Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison have shared a new, revamped version their 2015 song, “Gods of Rock N Roll.”
The original “God of Rock N Roll” was released 10 years ago on Morrison’s 2015 solo album, God Shaped Hole, while this one is set to appear on his forthcoming album, The Morrison Project. The 2025 take features vocals from Osbourne, as well as backing from a 61-piece orchestra, and extra guitars from Steve Stevens (who’s also been playing guitar with Idol alongside Morrison for years).
Speaking with Kerrang! about the track, Osbourne said, “Billy and I wrote ‘Gods Of Rock N Roll’ together in a hotel room while I was touring in South America about 10 years ago. This re-recorded version of the song finally has all the bells and whistles. I told Billy then that it needed an orchestra and a choir, but it took 10 fucking years for him to listen to me!”
You can also watch the new version of “Gods of Rock N Roll” come together in a music video. Directed by Ivo Raza, the clip features Osbourne, Morrison, Stevens, and others working on the track at NRG Studios in Los Angeles, while the orchestral session was filmed in Budapest.
“I’ve known Ozzy for 30 years, and there’s a couple of intimate moments where I was watching the video and I was like, ‘Oh, man, I love that guy,’” Morrison told Kerrang! “It’s just what we’re like — the bits in the video where he gives me a hug, and where he’s constantly messing with me. It’s total mischievous Ozzy — there’s a bit where we’re at the board, and he’s flicking the switches and mucking about! I think all that captures something special.”
The revamped “Gods of Rock N Roll” is one of two tracks on The Morrison Project to feature Osbourne, the other being “Crack Cocaine,” which was released last year. The album is set to arrive Feb. 21 and will also include contributions from Idol, Corey Taylor, Run-D.M.C., Al Jourgensen, and Linda Perry.
As for Osbourne, he’s gearing up for what it expected to be his final live performance. The “Back to the Beginning” show will take place July 5 in Birmingham, England, and is set to feature Osbourne reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward (who haven’t performed together since 2005). The all-star lineup also boasts Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, and more, with Tom Morello serving as musical director.
