In a middle school computer class in Millis, Massachusetts, a then-teenaged Chad Hill was given a simple assignment: write a letter to a company, athlete, or celebrity using the school’s computer lab.
While most of his classmates aimed for free candy or Nike swag, Hill chose something different. He wrote to his hero—Ozzy Osbourne.
“I told him how much I loved his music and how Randy Rhoads inspired me to play guitar,” Hill, now 46, told Newsweek. “And I asked for an autograph.”
While his classmates received responses to their letters, Hill didn’t. That was until two years later when an unexpected package arrived on his doorstep.
Inside was a typed letter thanking him for being a fan and an autographed 8×10 photo of Ozzy himself. “I was absolutely shocked,” Hill said. “The fact that it took so long told me that he truly loved his fans… It meant the absolute world to me.”
Haunting-Working5463/Reddit
The moment stuck with him, and the picture has remained framed and proudly displayed in every place he’s lived over the last 30 years.
“It’s the only piece of ‘art’ that has always been on my wall. Usually it’s hung near my guitars. It reminds me that music has real power, and that acts of kindness do too,” Hill said.
“To go through what must have been thousands upon thousands of letters and actually read them… I mean that costs money, takes time and effort. That told me a lot.”
The rock world has been mourning the Black Sabbath legend, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, just weeks after reuniting with his bandmates for a farewell concert in his hometown and receiving the Freedom of the City of Birmingham on June 28.
Hill recently posted his story to Reddit after seeing negative comments about the Prince of Darkness following his death. “I wanted to share something positive about him,” Hill said. “Also, I wanted to thank Ozzy… He changed my life… he added a sense of magic, wonder and excitement to my childhood.”
The post resonated deeply with fellow fans, many of whom shared their admiration for the rock icon.
One commenter wrote: “This is beyond cool,” while another Redditor said: “That’s so special, wow.”
“It was emotional to read the responses,” Hill said. “He was so much more to people than just a catchy song. It was as if he was our friend, but also beyond any ‘ordinary man.'”