No More Tears (song)
Encyclopedia
"No More Tears" is the fifth song on the 1991 Ozzy Osbourne
heavy metal
album No More Tears
. With a running time of 7:23, it is the longest solo song that Osbourne has ever recorded on a studio album. It reached #5 on U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
, #71 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and #32 on the UK Singles Chart
. Osbourne considers this song to be "a gift from God", as stated in the Prince of Darkness liner notes.
The song was redone by guitarist Zakk Wylde
as a bonus track on the second reissue of the Black Label Society
album Sonic Brew
as well as on its own promotional E.P. called the No More Tears Sampler
.
A shorter edited version of this song was released to some radio stations, and can be heard on the 1997 compilation album The Ozzman Cometh
. The full-length version appears on The Essential Ozzy Osbourne
.
The music video was shot to accommodate both the album version and the edited version of the song. Some channels played the full-length video, and others played the shortened version.
This song also is played in the Adam Sandler movie Little Nicky
. In the final battle scene where Osbourne appears, "No More Tears" can be heard being played in the background.
" and "Osbourne’s sharply edged vocals are among the strongest of his solo efforts" but "near the end of the song there’s a pointlessly overproduced art-rock
bridge that mars the song’s otherwise fine dynamic flow".
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
album No More Tears
No More Tears
- 2002 Reissue :- Personnel :Musicians* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Zakk Wylde – guitar* Bob Daisley – bass* Randy Castillo – drums* John Sinclair – keyboards, pianoAdditional personnel* Mike Inez – inspiration, musical direction...
. With a running time of 7:23, it is the longest solo song that Osbourne has ever recorded on a studio album. It reached #5 on U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
, #71 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and #32 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Osbourne considers this song to be "a gift from God", as stated in the Prince of Darkness liner notes.
The song was redone by guitarist Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
as a bonus track on the second reissue of the Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
album Sonic Brew
Sonic Brew
-Notes:* The song "Mother Mary" originated as an unreleased Pride & Glory demo, a live version of which was performed during Pride & Glory's set at the Donington Monsters of Rock Festival in 1994...
as well as on its own promotional E.P. called the No More Tears Sampler
No More Tears (E.P.)
The No More Tears sampler E.P. was a promotional compilation CD released to promote both the reissue of Black Label Society's Sonic Brew featuring a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's No More Tears as well as Spitfire Records' reissues of Zakk Wylde's Geffen Records catalogue, namely Pride & Glory and Book...
.
A shorter edited version of this song was released to some radio stations, and can be heard on the 1997 compilation album The Ozzman Cometh
The Ozzman Cometh
The Ozzman Cometh is a compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne released in 1997. It is his second greatest hits collection and its initial, limited edition 2 CD pressing contained five previously unreleased songs...
. The full-length version appears on The Essential Ozzy Osbourne
The Essential Ozzy Osbourne
The Essential Ozzy Osbourne is a compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne, released in 2003. It reached #81 on US charts and #21 in the UK. Tracks featured here from the first two albums are the re-recorded versions from recent reissues as well as the remixed Bark At The Moon tracks...
.
The music video was shot to accommodate both the album version and the edited version of the song. Some channels played the full-length video, and others played the shortened version.
This song also is played in the Adam Sandler movie Little Nicky
Little Nicky
Little Nicky is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Steven Brill. It stars Adam Sandler as Nicky, one of Satan's three sons.-Plot:The story revolves around a struggle to determine which of Satan's three sons will succeed their father as ruler of Hell...
. In the final battle scene where Osbourne appears, "No More Tears" can be heard being played in the background.
Theme
In the 2002 remaster booklet for the No More Tears album, Osbourne stated that the song was about a serial killer.Critical reception
Richard Gilliam of Allmusic wrote "the song has precisely the sort of hard, rhythmic drive marks good heavy metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
" and "Osbourne’s sharply edged vocals are among the strongest of his solo efforts" but "near the end of the song there’s a pointlessly overproduced art-rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
bridge that mars the song’s otherwise fine dynamic flow".
Releases
- 7" single, 1991, Epic/Sony. Additional track is "S.I.N." Not available in the US.
- CD single, 1991, Epic/Sony. Special UK package. CD single in an embossed CD wallet with room for each solo studio record. Each sleeve has a different picture. Additional tracks are "S.I.N." and "Party with the Animals".
- CD single, 1991, Epic/Sony. Promo only version, one track.
- 12" picture disc, 1991, Epic/Sony. Additional tracks are "S.I.N." and "Party with the Animals". Not available in the US.
- CD single, 1991, Epic/Sony. "Maxi single" with "No More Tears", "S.I.N.", "Don't Blame Me", and "Party with the Animals".
Personnel
- Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
- vocals - Zakk WyldeZakk WyldeZachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
- guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Bob DaisleyBob DaisleyRobert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - John SinclairJohn Sinclair (musician)John Sinclair is a keyboardist who has played for bands such as The Babys, Heavy Metal Kids, Savoy Brown, The Cult, but is probably best known for his time in Uriah Heep and playing for Ozzy Osbourne's band...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Randy CastilloRandy CastilloRandolpho Francisco Castillo was best known as Ozzy Osbourne's drummer during the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, and later as drummer for Mötley Crüe, from 1999-2002.-Early years:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....