Ozzy Osbourne’s Famous Next Door Neighbor Is Stunned by Beloved Ozzy’s Passing

The music world lost a legend when Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76, but perhaps no tribute has been as surprising as the one from his former Beverly Hills neighbor, Pat Boone. The 91-year-old crooner, known for his squeaky-clean image, revealed the depth of his friendship with the heavy metal icon in a touching Instagram post.

“I am stunned. I can’t believe that my former next-door neighbor and good friend has passed suddenly,” Boone wrote following news of Osbourne’s death. The unlikely pair lived next to each other in Beverly Hills for several years, forming a bond that transcended their vastly different musical styles.

Boone, who rose to fame in the 1950s as a wholesome alternative to Elvis Presley’s rock and roll rebellion, found common ground with the man known as the Prince of Darkness. Their relationship proves that genuine friendship can bridge any gap, even between a Christian crooner and a heavy metal pioneer.

“When he and Sharon and the kids lived next-door to me for a couple of years, we weren’t rock stars comparing careers – we were just friends and neighbors getting along just fine,” Boone reflected in his tribute.

An Unexpected Musical Connection

The friendship between Boone and Osbourne extended beyond neighborly pleasantries into their professional lives. In 1997, Boone recorded a jazz big band cover of Osbourne’s classic “Crazy Train” for his album “In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy,” where he applied his smooth vocal style to heavy metal anthems.

Sharon Osbourne amazed Boone when she selected his version of “Crazy Train” as the opening theme for their hugely successful MTV reality series, The Osbournes. “I was amazed when Sharon picked my version of Ozzy’s ‘Crazy Train’ as the opening theme of their hugely successful reality TV show,” Boone wrote in his memorial post.

The choice to use Boone’s cover demonstrated the family’s appreciation for their neighbor’s musical tribute and added an amusing contrast to the show’s chaotic energy. Every episode opened with Boone’s polished vocals delivering Osbourne’s hard rock anthem in a completely different style.

Ozzy and Sharon referenced their friendship on “The Osbournes” when they recalled what a wonderful neighbor Boone had been, especially compared to the difficulties they experienced with other neighbors at their California mansion.

Memories Beyond Music

Boone shared intimate details about their personal interactions that revealed Osbourne’s character away from his stage persona. In a previous Television Academy interview, Boone recalled how Osbourne would discuss his participation in Alcoholics Anonymous and mention saying “the odd prayer,” to which the devout Christian Boone responded warmly: “Well it’s not odd to me, Ozzy!”

Boone never complained about noise from the Osbourne household, understanding that loud music was part of their lifestyle. “I’ve visited with Ozzy and Sharon, and nights when they had loud music playing, they never heard any complaints from me,” Boone told the Associated Press in 2002, per Blabbermouth.net. “I expected to hear loud music coming from Ozzy’s house.”

Boone’s fondest memory involved a charming scene that showed the family’s everyday moments. He recalled “riding bikes with Sharon through Beverly Hills on the sidewalks, and she’s towing Ozzy behind her in a wagon because [of his] balance problem,” illustrating the couple’s playful relationship and Sharon’s caring nature.

While others watched their language around the clean-cut Boone, Osbourne never censored himself, often praising Boone as “the best bleep-bleep-bleep neighbor we ever had!” Boone appreciated this authentic interaction, joking that they got along so well because “we were the only neighbors that never called the police!”

“Others may celebrate his incredible rocking style and hard rock music,” Boone concluded, “but I’ll always remember his warm friendliness as my next-door neighbor. God bless you, Ozzy.”