
LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts) -
Ozzy Osbourne joined the entertainment elite with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Friday (April 12). The rock legend and new television star accepted the honor in front of an estimated 2,000 adoring fans that blocked off Hollywood Boulevard for the late-morning presentation.
In a brief speech, Osbourne told the crowd that he was "totally surprised by this one," and added, "To say this is an honor is not enough, you know? I'm just so overwhelmed with you guys turning out so early in the morning to see my old butt. Once again, thank you very much. I love you all."
The crowd responded to Osbourne by cheering his every move, flashing the metal sign, and booing each Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce representative who also said a few words during the event.
Joining Osbourne and his family--now famous due to the success of the MTV series, The Osbournes--were Marilyn Manson, longtime Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde, and British pop sensation Robbie Williams.
Manson took the opportunity to consider the cultural implications of the honor. "Most people think that you have to be happy to succeed socially, politically, or financially, or that success brings happiness. In turn, those who are eternally unhappy are expected to go insane or become criminals. This star right here proves that it's quite obvious that Ozzy has managed to succeed while remaining insane and strangely happy despite his various crimes against God and nature."
Manson also recalled getting to know Osbourne while on tour as part of OzzFest. "The first time on OzzFest I actually had to sue the State of New Jersey because they said I was more offensive than Ozzy," he says. "The second time, though, I became more of an Uncle Manson to the Osbournes and got a little bit closer. I took young Jack Osbourne to his first strip bar, and Ozzy himself even offered to wife-swap with me, although I don't have a wife."