Ozzy Osbourne

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Biography

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is the lead vocalist of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, a multi-platinum, award winning successful solo artist and the star of the reality show, The Osbournes. Considered by many to be the "Godfather of Heavy Metal," Ozzy has enjoyed a career that has now spanned four decades.

  • Aliases
  • John Michael Osbourne·Ozzy Ozborne·Ozzy Ozbourne·Ozzy Osborne·Ozzy·John Osbourne·オジー・オズボーン·Ozzy Osbourne
  • Primary profession
  • Music_artist·soundtrack·actor
  • Country
  • United Kingdom
  • Nationality
  • British
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Birth date
  • 03 December 1948
  • Place of birth
  • Aston
  • Residence
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Children
  • ··Aimee Osbourne·Jack Osbourne·Louis Osbourne·Kelly Osbourne
  • Spouses
  • Sharon Osbourne
  • Knows language
  • English language
  • Member of
  • Black Sabbath

Music

Lyrics

Movies

TV

Books

Awards

Trivia

Wife Sharon Osbourne is the daughter of his original manager, Don Arden. Arden dropped Osbourne, Sharon took over as his manager, and later married him.

Ozzy has long said that "Suicide Solution", a song about the dangers of alcoholism, was written as a tribute to former AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott (Bon Scott) who had died an alcohol-related death in 1980. However in 2002, the writer of "Suicide Solution (Ozzys former bassist and main lyricist, Bob Daisley ), revealed that the song actually alluded to Ozzy himself.

His song "Suicide Solution" created controversy when a fan committed suicide. The fans parents alleged that Ozzy was responsible and sued him. The suit was cleared completely.

Every single one of his solo albums (of original material) has gone multi-platinum.

Was born the 4th of 6 children to Jack and Lillian Osbourne. His brothers are Paul and Tony, and his sisters are Jean, Iris, and Gillian. His father died in 1977.

Daughter Aimee Osbourne opted out of appearing in the MTV reality show The Osbournes, but his and Sharons two other children, Kelly and Jack, agreed to take part.

Had two children from his first marriage (to Thelma Mayfair): Jessica Osbourne (born 1972) and Louis Osbourne (born 1975). He also adopted his first wifes son, Elliot Kingsley (born 1966), from a previous marriage. His children with second wife Sharon Osbourne are Aimee Osbourne (born 9-2-83), Kelly Osbourne (born 10-27-84), and Jack Osbourne (born 11-8-85).

Formed a band called Law after leaving Black Sabbath in 1979. They played 2 gigs before he changed their name to the Blizzard of Oz.

Claims he sleeps with a bayonet under his bed.

(May 2002) With wife Sharon Osbourne , he announced that the family had agreed to a deal with MTV, worth a reported $20 million, to do two more seasons of "The Osbournes" , the highest rated show in the history of the channel.

(May 4, 2002) The Osbournes meet with US President George W. Bush while attending the annual Correspondents Association dinner.

The cover of his 1988 album "No Rest for the Wicked" created controversy; it seemingly depicts himself seated and young children gathered around a Satanic shrine.

Arrested in September 1989 after attempting to strangle wife Sharon Osbourne while drunk. He awoke in jail the next day not knowing why he was there. He and Sharon reconciled in October 1990 after Ozzy endured extensive drug rehabilitation.

The cover of his 1982 live album "Speak of the Devil" was partially censored in some stores. The cover depicted a fanged Ozzy with blood (actually raspberry jelly) oozing from his mouth. The stores put a sticker over his mouth to obscure the "blood". Once Ozzy discovered this, he demanded that the sticker be removed or he would have his record company pull the album from those stores. Not wanting to lose the album sales of an Ozzy Osbourne recording, the stores adhered to Ozzys wishes.

(April 12th, 2002) Honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Some of his many tattoos include the letters O-Z-Z-Y across his left knuckles, happy faces on both knees, "THANKS" on his right palm, a red hooded ghoul on his left chest, and a blue dragon on his right chest. The first two were self-made during a brief time in jail in the late 1960s.

Father of Kelly Osbourne , Jack Osbourne , and Aimee Osbourne by current wife Sharon Osbourne ; and of Jessica Osbourne and Louis Osbourne by first wife Thelma Reilly.

Black Sabbath s name came from a 1963 film ( I tre volti della paura ) starring Boris Karloff. Sabbaths early songs reflected the same types of themes that were the centerpiece of those movies. Ozzy later named one of his solo albums "Diary of a Madman", the title ( Diary of a Madman ) of a 1963 Vincent Price horror film.

Along with contemporary Alice Cooper , he was one of the first "shock rockers".

