***** 1948 - 1967 *****
JOHN MICHAEL OSBOURNE WAS BORN TO JOHN THOMAS OSBOURNE
AND HIS WIFE LILLIAN ON DECEMBER 3RD,1948 IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND AND LIVED
AT 14 LODGE RD,ASTON. JOHN THOMAS WAS A PROFESSIONAL TOOL MAKER AND LILIAN
WORKED IN THE LUCAS CAR ASSEMBLY PLANT. JOHN WAS 0NE OF 3 BROTHERS AND
3 SISTERS. JOHN WAS NICKNAMED "OZZY" ON THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND, SHORT FOR
HIS LAST NAME "OSBOURNE" OZZY QUITS SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 15. OZZY WORKED
AS A PLUMBERS MATE, DELIVERING ,ETC. HE HATES THIS SO HE GET A JOB IN A
SLAUGHTER HOUSE, KILLING 250 CATTLE A DAY AND CUTTING SHEEP GUTS OUT. HE
GETS SICK OF THAT GETS A JOB TESTING CAR HORNS WHERE HIS MOTHER WORKED.
OZZY IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE LOW INCOME HE'S EARNING SO HE TURNS TO CRIME.
OZZY KNOCK'S OVER SMALL CLOTHES SHOPS AND PRIVATE HOMES. HE KEEPS GETTING
CAUGHT THOUGH BECAUSE HE WEARS GLOVES WITH THE FINGERS CUT OFF - SO THE
COPS ARE WISE TO HIS FINGERPRINTS! IN JAIL OZZY TATTOO'S HIMSELF WITH A
NEEDLE AND GRAPHITE THE NOW FAMOUS O-Z-Z-Y ACROSS HIS FINGERS AND A HAPPY
FACE ON BOTH KNEE'S TO CHEER HIM UP WHEN HE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING.
***** 1967 - 1968 *****
IT ALL STARTED WITH WITH BILL WARD AND TONY IOMMI JOINING
TOGETHER IN A GROUP CALLED THE REST. WHICH LATER CHANGED IT'S NAME TO MYTHOLOGY.
OUT ON THE STREET OZZ MEETS AN OLD FRIEND WHO JUST PUT TOGETHER A BAND
CALLED APPROACH, BUT HAD NO SINGER. "I'M A SINGER!" OZ SAYS, SO HE GOES
AND BUYS AN AMP AND 2 MIC'S AND JOINS THE BAND. OZZ DOESN'T LIKE APPROACH
SO HE QUITS AND JOINS MUSIC MACHINE. OZZY THEN HOOKS UP WITH GEEZER BUTLER
AND CREATES A BAND CALLED RARE BREED. RARE BREED DOESN'T LIFT OFF THE GROUND
SO OZZY PUTS OUT AN AD IN A LOCAL PAPER SAYING OZZY ZIG, VOCALIST, REQUIRES
BAND. OWNS OWN P.A. BILL AND TONY SEE THIS AD AFTER DUMPING TWO PEOPLE
IN MYTHOLOGY AND REPLY TO IT. SO BILL, TONY, OZZY AND GEEZER ALONG WITH
JIMMY PHILLIPS AND CLARK JOIN TOGETHER TO CREATE RARE BREED. RARE BREED
TURNS INTO POLKA TULK. POLKA TULK CAME FROM A CAN OF TALCUM POWDER THAT
OZZY SAW IN A BATHROOM. PHILLIPS AND CLARK WERE MORE INTO BLUES MUSIC SO
THEY QUIT THE BAND LEAVING TONY IOMMI, BILL WARD, OZZY OSBOURNE AND GEEZER
BUTLER BEHIND. POLKA TULK CHANGES IT'S NAME TO EARTH.
***** 1969 *****
ONE DAY AN OLD HORROR MOVIE WAS PLAYING AT A LOCAL THEATER
BY THE NAME OF BLACK SABBATH. THE BAND ASKED ITSELF, WHY WOULD ANYBODY
GO PAY HARD EARNED MONEY TO GET THE CRAP SCARED OUT OF THEM? SO THE BAND
DECIDED TO START PLAYING DOOMSEY, DARK MUSIC AND CHANGE THE THEIR NAME
TO BLACK SABBATH. THE BAND FINDS A MANAGER BY THE NAME OF JIM SIMPSON.
JIM IS INTO JAZZ/BLUES MUSIC SO THE BAND RECORDED A SHORT DEMO LP FOR HIM
CALLED "FOR JIM". THIS RARE RARE ALBUM (WHICH I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A
COPY OF!) CONTAINS THE ONLY JAZZ SESSION EVER RECORDED BY BLACK SABBATH.
