Do you know who Ozzy Osbourne is?
Are you a fan?
Hopefully you know more about him than the MTV reality show about his family life called “The Osbournes“!
In the 1970’s, Ozzy was the lead vocalist of the epic heavy metal band from England, “Black Sabbath“.
His drug and alcohol problems caused him to get kicked out of the band that he helped found.
After that he was ready to give up on rock ‘n roll…but the daughter of Black Sabbath‘s manager became the manager of his solo career and she eventually became his wife.
With her help, Ozzy Osbourne became more popular as a solo artist than when he was with Sabbath.
Ozzy‘s antics in his younger days are infamous though.
For example, when his manager / soon-to-be wife was trying to get Ozzy a record contract for his solo career (which was no small feat due to his well-known addiction problems), she suggested that he show up to the meeting with the record executives with some white doves as a sign of peace.
But he showed up drunk…and bit the head of one of the doves clean off!
It made quite the impression!
He got the record deal but was forbidden from stepping foot in the record company’s office again!
Another time, during a concert, a fan threw a live bat onto the stage…and Ozzy bit that animal’s head off too! (He had to get rabies shots after that).
At one time in the 1980s, Ozzy urinated on “The Alamo” in the U.S. state of Texas.
“The Alamo”, it seems, is a state treasure and for that the Governor Of Texas (who was future U.S. President George W. Bush) banned Ozzy from stepping foot on Texas soil for ten years!
Ironically, during Bush’s presidency Ozzy was invited to a White House dinner and President Bush gave a glowing speech to Ozzy in which he said, among other things, that his mother (Barbara Bush) listens to Ozzy‘s music.
Somehow I can’t imagine Mrs. Bush enjoying Ozzy Osbourne‘s music!
Anyways, Ozzy Osbourne, “The Godfather Of Metal”, will be releasing a new album next year.
And next month, his autobiography, titled “I Am Ozzy” will be in bookstores.
The cover of Ozzy Osbourne's autobiograhy
I want to read it!
And due in theaters in 2010 is a documentary about Ozzy‘s life (produced by his son, Jack Osbourne), titled “Wreckage Of My Past (The Story Of Ozzy Osbourne)“.
Tokyo Five 
The “Bat incident” happened in Des Moines, IA (I lived there at the time… Ozzy didn’t tour in Des Moines for years after that, and when he came back he did a radio promotion where he mentioned it.
I discovered yesterday that my 12 year old son, can do a spot on impression of Ozzy, We were at the store and he tried on a pair of sunglasses like Ozzy wears and started talking like him. It was so funny, I bought him the glasses, and said he should do that for Halloween.
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Did you attend that show?
That event was one of rock ‘n roll’s most infamous moments.
And will your son dress as Ozzy on Halloween?
Does he listen to Ozzy’s music?
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I wasn’t at the show, but it was HUGE news when it happened. A lot of fans were pissed because afterwards he said he wouldn’t return to Des Moines, but it was his own fault for doing it.
I don’t think anyone knows who the person was who did it either.
I don’t know if my son will dress up as him or not yet. If he does, I’ll send you a pic. I can’t really say that he’s a “Fan” of Ozzy, but his music tastes are more toward classic rock (I taught him well)
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>it was HUGE news when it happened.
Yes. Not just in Iowa, but everywhere.
>it was his own fault for doing it.
Well, it actually helped his career. That and his other numerous antics cemented his image as the “madman of rock ‘ n roll”.
>I don’t think anyone knows who the person was who did it either.
I heard he was 17 when it happened (1982)…so he must be 44 now.
>his music tastes are more toward classic rock
For example? Who are his favorite musicians?
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He doesn’t really identify with many bands, Mostly just listens to the classic rock station on the radio. Although he has preference for AC/DC and Styx.
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AC/DC and Styx!
Great!
Those two bands are quite different.
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I’m just now starting to get into the Ozzy-era of Sabbath. I know the other eras so well, I figured I’d give his time a shot.
I still don’t like his voice, but there’s some great music there.
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To me, the real Black Sabbath is Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill!
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