Throws a bucket of water on the audience at his concerts.

Resides in Buckinghamshire, England and Los Angeles, California, USA.

On December 8th, 2003 he was seriously injured while riding his ATV quad bike on the grounds of his Buckinghamshire estate in England. The accident occurred while he was taking a day off from his hectic promotional schedule surrounding the UK release of "Changes" - a duet with his daughter Kelly. He broke his collarbone, six ribs and a vertebra in his neck. The injuries were not considered to be life-threatening, though he has undergone some surgery.

His remake with daughter Kelly Osbourne of the Black Sabbath song "Changes" went straight to #1 in the UK when it was released a week after his quad-bike accident.

Reunited with Black Sabbath in 1985 for the Live Aid festival, and again in November of 1992 for the last night of Ozzys so-called "final" tour. After the success of this show, the idea of a new Black Sabbath record and full tour was proposed, and the contracts were written up. However, Ozzy decided at the last minute not to sign them. It wasnt until December of 1997 that all four original members reunited again, to perform and record what would become the live album "Reunion".

Before the success of "The Osbournes" , he was known by most people as "the singer who bites heads off bats". This rumor traces back to one isolated incident. On January 20, 1982, at a concert in Des Moines, a bat wound up on stage, which had either been stuck in the rafters or thrown up there by a crazed fan. Osbourne bit it for a goof, thinking it was a rubber toy. He had to take a week of rabies shots. Despite a $25,000 donation later that year to the SPCA, the bat story grew to be an urban legend of its own, to the point where even numerous unrelated heavy metal bands were commonly accused of ritualistically killing live animals on stage.

Is a fan of football club Aston Villa

Son-in-law of Don Arden.

Was the victim of a burglary at his Buckinghamshire home in November 2004. Almost 2 million worth of jewellery was stolen.

Discovered only after he grew up that he is dyslexic, after being told for years that the reason he had trouble reading in school was because he was "dumb".

His favorite band is The Beatles , who inspired him to become a musician when Beatlemania spread worldwide.

When he started out in music, the demand for rock singers in his hometown of Birmingham was so strong that anyone with their own microphone and PA amplifier could get a paying gig. Osbournes father paid for the equipment, to spare him having to work a menial job after his failures in school.

Former neighbour of Pat Boone. Boones cover of "Crazy Train" was used as the theme for "The Osbournes".

Black Sabbath was voted the 85th Greatest Rock n Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.

Diagnosed with Parkinsons Syndrome and will have to take daily medication for the rest of his life to combat the involuntary shudders associated with the condition. [May 2005]

He had a vasectomy in 1986.

His dads death in 1977 lead to several hospitalizations due to his depression

Was present for the births of children Jessica Osbourne , Aimee Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne , but not those of Louis Osbourne and Jack Osbourne.

Grandfather of Isabelle, whose mother is Ozzys daughter Jessica Osbourne.

Uncle of Terry Longden.

Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. (16 November 2005).

As a child/teen, his family was so poor that there was no running water in their house.

His nickname "Ozzy" was actually a name that schoomates taunted him with as a child/teen.

In 2007, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Black Sabbath) and honored at the VH1 Rock Honors (as a solo artist.).

Was sued in recent years by former bandmates Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake for royalties on the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. Ozzy retaliated by deleting their parts from the albums entirely and rerecording them with his then-current band.

Made several suicide attempts as a teenager.

The song title S.A.T.O. (from the Diary of a Madman album album) is actually his wifes initials (Sharon Arden Thelma Osbourne.).

Is a Vegetarian.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6780 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

The 2009 Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $147 million.

Much like the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, he has a "Walk of Stars" star on Broad Street, Birmingham, England.

Lives in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire and Los Angeles, California.

(June 2004) Touring the U.S. with Black Sabbath for the annual summer concert series, "Ozzfest".

Starring in the MTV reality show "The Osbournes" , along with his wife and two of his children.

(February 2010) Release of his autobiography, "I Am Ozzy" by Ozzy with Chris Ayres.

Quotes

[on kicking drugs and alcohol for the first time] All I have to say is,this. Sobriety Fing Sucks!,The only black magic Sabbath ever got into was a box of chocolates.

My mother was an amateur singer, my father was an amateur drunk.

(Black) Sabbath were a hippy band. We were into peace.

Last year I sang for the Queen of England, met the president of the,United States, and got an Emmy and a star on The Walk of Fame. And what,did I do? I was just being myself.

I can honestly say, all the bad things that ever happened to me were,directly, directly attributed to drugs and alcohol.

Killing a pig for a good old fry-up is one thing. But there’s no excuse for being cruel, even if you’re a bored teenage kid.

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