IT FEATURES TONY IOMMI PLAYING WITH THE STYLE OF WES MONTGOMERY AND BILL
WARD BACKING HIM UP WITH BEBOP DRUMS. NOW PLAYING SMALL CLUBS, THE BAND
IS GETTING ANNOYED AT THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
ONE NIGHT OZZY DECIDES TO PAINT HIMSELF PURPLE TO ATTRACT SOME ATTENTION,
AND THE FUNNY THING IS...IT DIDN'T WORK! IT TOOK OZZ ABOUT 4 HOURS TO GET
IT ALL OFF! THE BAND SOON FINDS OUT THAT BY CRANKING UP THE AMPS, THE AUDIENCE
CAN NOT EVEN HERE THEMSELVES TALK AND ARE FORCED TO LISTEN!
***** 1970 ****
FEBRUARY, FRIDAY THE 13TH, 1970 BLACK SABBATH IS RELEASED.
IT TOOK THEM 8 HOURS TO RECORD IT ON 2 4-TRACK MACHINES AND COST AROUND
$1200. ON THE GATEFOLD OF THE ALBUM, THE RECORD COMPANY CHOSE TO PUT AN
UPSIDE DOWN CROSS WITH A POEM IN IT. ANYONE SEEING THIS ALBUM AUTOMATICALLY
ASSOCIATED THE BAND WITH SATANISM. THE BAND HAD NO IDEA THEY DID THIS.
HERE IS THE POEM: "STILL FALLS THE RAIN" STILL FALLS THE RAIN, THE VEILS
OF DARKNESS SHROUD THE BLACKENED TREES, WHICH, CONTORTED BY SOME UNSEEN
VIOLENCE, SHED THEIR TIRED LEAVES, AND BEND THEIR BOUGHS TOWARD A GREY
EARTH OF SEVERED BIRD WINGS. AMONG THE GRASSES, POPPIES BLEED BEFORE A
GESTICULATING DEATH, AND YOUNG RABBITS, BORN DEAD IN TRAPS, STAND MOTIONLESS,
AS THOUGH GUARDING THE SILENCE THAT SURROUNDS AND THREATENS TO ENGULF ALL
THOSE THAT WOULD LISTEN. MUTE BIRDS, TIRED OF REPEATING YESTERDAYS TERRORS,
HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THE RECESSES OF DARK CORNERS, HEADS TURNED FROM THE
DEAD, BLACK SWAN THAT FLOATS UPTURNED IN A SMALL POOL IN THE HOLLOW. THERE
EMERGES FROM THIS POOL A FAINT, SENSUAL MIST, THAT TRACES ITS WAY UPWARDS
TO CARESS THE FEET OF THE HEADLESS MARTYR'S STATUE WHOSE ONLY ACHIEVEMENT
WAS TO DIE TOO SOON, AND WHO COULDN'T WAIT TO LOOSE. THE CATARACT OF DARKNESS
FORMS FULLY, THE LONG BLACK NIGHT BEGINS, YET STILL BY THE LAKE A YOUNG
GIRL WAITS, UNSEEING SHE BELIEVES HERSELF UNSEEN, SHE SMILES FAINTLY AT
THE DISTANT TOLLING BELL, AND THE STILL RAIN FALLING. WITH THE RELEASE
OF THIS FIRST ALBUM, THE BANDS AUDIENCE BEGINS TO GROW RAPIDLY ATTRACTING
ALL WALKS OF LIFE INCLUDING SELF PROCLAIMED WITCHES AND SATANISTS. THE
BAND RELEASES THEIR SECOND ALBUM, PARANOID. THIS ALBUM WAS MADE IN 4 DAYS.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE CALLED WAR PIGS, BUT WITH THE VIETNAM
WAR GOING ON OVER SEAS, THE RECORD COMPANY WOULDN'T ALLOW IT. THE BAND
BY NOW HAS BECOME PRETTY WELL KNOWN. ONE NIGHT THE BAND WAS ASKED BY A
WITCH TO PLAY AT A SATANIC CEROMONY,AND SOMEHOW GOT INTO A BIG FIGHT AND
THE WITCH SAID SHE CAST AN EVIL SPELL OVER THE BAND. EVERYONE WAS FREAKED
OUT BY THIS. OZZY ASKED HIS FATHER TO MAKE AN ALUMINUM CROSS FOR EACH MEMBER
OF THE BAND TO WEAR TO KEEP EVIL AWAY FROM THEM. TO THIS DAY OZZY STILL
WEARS THE SAME GOLD CROSS THAT HIS FATHER MADE FOR HIM AND IT CAN BE SEEN
ON THE FRONT COVER OF HIS GREATEST HITS ALBUM - THE OZZMAN COMETH. BLACK
SABBATH ALBUMS ARE SELLING MORE AND MORE AS WORD SPREADS AND AUDIENCES
ARE GROWING TO OVER 20,000 PEOPLE PER SHOW. IN SEPTEMBER 1970 THE BAND
DECIDES TO LET JIM SIMPSON GO AS MANAGER. THEY WEREN'T GETTING PAID WHAT
THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD. PATRICK MEEHAN AND WILF PINE TAKE OVER.
