Band in North Texas pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

DALLAS (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A North Texas band with Ozzy Osbourne's namesake is paying tribute to the performer.

Known as the "Prince of Darkness," Osbourne not only pioneered the heavy metal genre, he also inspired a generation who would become lifelong fans.

"He's been my idol my whole life. I wanted to be him. I wanted to be like him," said Robert "Shame" Fortier, whose childhood dream came true 17 years ago when he formed the Blizzard of Ozz, a Dallas-based Ozzy tribute band.

The group is one of countless across the nation who now share their love for the music Fortier discovered at 14 when Osbourne rose to fame as the frontman for Black Sabbath.

"They brought the true meaning of heavy metal to the people. The words that were coming out of that band just intrigued everybody, and people wanted to know, why are they singing this? What are they singing about?" Fortier shared.

Osbourne's career in the band, and later as a solo artist, stretched nearly six decades. He struggled with drugs and alcohol for years, and later, a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Still, as fans mourn his death, they remember the world he opened for them.

"He changed my life. He changed who I was," Fortier expressed.

A legacy they hope to uphold.

"I'm going to go on Saturday night and we're going to kick it, and people are going to love it just like they always do," Fortier declared.