A forgotten cassette tucked away in an English attic has reopened a vivid chapter from the early days of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career. Recorded in January 1980, the tape captures a raw rehearsal session featuring Osbourne alongside guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Bob Daisley, months before their lineup was finalized and rock history was made.
The recording, discovered in Suffolk by longtime acquaintance David “Chabby” Jolly, runs for 12 minutes and finds the trio informally jamming on a blues groove. It was taped during a short residency in the village of Iketshall, where the musicians were regrouping following Osbourne’s split from Black Sabbath and quietly shaping what would become a new band.
According to Daisley, the session was never meant to document a finished song. Instead, it reflects a relaxed moment between musicians who were still feeling out their chemistry. At that point, the group already had several original tracks prepared, suggesting the rehearsal was more about warming up than writing.
Those weeks in Suffolk were crucial. The band even tested their material in front of small pub audiences, gauging reactions before committing to the studio. Soon after, drummer Lee Kerslake joined, completing the lineup that entered Ridge Farm Studios in Surrey in March 1980 to begin recording Blizzard of Ozz.
Released later that year, the album marked a dramatic reinvention for Osbourne and became a cornerstone of heavy metal’s next generation. While tensions and legal disputes later strained relationships among the musicians, the rediscovered tape highlights a moment before those conflicts, when creativity and optimism were at the forefront.
For Daisley, revisiting the recording was deeply emotional. Hearing Osbourne’s voice again stirred memories of camaraderie, ambition, and the impact they made together. The cassette may be rough and unfinished, but it preserves an unguarded snapshot of a band on the brink of greatness.