***** 1971 *****
OZZY GETS MARRIED TO A WOMAN NAMED THELMA MAYFAIR. THELMA
ALREADY HAD A BOY FROM A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE NAMED ELLIOT KINGSLEY WHO WAS
5 YEARS OLD,SO OZZY ADOPTED HIM. LATE 1971 THE MASTER OF REALITY ALBUM
IS RELEASED. THIS ALBUM FEATURED A FEW SONGS WHICH WERE IN REFERENCE TO
RELIGION IN A GOOD WAY, BUT RECIEVED BAD PRESS FOR PUTTING DOWN RELIGON.
***** 1972 - 1973 *****
SABBATHS 4TH ALBUM IS RELEASED ENTITLED "VOLUME 4". THIS
ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE NAMED SNOWBLIND (A REFRENCE TO COCAINE
USAGE) BUT THE RECORD COMPANY ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. OZZY BECOMES
A FIRST TIME FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTER JESSICA STARSHINE. OZZY BECOMES MORE
AND MORE FAMOUS FOR HIS WILD ANTICS AND LEAPS ON STAGE.
***** 1974 *****
THE ALBUM "SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH" IS RELEASED. ON THIS
ALBUM APPEARED THE VERY FIRST SONG THAT OZZY EVER WROTE THE MUSIC AND THE
LYRICS TO, "WHO ARE YOU?"
***** 1975 *****
BLACK SABBATH ONCE AGAIN FIRES THEIR MANAGEMENT. THEY
ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF LEFT AND RIGHT. NOW, THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN. THE
"SABOTAGE" ALBUM IS RELEASED, WITH A SONG CALLED "THE WRIT" WHICH TELLS
THEIR FEELING AGAINST PAST MANAGEMENT. OZZY BECOMES A FATHER AGAIN TO A
SON NAMED LOUIS JON.
***** 1976 *****
WITH ALL THE BAD MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND CONSTANT TOURING
OZZY TOOK SOME TIME OFF IN 1976. OZZY WENT HOME AND GOT RID OF SOME OF
HIS FRUSTRATION BY SHOOTING THE CLUCKING CHICKENS AROUND HIS HOUSE! THE
BAND HIRES NEW MANAGMENT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT BY THEMSELVES. THEY
HIRE A MAN BY THE NAME OF DON ARDEN. (DON ARDEN IS THE FATHER OF OZZYS
WIFE NOW - SHARON) LATE 1976 THE "TECHNICAL ECTASY" ALBUM IS RELEASED.
***** 1977 *****
OZZY IS FED UP WITH TONY IOMMI'S CONTROL OVER BLACK SABBATH.
HE IS ALSO DOING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DRUGS AND DRINKING. ON TOP OF ALL THIS
OZZYS FATHER DIES. OZZY ANNOUNCES HE IS QUITTING THE BAND.
***** 1978 *****
SABBATH TRIES OUT A NEW SINGER BY THE NAME OF DAVE WALKER,WHO
USED TO BE IN FLEETWOOD MAC. THE BAND WRITES NEW MATERIAL WITH DAVE,BUT
OZZY SAYS HE WANTS BACK IN. ALL OF THE MATERIAL WRITTEN WITH DAVE WAS DESTROYED
BECAUSE OZZY DIDN'T WANT TO SING ANY OF IT. SABBATHS LAST ALBUM WITH OZZY
"NEVER SAY DIE" IS RELEASED. ONE SONG ON THE ALBUM "JUNIORS EYES" WAS WRITTEN
AS A GOODBYE TO OZZYS FATHER.
***** 1979 *****
OZZY IS FIRED FROM BLACK SABBATH AND IS REPLACED BY EX
RAINBOW SINGER RONNIE JAMES DIO. THE DRUGS,BOOZE AND CONSTANT LACK OF INTEREST
FINALLY CATCH UP WITH HIM. THIS MARKS THE LOWEST POINT IN OZZYS LIFE.
