Deb Obarski
Encyclopedia
Debbie Obarski is an American female singer, best known as the frontwoman of the Ozzy Osbourne
tribute bands The Little Dolls and Diary of a Madwoman, as well as a short stint with The Iron Maidens
.
, where she took up singing through her sister and grandmother, as well as in church and school choirs.
At the age of 21, Obarski began her career as a cover band
singer. Two years later, she moved to Los Angeles
, where she performed a handful of her original compositions at coffee houses. Eventually, she joined a local cover band before it disbanded a year later. Shortly after recording a demo of her original songs, Obarski retired from the music scene for 10 years - eventually marrying, buying a home and divorcing within that time span.
Not too long after her divorce, Obarski returned to her musical roots, singing with a heavy metal
cover band part-time before joining the all-female Ozzy Osbourne
tribute band The Little Dolls (named after a song from Osbourne's second album Diary of a Madman
) from 2006 to 2009. As the frontwoman of the Dolls, her stage name was "Blizzy Osbourne", a wordplay on Osbourne's solo debut Blizzard of Ozz
. In addition, she fronted another Osbourne tribute band called Diary of a Madwoman from 2007 to 2009.
On July 2008, Obarski joined The Iron Maidens
("World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden
") to tour Kuwait
and Iraq
after their lead vocalist Aja Kim
departed from the band. As a substitute musician, she continued to tour with the Maidens in the U.S. for the remainder of the year, as they continue to hold auditions for a new vocalist.
Obarski continues to write songs, mainly contemporary Christian music
. She currently runs a cover band called CoverLand (featuring members of the Metallica
tribute Damage Inc. and the Judas Priest
tribute Just Like Priest). In addition, she occasionally plays the role of Sister Mary
in the Queensrÿche
tribute Empÿre. While not performing on stage, she works as a massage therapist.
Aside from Osbourne, Obarski cites Pat Benatar
as a musical influence.
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...
tribute bands The Little Dolls and Diary of a Madwoman, as well as a short stint with The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
.
Biography
Deb Obarski was born and raised in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where she took up singing through her sister and grandmother, as well as in church and school choirs.
At the age of 21, Obarski began her career as a cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
singer. Two years later, she moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where she performed a handful of her original compositions at coffee houses. Eventually, she joined a local cover band before it disbanded a year later. Shortly after recording a demo of her original songs, Obarski retired from the music scene for 10 years - eventually marrying, buying a home and divorcing within that time span.
Not too long after her divorce, Obarski returned to her musical roots, singing with a 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...
cover band part-time before joining the all-female Ozzy Osbourne
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...
tribute band The Little Dolls (named after a song from Osbourne's second album Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman (album)
Diary of a Madman is the second studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was recorded from the 9th of Feb to the 23 of March 1981 inclusively - the end of winter in the UK and recording ending just into spring equinox. It was released on November 7, 1981, and re-issued on August 22, 1995. An altered...
) from 2006 to 2009. As the frontwoman of the Dolls, her stage name was "Blizzy Osbourne", a wordplay on Osbourne's solo debut Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S.. It is the comeback album of Osbourne following his firing from Black Sabbath the previous year...
. In addition, she fronted another Osbourne tribute band called Diary of a Madwoman from 2007 to 2009.
On July 2008, Obarski joined The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
("World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
") to tour Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
after their lead vocalist Aja Kim
Aja Kim
Aja Kim is an American female singer and songwriter.- Biography :Born in Fayetteville, NC and raised in Philadelphia, PA Aja Kim first came to public attention when she collaborated with rock and roll saxophonist, Clarence Clemons on the 1995 Japan-only CD release Aja and the Big Man - Get It On...
departed from the band. As a substitute musician, she continued to tour with the Maidens in the U.S. for the remainder of the year, as they continue to hold auditions for a new vocalist.
Obarski continues to write songs, mainly contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. She currently runs a cover band called CoverLand (featuring members of the Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
tribute Damage Inc. and the Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
tribute Just Like Priest). In addition, she occasionally plays the role of Sister Mary
Operation: Mindcrime
Operation: Mindcrime is a concept album by American progressive metal band Queensrÿche. Released on May 3, 1988, it is the band's third full-length album. A rock opera, its story follows a man who becomes disillusioned with the society of the time and reluctantly becomes involved with a...
in the Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
tribute Empÿre. While not performing on stage, she works as a massage therapist.
Aside from Osbourne, Obarski cites Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
as a musical influence.
The Little Dolls
- Girls Got Rhythm!Girls Got Rhythm!Girls Got Rhythm! is a compilation album featuring various all-female tribute bands. The album is named after the song of the same title by AC/DC.-Track listing:# "Thunderstruck" –...
(Various artists) (2006)- "I Don't KnowBlizzard of OzzBlizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S.. It is the comeback album of Osbourne following his firing from Black Sabbath the previous year...
"
- "I Don't Know