About the Song
When Ozzy Osbourne decides to cover a classic, he doesn’t just sing it — he inhabits it, bends it to his will, and sends it roaring through the amplifier of his own life experience. That’s exactly what happens with his scorching rendition of “Fire,” featured on his 2005 covers album Under Cover. Originally made famous by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown in 1968, “Fire” was already a psychedelic anthem of chaos and theatricality. But in Ozzy’s hands, it becomes something rawer, heavier, and more dangerous.
Backed by a band that includes heavy-hitters like Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains) on guitar and Mike Bordin (Faith No More) on drums, Ozzy’s version trades the psychedelic drama of the original for a more hard-edged, modern hard rock punch. The guitars growl, the drums thunder, and the entire track surges with an urgency that feels like it was built for the mosh pit — not the lava lamp.
Ozzy’s voice, by this point weathered and gravel-toned, actually adds to the authenticity. When he howls “I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you… FIRE!” it doesn’t sound like a character. It sounds like a declaration from a man who’s stared down decades of demons, both personal and professional. He brings grit, theatricality, and lived-in fire to a song that demands nothing less.
While “Fire” isn’t the most introspective track on Under Cover, it’s one of the most exhilarating. It reminds us of Ozzy’s roots in the flamboyant, explosive world of late ’60s and early ’70s rock — and his uncanny ability to keep that flame alive decades later.
Whether you’re a fan of the original or discovering it through this blistering reboot, Ozzy’s “Fire” is a full-throttle salute to rock history — loud, fast, and unapologetically alive.
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