***** 1980 *****
OZZY STARTS HIS CAREER BACK UP WITH HELP FROM HIS FRIEND
SHARON ARDEN. DON ARDEN STUCK WITH OZZY AS MANAGEMENT AND LET THE OLD SABBATH
GO. HE PUT TOGETHER A BAND CALLED "LAW" WHICH LASTED FOR ABOUT 2 GIGS AND
THEN WAS CHANGED TO THE "BLIZZARD OF OZZ". THE BAND CONSISTED OF RANDY
RHOADS (EX QUIET RIOT), BOB DAISLY (EX URIAH HEEP),AND LEE KERSLAKE (EX
URIAH HEEP). OZZY DECIDES TO JUST GO UNDER HIS OWN NAME AND RELEASES HIS
FIRST SOLO ALBUM "BLIZZARD OF OZZ"
***** 1981 *****
OZZY GETS A DIVORCE FROM HIS WIFE THELMA AND HIS SECOND
SOLO PROJECT IS RELEASED - "DIARY OF A MADMAN" A FEW WEEKS AFTER "DIARY
OF A MADMAN" IS RELEASED, KERSLAKE AND DAISLY ARE FIRED DUE TO MONEY PROBLEMS
AND TOMMY ALDRIDGE AND RUDY SARZO TAKE THEIR SPOTS. CBS WAS HAVING A BIG
CORPORATE MEETING WHERE OZZY WOULD MEET ALL THE TOP GUYS. CBS WASN'T TOO
INTERESTED IN OZZY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD BETTER ARTIST ON THEIR
LABEL. OZZYS WIFE, SHARON, WANTED HIM TO MAKE A BIG BANG WHEN HE ENTERED,
SO SHE SUGGESTED THROWING THREE WHITE DOVES IN THE AIR WHEN HE WALKED IN.
WELL, OZZY HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO DRINK THAT DAY (AS USUAL),WALKED IN,LET
2 DOVES GO, AND BIT THE HEAD OFF OF THE 3RD ONE. LET'S JUST SAY EVERYONE
WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK. THE PRESS WENT WILD WITH THIS, DUBBING OZZY "INSANE"
AND "THE MAD MAN." THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF AMERICA WOULD SOON TRY TO BAN
ALL PERFORMANCES IN THE STATES. OZZY CONCERTS WERE GETTING VERY INVOLVED
WITH HIS AUDIENCE. AT THE END OF EACH SHOW, HE WOULD CATAPULT MEAT (AND
OTHER LEFTOVERS FROM BUTCHER SHOPS SUCH AS STOMACHS AND INTESTINES) AT
HIS AUDIENCE. WELL, OVER TIME HIS AUDIENCE BEGAN GETTING HIM BACK! OZZY
HAD SAID IN AN INTERVIEW "WE HAD TO TURN THIS GUY AWAY FROM OUR SHOW BECAUSE
HE WAS TRYING TO GET IN WITH AN OX'S HEAD, A FULL HEAD!" SO ONE NIGHT SOMEONE
THROWS A BAT ON STAGE. STUNNED BY THE LIGHT, THE BAT LAY MOTIONLESS AND
OZZY THINKING IT WAS PLASTIC, (OF COURSE HE HAD TO BE DRINKING TO THINK
THIS THING WAS PLASTIC!) PICKS IT UP AND BITES THE HEAD OFF OF IT. THE
BAT THEN STARTED TO FLAP HIS WINGS AND OZZY SOON REALIZED IT WASN'T FAKE!
AFTER THE SHOW OZZY WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR RABIES SHOTS.
OZZY DESCRIBES IT AS "ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE,PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF MY
LIFE." WITH ALL THE MEDIA HYPE,BY THE SUMMER OF 1981 "BLIZZARD OF OZZ"
WENT PLATINUM. A FIRST FOR OZZY.
***** 1982 *****
FEBRUARY 1982,OZZY VISITS THE ALAMO, A NATIONAL SHRINE
IN TEXAS. DRUNK IN HIS HOTEL ROOM HE DECIDES TO DRESS UP AS A WOMAN AND
GO OUTSIDE TO SNAP SOME PICTURES. DURING FILM RELOADING, OZZ FELT THE NEED
TO RELIEVE HIMSELF. HE WALKS OVER TO THIS HALF KNOCKED DOWN WALL AND STARTS
TAKING A LEAK. THAT PIECE OF WALL TURNED OUT TO BE PART OF THE ALAMO BUILDING.
OZZY WAS THROWN IN JAIL AND BANNED FROM EVER PLAYING IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
AGAIN. (A BAN WHICH WAS LIFTED IN 1992) MORE BAND MEMBER CHANGES WERE MADE
THIS YEAR - LINDSEY BRIDGEWATER IS HIRED FOR KEYBOARDS, BRIDGEWATER LEAVES
SHORTLY AFTER AND DON AIREY IS HIRED. MARCH 19TH,1982 WOULD MARK THE SADDEST
DAY IN OSBOURNE HISTORY. RANDY RHOADS IS KILLED IN A TRAGIC AIRPLANE CRASH.
THE DRIVER OF THE BUS WAS A LICENSED PILOT, WHO DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE
FLYING WHILE SOME OF THE BAND RESTED ON BOARD THE BUS. HE TOOK UP A SMALL
ENGINE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH JAKE DUNCAN AND DON AIREY UP FOR A LITTLE RIDE.
