Ozzy Osbourne‘s late-’70s dark period filled with drink and drugs is vividly captured on-screen in the Jonas Åkerlund-directed clip for “Under the Graveyard.” The music video, starring actor Jack Kilmer as Ozzy amid a picturesque West Hollywood, California, emerged Thursday (Dec. 19).
Notably, however, the story features a happy ending, as Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, makes her presence known throughout the clip. Jessica Barden portrays her, and the tale driven by the real-life pair’s commitment is the ultimate message of the visual component to the singer’s first new song in nine years.
“For ‘Under the Graveyard’ Jonas developed the story into a ‘mini-movie,'” Ozzy offered. Those words came in a press release issued alongside the clip. The video’s available to watch down toward the bottom of this post.
The musician continued, “But, to be quite honest, it’s hard for me to watch because it takes me back to some of the darkest times in my life. Thankfully Sharon was there to pick me up and believe in me. It was the first time she was there to fully support me and build me back up, but it certainly wasn’t the last.”
Last week, “Under the Graveyard” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, making it Ozzy’s first such chart-topper in a decade. The tune was followed by the Slash-aided rocker “Straight to Hell.”
Åkerlund, the visionary behind last year’s Lord of Chaos retelling of the early-’90s Norwegian black metal scene, previously helmed Ozzy’s clips for “Let Me Hear You Scream” and “Gets Me Through.” He’s also worked with Beyonce and many other major music stars.
Ozzy’s twelfth solo studio album Ordinary Man is due out early next year. The anticipated effort features “Under the Graveyard” producer and co-writer Andrew Watt on guitars, Guns N’ Roses‘ Duff McKagan on bass and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith on drums.
Ozzy Osbourne, “Under the Graveyard” (Official Music Video)
Ozzy Osbourne – Under the Graveyard (Official Music Video)
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Photos: Ozzy Osbourne Through the Years
Chris Walter, Getty Images