Arizona proclaims July 22 'Ozzy Day,' immortalizing the heavy metal icon

The godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne, died on July 22 at age 76, causing the hands of millions of fans locked in the devil horns gesture to fly at half-mast.

In honor of his passing, Arizona officially declared the day of his death ‘Ozzy Day.’

Serving as Acting Governor, Arizona’s Secretary of State Adrian Fontes affixed the seal and signed the proclamation at 98KUPD Official, citing reasons beyond Osbourne’s music career to honor his legacy.
“Recognizing Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just about honoring a rock icon—it was about acknowledging a voice that spoke to the soul of Arizona. Ozzy’s music resonated with generations of Arizonans who found power in his defiance, honesty in his struggle, and freedom in his sound. From the steel mills of Birmingham to the deserts of our state, his impact crossed oceans and generations. At a time when issues like mental health, addiction, and veteran support demand our collective attention, Ozzy’s candor and courage remind us that real strength comes from being unapologetically yourself. That’s something worth honoring,” Fontes says.

Local radio veteran Fitz Madrid, who is currently in his 20th year as afternoon host at KUPD, looks pretty emo in the picture with Fontes after the official document was signed. He posted, “I legitimately was a bit verklempt during the signing of the proclamation declaring today Ozzy Day.”

“Celebrating Ozzy is celebrating life itself. It felt cathartic to see him recognized so meaningfully. And to be part of that was as unexpected a gift as Ozzy himself. It was rad. He was rad. He sang to our struggles and to our dreams, and it was good to say farewell for now,” Madrid told New Times.

The document’s bullet points honoring Osbourne include paying tribute to his ‘lyrics, riffs and thunderous refrains’ that defy the mainstream, stating that those are the types of voices that ‘Arizona has long embraced.’