UPON LANDING HE EXTENDS THE SAME INVITATION TO RHOADS AND RACHEL YOUNGBLOOD
(A WOMAN THAT DID MAKEUP). SO THEY BOTH GO UP. THE PILOT HAD JUST GONE
THROUGH A NASTY DIVORCE AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN HIS EX-WIFE HAD STEPPED
OFF THE BUS HE LAUNCHED TOWARDS HER. THE WING OF THE PLANE HIT THE TOP
OF THE BUS AND FROM THERE FLEW INTO A NEAR BY GARAGE AND BLEW UP. THE BUS
WHERE OZZ AND THE REST OF HIS BAND LIE SLEEPING WAS BADLY DAMAGED BUT NO
ONE WAS HURT INSIDE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO JUMP RIGHT BACK INTO THE GAME, OZ
HIRES THE FIRST AX-MAN TO COME ALONG - BERNIE TORME (WHO LATER WENT ON
TO BE WITH DEE SNYDER). HE LASTED ONLY 3 WEEKS, COULDN'T TAKE THE PRESSURE.
OZ THEN HIRES BRAD GILLIS (EX NIGHTRANGER) TO FILL TORME'S SPOT. ON JULY
4,1982 OZZY GETS MARRIED TO SHARON ON THE TROPICAL ISLAND OF MAUI. TOMMY
ALDRIDGE WAS OZZY'S BEST MAN. OZZY DIDN'T LIKE THE HAWAIIAN BAND PLAYING
THERE SO HE KICKED THEM OUT AND DISTRIBUTED THEIR INSTRUMENTS TO HIS BAND
AND PLAYED SOME ACOUSTICAL VERSIONS OF GOODBYE TO ROMANCE,PARANOID AND
SOME OLD BEATLES SONGS. (ANOTHER TAPE I WOULD LOVE TO GET MY HANDS ON!)
SHARON ALSO TOOK OVER THE ROLE AS OZZYS NEW MANAGER BY BUYING THE CONTRACT
FOR OZZ FROM HER OWN FATHER! IN AN EFFORT TO GET OUT OF A STICKY SITUATION,OZZY
IS FORCED TO PUT OUT A LIVE ALBUM CALLED "SPEAK OF THE DEVIL", ALSO CALLED
"TALK OF THE DEVIL" (NON-U.S.) THIS ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE A
LIVE ALBUM TRIBUTE RANDY RHOADS,BUT OZZY THOUGHT IT WAS TOO SOON AFTER
HIS DEATH TO RELEASE THAT KIND OF MATERIAL. IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THE COVER,
YOU KNOW THAT OZZY HAS RASBERRY JAM (LOOKS LIKE BLOOD CLOTS) SPITTING OUT
OF HIS MOUTH. WELL,A FEW HUNDRED ALBUMS HIT THE STORE SHELVES WITH A STICKER
THAT COVERED THAT UP AND MADE OZZY LOOK NORMAL (OR HALF WAY NORMAL). AS
SOON AS OZZY FOUND THIS OUT HE THEM ALL RECALLED AND SENT OUT THE WAY HE
WANTED IT TO BE. IF YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT ALL THAT CRYPTIC WRITING IS
AROUND OZZY ON THE FRONT COVER OF "SPEAK OF THE DEVIL" THIS IS WHAT IT
SAYS: HOWDY. DIAL A DEMON PRODUCTIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRAVEYARD GRAPHICS,
PROUDLY PRESENTS THE MADMAN OF ROCK DUMPING IN EL SATANOS TOILETTO. THE
INSIDE MAGIC WORDS REVEAL A MORE SERIOUS NOTE - A TRIBUTE TO RANDY RHOADS,
AXEMAN. THAT KID WAS MY LIFELINE, Y'KNOW? HE WAS SUCH A DYNAMIC PLAYER
AND I'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT CUTS ME UP EVERY DAY
OF MY LIFE. RANDY RHOADS REST IN PEACE AND LOVE. SOON AFTER THE RELEASE
OF "SPEAK OF THE DEVIL" OZZY SHAVES EVERY INCH OF HAIR OFF OF HIS HEAD.
ALOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT WAS THE RABBIE SHOTS FROM THE BAT INCIDENT THAT
MADE HIS HAIR FALL OUT, BUT THIS ISN'T TRUE AT ALL. I HAVE A VIDEO TAPED
INTERVIEW IN WHICH HE EXPLAINS "I WAS USING A LOT OF GELS AND OILS IN MY
HAIR, AND WITH THOSE BRIGHT STAGE LIGHTS BEATING DOWN ON THAT ALL NIGHT
LONG,IT WAS MAKING HIS HAIR VERY BRITTLE AND DAMAGED. SO ONE DAY I JUST
SHAVED IT ALL OFF!"
