Although he was in poor health, the passing of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, still shocked the world. Now that we’re mourning the Prince of Darkness, let’s take a moment to remember his legacy–one that spanned far beyond Black Sabbath. One of the most powerful ways to understand that legacy is through how others interpreted his music. There is no better example than Black Sabbath and Faith No More’s bold reinterpretation of their anti-war epic “War Pigs.”
Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”: The Birth of Doom and Dissent
“War Pigs,” released in 1970 on Paranoid, was more than a song; it was an important milestone in heavy metal history. Through the chilling sirens on the track’s opening and the bone-crushing riffs that follow, Sabbath paved the way for a generation of heavy, socially conscious musicians.
Geezer Butler’s words were a scathing rebuke to political and military leaders who wage war from the comfort of their ivory towers. Lines like “Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses” still evoke venomous imagery and raw horror.
Musically, the band’s chemistry was unmatched. Tony Iommi’s sludge-thick riffs blended with Geezer’s thunderous basslines and Bill Ward’s jazzy yet explosive drumming to create a dense wall of sound. And then there was Ozzy. The tone of his voice was filled with anguish, fury, and desperation. Not only was he singing, but he was warning us all as well. Its instrumental break, referred to as Luke’s Wall, lifts the fog before plunging the listener back into the chaos, giving it an epic, almost operatic feel.
In terms of impact, “War Pigs” became a blueprint for protest through metal. With its crushing heaviness and political fury, it gave birth to generations of rebel bands.
Faith No More’s “War Pigs”: A Theatrical Reinvention
As a bonus track on their 1989 breakthrough album The Real Thing, Faith No More reimagined “War Pigs.” Known for fusing funk, metal, and experimental rock, Faith No More approached the track with reverence and irreverence.
Lyrically, the song’s anti-war message remains, but the delivery changes. Sabbath’s version was mournful and seething, but Faith No More’s is jittery, cynical, even sarcastic. It was the end of the Cold War, but disillusionment remained. They channel that energy, making it manic, urgent, and even a little unhinged.
Musically, it’s tighter, faster, and funkier. The song is propelled by the restless intensity of drummer Mike Bordin. With his style, the song’s rhythm is recast into something punchier-less lumbering, more precise. Roddy Bottum’s keyboards add eerie, theatrical textures to Jim Martin’s guitars, giving the song a feel of a warped carnival.
Then there’s the enemagtic Mike Patton. In terms of controlled chaos, his vocals are a masterclass. With operatic shrieks and gutteral growls, he jumps from whispers to shrieks. As Ozzy embodied the rage, Patton embodied it theatrically and with irony, making the song both playful and unhinged.
The result? With an homage and reinterpretation of old anger and new discontent, this is a homage and reinterpretation. In addition to bringing “War Pigs” to a new audience, it reminded fans that the song is timeless.
Mike Bordin: The Bridge Between Two Worlds
Mike “Puffy” Bordin ties these two versions together. As a founding member of Faith No More and later as Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime drummer, Bordin occupies a unique position in metal history. With “War Pigs,” he demonstrates both precision and flair. It was years later that he brought the same energy to the original voice behind the song when he played behind Ozzy onstage and in the studio.
That’s poetry. Here we have a drummer who once reinterpreted “War Pigs,” but was later keeping time for one of its originators. This shows how deeply connected the world of metal is, and how the genre continues to evolve while staying rooted in its most powerful elements.
As a side note, I got to see Puffy perform “War Pigs” with Ozzy live at OzzFest in 2002, which was rad.
Two Visions, One Message
“War Pigs” is Black Sabbath’s primal expression of horror and hypocrisy against war. Faith No More’s version of that scream is filtered through modern absurdity and theatrical angst. In both versions, rage is channeled, but in distinct ways-one a grim dirge, the other a jittery satire.
In light of Ozzy’s passing, “War Pigs” stands as one of his most enduring artistic legacies. Through it, his voice continues to reverberate – not only through its covers, but also through its reimaginings. No matter whether you hear it in Ozzy’s tortured wail or in Patton’s explosive theatrics, the message remains the same: war is madness, and music remains a powerful voice.