Mr. Crowley (4:55)

“Mr. Crowley” is a 1980 heavy metal song performed by Ozzy Osbourne, released on the album Blizzard of Ozz, Osbourne’s first solo effort following his firing from Black Sabbath. It peaked at #46 on the UK charts. Musicians playing on the song are guitarist Randy Rhoads, bass guitarist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake. Don Airey plays the song’s distinctive funeral organ introduction.

This song and “Crazy Train” were released as singles.

The guitar solos in “Mr. Crowley” is ranked number 28 on Guitar World Magazine’s poll of the “100 greatest guitar solos”.

The song was inspired by books about Aleister Crowley which Ozzy Osbourne had read and a deck of tarot cards that were found in the studio.

The song’s lyrical content arguably indicates that the lyricist had little familiarity with Aleister Crowley or his philosophies. While the lyrics ask “did you talk with the dead?”, Crowley, who was called the “wickedest man alive”, himself did believe in reincarnation, but was an atheist who believed in neither God nor Satan. Despite this, another lyric states that Crowley “waited on Satan’s call”.

Contrary to popular opinion, Ozzy pronounces Mr. Crowley correctly (‘kroʊli’).

Noted covers include Moonspell (Darkness and Hope, 2001) and Cradle of Filth (Nymphetamine Special Edition, 2005). Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, (with Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar), Joe Lynn Turner, George Lynch and The Cardigans have also recorded covers of the song.