***** 1983 *****
BAND MEMBER CHANGES, GILLIS GOES BACK TO NIGHT RANGER
(GOOD MOVE!)AND OZZY HIRES JAKE E LEE. OZZY RELEASES "BARK AT THE MOON"
MORE BAND MEMBER CHANGES, ALDRIGE LEAVES,AND CARMINE APPICE IS HIRED FOR
DRUMS. TWO MONTHS LATER HE IS FIRED AND ALDRIDGE COMES BACK. AUGUST 2ND,
1983 OZZY HAS HIS FIRST OFFSPRING WITH SHARON: A DAUGHTER, AIMEE RACHEL
(MIDDLE NAME POSSIBLY NAMED AFTER RACHEL YOUNGBLOOD WHO DIED IN THE PLANE
ACCIDENT WITH RANDY.) OZZY MADE TWO VIDEOS FOR THIS ALBUM. THE FIRST WAS
FOR "BARK AT THE MOON" WHERE IT TOOK OVER 8 HOURS TO PREPARE OZZY IN FULL
WOLF COSTUME. THE SECOND VIDEO WAS FOR "SO TIRED" IN WHICH THERE IS A SEEN
A MIRROR EXPLODES IN HIS FACE. WHEN THE MIRROR EXPLODED,OZZY GOT SHARP
GLASS BLASTED INTO HIS THROAT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE COULDN'T SING FOR A
LITTLE WHILE.
***** 1984 ****
THE BAND LINE UP IS NOW DON AIREY ON KEYBOARDS, JAKE E
LEE ON GUIATR, BOB DAISLEY ON BASS AND TOMMY ALDRIGE ON DRUMS. OZZY ADMITS
HIMSELF TO THE BETTY FORD CLINIC FOR REHAB OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.
OZZY ALSO BECOMES A FATHER AGAIN TO ANOTHER DAUGHTER - KELLY.
***** 1985 *****
IN JUNE OZZY REUNITES WITH BLACK SABBATH FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE THEIR BREAK UP TO DO 3 SONGS AT THE LIVE AID CONCERT. NOVEMBER
8,1985, OZZY HAS ANOTHER SON, JACK.
***** 1986 *****
"THE ULTIMATE SIN" ALBUM IS RELEASED. ONCE AGAIN,OZZY
RAN INTO TROUBLE WITH THE LOOKS OF HIS ALBUM COVER. THE ORIGINAL COVER
HAD 3 CRUCIFIXES ATOP A HILL IN THE BACK GROUND AND THE GIRL HAD NO PANTS
ON. OZZY HAD ACTUALLY WRITTEN A WHOLE ALBUM BEFORE THE "ULTIMATE SIN",BUT
SCRAPPED THE WHOLE THINGAND STARTED FROM SCRATCH BECAUSE HE WASN'T HAPPY
WITH IT. MORE BAND MEMBER CHANGES INCLUDED RANDY CASTILLO TAKING OVER DRUMS,
PHIL SOUSSAN TAKING OVER ON BASS,AND JOHN SINCLAIR TAKING OVER ON KEYBOARDS.
THE ULTIMATE SIN TOUR PROVED TO BE AN EXPENSIVE ONE. AT THE MEADOWLANDS
SPORTS COMPLEX IN NEW JERSEY,OZZY ENCOURAGED FANS TO RIP UP SEATS COSTING
HIM $80,000 IN DAMAGE. OZZY IS SUED BY PARENTS OF A BOY BY THE NAME OF
JACK McKULUN, WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE WHILE LISTENING TO THE "SUICIDE SOLUTION"
SONG. OZZY IS SAID TO HAVE SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES IN HIS MUSIC. OZZY WINS
(OF COURSE, DON'T BE SILLY!)
***** 1987 *****
THE LONG AWAITED "RANDY RHOADS TRIBUTE ALBUM" IS RELEASED.
A LIVE RECORDING FEATURING THE LATE AX-MAN. OZZY PICKS UP A NEW AX-MAN
BY THE NAME OF ZAKK WYLDE, BASS IS TAKEN OVER BY BOB DAISLEY JULY 1987
OZZY PLAYS WORMWOOD SCRUBS PRISON, THE ONLY GIG THAT YEAR.
***** 1988 *****
THE "NO REST FOR THE WICKED" ALBUM IS RELEASED. THIS ALBUM
ALSO HAD TROUBLES WITH IT'S COVER. THE ORIGINAL COVER WAS SIMILIAR TO THE
ONE THAT WAS RELEASED EXCEPT OZZY HAD A CROWN OF THORNS ON HIS HEAD, AND
THE THREE GIRLS WERE HOLDING CRUCIFIXES.
