Ozzy Osbourne, or how to turn your DNA into a cult souvenir
If you thought you’d seen it all in the world of music merchandising, Ozzy Osbourne just raised the bar (or sank it, depending on your sense of humor). The legendary vocalist of Black Sabbath teamed up with Liquid Death, that canned water brand that seems straight out of a hipster dystopia, to launch “Infinite Ozzy”: a limited edition of… cans with his DNA? Yes, you read that right. The man who bit the head of a bat now sells you his genetic material as if it were an NFT, but in physical format.
The “irreverent” (or simply strange) detail
The collection consists of 10 cans of iced tea that Ozzy personally drank (yes, saliva and all), then resealed in a laboratory to preserve their genetic essence. Each one is signed by the Prince of Darkness and will sell for the modest sum of $450. For that price, you could at least expect it to include a private concert or therapy session to get over his memories. But no, you just get an empty can and a little piece of Ozzy. “Clone me, you bastards,” he said, as if this were an episode of Black Mirror written by a drunk fan.
The sale coincides with Black Sabbath’s final concert in Birmingham, where the band will reunite for the first time in 20 years. Liquid Death promises that, when technology allows, fans will be able to use that DNA to clone Ozzy and “enjoy him for hundreds of years”. Because, of course, what could go wrong with having multiple Ozzys loose in the world?
It is not his first foray into absurd marketing
Ozzy had previously collaborated with Liquid Death on an advertisement for “Death Dust”, his electrolyte drink, where he warned about “dangerous consumer practices” with his usual lack of self-awareness. But this tops it all: if Sydney Sweeney sold her bath water in soaps, Ozzy takes merchandising to the level of “is this legal?”. Of course, collectors are already drooling (pun intended) over the cans.
The concert, by the way, will be a rock and metal festival with Tool, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and more. But the real protagonist is Ozzy, who continues to demonstrate that, after decades of excesses, his ability to surprise (or worry) is still intact.
Do you want a piece of Ozzy on your shelf? Share this news and tag that friend who collects rare things. And if you’re left wanting more craziness, explore our music and pop culture section for more stories that defy logic.
