The Lost Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna Duet: How One of the Strangest Collaborations of the ’80s Never Saw the Light of Day
A surprising detail from 1980s music history has resurfaced: it turns out there was a fully recorded studio track featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna together — but it was never officially released. The revelation came from the musician’s son, Louis Osbourne, during the Trying Not to Die podcast.
The song in question is “Shake Your Head, ” created by the American duo Was (Not Was). Although the general public remembers the 1992 version featuring actress Kim Basinger alongside Ozzy, the authors originally envisioned a very different lineup.
While working on demos for the album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (1983), Don Was invited a young Madonna, who at the time was just beginning her path toward global stardom. According to those involved, she delivered an excellent vocal performance. Nevertheless, the group decided to experiment with a more unexpected voice and chose Ozzy Osbourne, who was then developing his solo material.
As a result, two independent versions of the song were recorded — one with Madonna and one with Osbourne. In the early ’90s, producers attempted to merge both recordings into a single duet, and remixer Steve “Silk” Hurley even assembled a complete version.
But the plan fell apart: Madonna refused to grant permission for the track’s release. The reasons were never publicly disclosed, but in the music industry of that era, such decisions were typically made when material didn’t fit an artist’s strategic direction.
When Was (Not Was) prepared the 1992 re-release of “Shake Your Head, ” Madonna again withheld approval. As a result, producers brought in Kim Basinger, who at the time was one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses.
Her involvement made strong marketing sense: Basinger was at the height of her career, and the blend of “Hollywood star + Ozzy Osbourne” guaranteed significant media attention.
Unexpectedly, the new remixed version became a hit, climbing to No. 4 on the UK singles chart and becoming one of the most successful tracks of Was (Not Was).
Although the recording featuring Madonna was never officially released, music archivists later discovered it on a vinyl edition of Now Dance 92. Apparently, the label accidentally included an extended mix containing her vocals. This release is now considered a rarity, and thanks to it, fans were finally able to hear what the duet between two future legends might have sounded like.
For Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna, this is more than just a forgotten episode. It exemplifies an era before the internet, when the fate of music hinged not on algorithms but on decisions made by producers, managers, and the artists themselves.
A collaboration that could have become a defining moment of the decade ended up shelved due to a single unapproved permission. And only forty years later has the story resurfaced — thanks to a family podcast.