***** 1989 *****
JUNE 4TH, OZZY HAS HIS FIRST PAY-PER-VIEW CONCERT BROADCAST
TO ALL PAYING CITIZENS OF THE U.S. THE CONCERT WAS PERFORMED LIVE AT THE
TOWER THEATER IN PHILLADELPHIA, P.A. AUGUST 12TH, OZZY PLAYS THE MOSCOW
PEACE FESTIVAL IN RUSSIA WITH OTHER BIG ACTS SUCH AS MOTLEY CRUE, BON JOVI,
THE SCORPIONS, AND SKID ROW.
**** 1990 *****
GEEZER BUTLER RETURNS TO OZZY TO PLAY BASS AND RECORDS
A LIVE ALBUM NAMED "JUST SAY OZZY",A 6 SONG ALBUM TO HOLD FANS OVER FOR
A WHILE. 1990 ALSO SAW THE RELEASE OF THE NOW IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND "TEN COMMANDMENTS"
THIS WAS A LIMITED EDITION OF OZZY'S BEST SONGS. ONCE AGAIN, OZZY BECOMES
ENTANGLED WITH THE LAW. THIS TIME, A MORE SERIOUS CHARGE, ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF HIS WIFE. AFTER ALL THE TREATMENT THE OZZMAN HAD GONE THROUGH, NOTHING
HAD WORKED. OZZY THREATENED SHARON VERBALLY, SHE TOOK HIM SERIOUSLY, AND
WENT STRAIGHT TO THE COPS.
***** 1991 *****
THE "NO MORE TEARS" ALBUM IS RELEASED. THIS ALBUM WAS
ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE CALLED "SAY HELLO TO HEAVEN". GEEZER LEFT OZZY AGAIN
AND MIKE INEZ TOOK OVER ON BASS. OZZY COLLABORATES WITH LEMMY OF MOTORHEAD
IN THE WRITING PROCESS FOR THIS ALBUM. OZZY EVEN TAKES HOME A GRAMMY FOR
"I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD". OZZY ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT TOUR,
THE "NO MORE TOURS TOUR". THIS TOUR WOULD MARK THE LAST TOUR OZZY WOULD
EVER PERFORM (ACCORDING TO OZZY) HE STATED THAT HE WAS RETIRING FROM THE
MUSIC BUSINESS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.
***** 1992 *****
NOVEMBER 15TH, ON THE LAST STOP OF THE "NO MORE TOURS
TOUR",BLACK SABBATH REUNITES FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE THEIR BREAKUP IN 1978
AT COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA. AT THE END OF THE SHOW A SIGN IS LIT UP WHICH
READS "OZZY OSBOURNE, I'LL BE BACK"
***** 1993 - 1994 *****
A DOUBLE LIVE ALBUM, AND VIDEO IS RELEASED BY THE NAME
OF "LIVE AND LOUD". THIS WAS RECORDED AROUND THE WORLD ON THE "NO MORE
TOURS TOUR" 91-92. IT ALSO INCLUDED ONE LIVE TRACK FROM THE SABBATH REUNION,
"BLACK SABBATH". OZZY SPENDS THESE 2 YEARS AT HOME WITH HIS FAMILY, TAKING
IT EASY AND ENJOYING LIFE. BUT THE EASY LIFE IS ACTUALLY DRIVING HIM NUTS,
HE BADLY WANTS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND START DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST,
SINGING. HE DOES A LITTLE WRITING WITH STEVE VAI AND OTHER MUSICAL TALENTS.
ALL IN HE WRITES ABOUT 40 SONGS.
***** 1995 *****
OZZY ANNOUNCES TO THE WORLD THAT HE IS BACK AND HERE TO
STAY. HE RELEASES HIS NEW ALBUM "OZZMOSIS" WHICH FEATURED GEEZER ON BASS,
ZAKK ON GUITAR, AND DEAN CASTRONOVO ON DRUMS. SADLY THERE WAS NO STEVE
VAI TO BE SEEN ON THIS ALBUM (I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR THAT), BUT THERE
WAS CREDIT TO STEVE IN HELP OF WRITING OZZYS DEDICATION TO HIS SON JACK,
"MY LITTLE MAN". ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD RUMORS THAT THE ORIGINAL TITLE
OF OZZMOSIS WAS GOING TO BE CALLED X-RAY. THIS IS NOT TRUE, X-RAY WAS THE
NAME OF THE BAND THAT OZZY WAS PUTTING TOGETHER WITH STEVE. OZZY RECORDS
OZZMOSIS DRUG/LIQUOR FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME! ZAKK ONLY STICKS AROUND TO
RECORD THE STUDIO ALBUM, AND THEN HE'S OFF TO WORK WITH HIS OWN SOLO PROJECT
"PRIDE AND GLORY". A NEW AX-MAN BY THE NAME OF JOE HOLMES TAKES OVER. JOE
HAS SAID THAT RANDY RHOADS ACTUALLY USED TO TEACH HIM WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER,
STRANGE HUH?
