans of all ages. With Ozzy’s “call” continually beckoning them back to the stage, their fan base has grown at a steady pace. This past year, the Texas-grown band embarked on their biggest tour yet, promoting A Hangover You Definitely Deserve, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their studio album A Hangover You Don't Deserve.
The big-time fun on the touring circuit continued with their Warped or Bust Tour culminating in Orlando, Florida, at the festival that first brought them mainstream popularity —the Vans Warped Tour —before heading to the UK to play at Wembley Stadium. Fitting for a band that considers the UK to be their home away from home and the homeland of the man behind The Blizzard of Ozz.
The Story: Jaret Reddick
I have to start by saying this story used to sound way cooler!
What I mean is — I’ve told this same story for years, and the way people react to it has changed astronomically over time. You have to understand that in the ’80s — especially the early ’80s — Ozzy Osbourne was the devil. I mean, almost literally the devil. He bit the head off a bat! He peed on the Alamo! I mean…Marilyn Manson would’ve been scared of this guy.
So, to put it lightly, I was terrified of Ozzy. I didn’t even know what he sounded like. I was just your average kid listening to Michael Jackson and John Cougar Mellencamp. Then one day, around fifth or sixth grade, this kid named Greg Norman brought his Walkman to school and played me “Crazy Train.”
Here’s where the reaction has changed. These days, that song is in car commercials, at every sporting event ever, and even in a Trolls movie. My kids all knew the words before they started school! But back then — man, this was dangerous stuff. Moms everywhere shook in their boots, worrying their kids would think this “madman” was cool. Luckily, my mom wasn’t one of those moms. And it is easy for me to say…” this is the song that changed my life.”
I’ll never forget hearing it for the first time. The “All aboard!” starts the song, and I was like, what am I hearing? Then that riff kicked in, and I’d never heard guitars sound like that before. Thinking back, I am not sure I even knew it was guitars I was hearing making these sounds! And when Ozzy started singing, it wasn’t scary at all — it was soothing and beautiful. I could actually understand the words and what he was talking about. Everything shifted for me in that moment. And I mean everything!
My mom took me to Record Town after school that day and bought me Diary of a Madman and Blizzard of Ozz the same day. From that point on, the floodgates opened. All I cared about was music. Sports didn’t matter anymore — even professional wrestling, which had been my whole life, took a backseat to the records I was finding and memorizing! (Sorry to the Von Erichs and Freebirds)
And honestly, I can still feel that feeling. That magical rush when I first heard “Crazy Train.” It’s still in there somewhere. In my gut and in my heart.
Ozzy took Mötley Crüe on tour that year, and that’s how I discovered them [Mötley Crüe]. Once I saw Tommy Lee play drums on TV, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I asked for a drum set, my parents came through…and I’ve been playing in bands ever since.
The absolute truth is, if that kid hadn’t brought that song to school that day, I don’t think I’d be sitting here talking to you right now — 31 years into this band I love so much, planning a new album and still touring the world.
So no, I don’t roll my eyes when I hear “Crazy Train” in a commercial or during an NFL game. Instead, I smile and nod, hoping it’s having that same effect on someone else somewhere. And if not, at least I can bask in the joy that this song still has meaning and gusto! It is a truly timeless song that will live forever.
Side note: “Crazy Train” also began my lifelong love for Ozzy. Losing him recently hit me really hard. Even though I never met him, it was still very tough. But I’ll say this — the way he went out, and how much love the world showed him and continues to have for him, was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. I’m just so thankful for that guy.
If I had to describe the magic of “Crazy Train,” I’d say it’s purely electric — danger and melody colliding in a way that made rock & roll feel larger than life but still human…It was approachable and it made sense to me! It didn’t just make me want to listen to music; it made me want to be a part of music.
So, thanks, Ozzy.
Photo by Amy Russell