***** 1996 *****
OZZY GOES BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN WITH HIS "RETIREMENT
SUCKS" TOUR WITH JOE HOLMES ON AX, MIKE BORDIN (FROM FAITH NO MORE) ON
DRUMS, ROBERT TRUJILLIO (FROM SUICIDAL TENDINCIES) ON BASS, AND JOHN SINCLAIR
ON KEYBOARDS. SEPTEMBER 1996 OZZY STARTS UP "OZZ-FEST", A HUGE FESTIVAL
WITH SLAYER, NEUROSIS, BIOHAZARD, PRONG, FEAR FACTORY, DANZIG AND OTHERS.
YOU COULD GET A BODY PIERCING OR A TATTOO, AND EXPERIENCE VARIOUS OTHER
THINGS THERE. DURING THE '96 TOUR OZZY HAS TO CANCEL/CUT SHORT NUMEROUS
CONCERT GIGS DUE TO ILLNESS AND VOICE/THROAT PROBLEMS.
***** 1997 *****
OZZY STARTS HIS OWN RECORD LABEL "OZZ RECORDS" IN COLABORATION WITH RED ANT RECORDS (WHICH WENT BELLY UP ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER) AND RELEASES A LIVE ALBUM AND VIDEO NAMED "THE OZZFEST". THE ALBUM CONSISTED OF ONE SONG FROM EACH OF THE BANDS THAT PLAYED ON THE '96 OZZFEST TOUR. THE MATERIAL WAS RECORDED AT THE GLEN HELEN BLOCK-BUSTER PAVILION, DEVORE, CALIFORNIA 10/26/96, AND THE DESSERT SKY PAVILION, PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OZZY TEAMS UP WITH TYPE O NEGATIVE TO DO A SONG CALLED "PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN" WHICH IS ON THE SOUNDTRACK TO HOWARD STERNS MOVIE "PRIVATE PARTS". OZZY ALSO HAS A SMALL CAMEO PART IN HIS MOVIE. OZZY ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL BE REUNITING WITH BLACK SABBATH, EXCLUDING THE DRUMMER BILL WARD FOR CREATIVE DIFFERENCES AT THE UPCOMING SUMMER OZZFEST. THE BAND KIND OF THOUGHT THAT BILL COULDN'T HANDLE THE TOURING ANY MORE,AND BILL HAD ALSO BEEN WORKING ON HIS NEW SOLO ALBUM SO THINGS JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT. MAY 24TH, OZZY KICKS OFF HIS OZZFEST TOUR IN V.A. REUNITING WITH TONY IOMMI AND GEEZER BUTLER. CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS OZZY AGAIN AS HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS OZZ-FEST OUT ON THE ROAD WITH MARILYN MANSON. (A BAND KNOWN TO DO SOME UN-EARTHLY ACTS ON STAGE) GIANTS STADIUM IN NJ TRY TO CANCEL THE CONCERT BECAUSE OF MANSON,BUT OZZY TAKES NJ TO COURT AND WINS THE RIGHT TO PLAY! JUNE 17TH OZZY CAUSES A RIOT AT AN OZZFEST CONCERT IN COLUMBUS O.H. BY NOT SHOWING UP. ANGRY FANS BROKE WINDOWS,UPROOTED TREES,SET VARIOUS THINGS ON FIRE, AND EVEN FLIPPED OVER A CAR. OZZY APPARENTLY HAD SOME THROAT PROBLEMS AND MADE UP THE SHOW ON A LATER DATE. NOVEMBER 11TH "THE OZZMAN COMETH" IS RELEASED. A GREATEST HITS PACKAGE WHICH FEATURES 4 SO CALLED "BASEMENT TAPES" OF EARLY SABBATH PERFORMING. THE DOUBLE CD ALSO INCLUDED A BRAND NEW SONG ENTITLED "BACK ON EARTH", AN INTERVIEW, AND MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE INCLUDING SCREEN SAVERS, A GAME, MOVIES, AND MORE! THIS DATE ALSO MARKS THE DAY WHERE OZZY HELD A SIGNING IN NEW YORK, TIMES SQUARE AT THE VIRGIN MEGA STORE WHERE I FINALLY GOT TO MEET HIM! DECEMBER 4TH & 5TH, THE ORIGINAL BLACK SABBATH REUNITES WITH ALL 4 ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS AT THE NEC IN BIRMINGHAM, UK. THESE 2 CONCERTS ARE SAID TO BE RELEASED AS A LIVE ALBUM AND VIDEO IN 1998.