Ozzy Osbourne: biography, best songs, interesting facts, listen

Ozzie osbourne

From dirt to ... the fathers of heavy metal - literally, you can describe the way of life of the great and terrible Ozzy Osbourne. His career resembles a horror story with an aggressively brutal soundtrack. It had everything: bitten off heads of bats, pieces of flesh flying off the stage, scandals and forbidden substances. But darkness and darkness are not the only components of the biography of a musician whose name is recorded in the Hall of Fame of British music. Not in his life without love, caring for children and attention to the problems of the public. But first things first.

short biography

John Michael Osborne, who later became known as Ozzy, was destined to be born into a poor family. This event happened on December 3, 1948 in the English city of Birmingham. One bed for all children, who numbered six with our hero, the lack of running water and a meager wardrobe - approximately the kind of everyday reality surrounded the future rock musician.

John Osborne's childhood is hardly uncommon. Games on the street, disputes with brothers and sisters, studying at school - everything is like at all. But he did not like to study, therefore, having finished the school program at 15, he went to work as a messenger and then as a plumber's assistant. But these professions did not arouse much enthusiasm among the young men. Then he went to the pottery, where he slaughtered more than 200 sheep daily. Here, Ozzy, too, did not last long, replacing the bloody job at the car factory where his mother worked.

No place of work brought enough money to the young British man. The young man decides to go the other way - to become a thief and get rich. The plan failed almost immediately thanks to the gloves with the fingers cut off. The capture was followed by a sentence and imprisonment for six months.

Coming out of prison, Ozzy forgets about the life of thieves and again begins to earn extra money anywhere. But to constantly survive was not for him. The solution to financial problems came from the world of show business. At that time, the Beatles were on the stage. The success of the Liverpool Four made a great impression on Ozzy. Comparing this fact with the fact that once he took part in musical teams, the young man sets himself a new goal - to make money on music.

To begin with, the future rock musician tried himself as a soloist in several British bands. But Ozzie's ambition and quick-tempered character soon led to his exit from the squads and the desire to create his own team. A simple ad in the newspaper led him to budding guitarist Taranz Butler, a former classmate of Tony Iommi and Bill Ward. Young people called themselves Earth and gave concerts under this title until 1969.

But one event made the legendary metalist reconsider the concept of the created musical group. They became the rental of the horror film "Black Sabbath". Rather, the number of people breaking into cinemas. If people like so much evil and everything connected with it, why not give it to them? So the Black Sabbath band appeared on the stage, performing dark music. But among the mournful guitar parts there were also notes of jazz - the past of the musicians and the view of the world of music of the current manager Jim Simson.

A new wave of speeches begins. True, not very successful. Everything changed on February 13, 1970 due to one accident. Someone has placed an inverted cross on the turn of the new album of the Black Sabbat. For musicians stuck satanic role. The sales of the record jumped sharply, and its position in the American charts reached the third line. Whether there is a connection here is not known for certain. But the fact remains: the popularity of the Black Sabbath began to grow.

The busy concert schedule and the constant cries of the children, whom Osborne already had three, pressed on him. He begins to abuse alcohol and drugs. His mental state and the death of his father were shaken. Relationships in the group become strained due to the inadequate behavior of the lead singer. In 1979, the rocker leaves the created team. A period of hopeless drug and alcohol intoxication begins, from which Sharon Arden, his future wife, helped him out. It was she who forced him to gather a new group and return to the world of music.

Thus, in 1980, the debut album "Blizzard of Ozz" appeared on the shelves of music stores, which is still in great demand among heavy metal lovers. A year later, the second solo album "Diary Of A Madman". Success was repeated: crowds of fans are buying up the album.

I must say that the group of the legendary metalist is constantly changing. Some musicians could not stand the soloist's behavior, others retired due to financial problems. But this did not prevent Ozzy from collecting stadiums and doing his best.

How was Ozzy's career going? According to all the rules of rock life. Constant concerts, tours, eccentric antics, alcohol and drugs, the subsequent rehabilitation of addictions and, of course, the recognition in it of the legendary musician.

What is age for Ozzy Osbourne? Just a number. He is 68, but he is not going to finish his musical career. Harmful addictions are in the past (he was even entrusted to lead a column on a healthy lifestyle), but hard rock from his blood has not disappeared anywhere. Mad actions are not expected from him, but good songs - yes.

Interesting Facts

• Ozzy's creative pseudonym has several versions of the origin. According to the first, it is just an abbreviated version of the last name, which was assigned to him during his school years. The second claims that the musician named himself in honor of the wizard of Oz, the character of the children's book of the same name.
• Reading, according to Osborne, is one of the best ways to spend your leisure time with benefits. But during his life a famous artist could read from cover to cover just a couple of books. The reason is dyslexia. It is this disorder that prevents a man from properly understanding words and text as a whole.

• To make a positive impression on the owners of the CBS label, with whom Ozzy planned to work as a solo artist, Sharon devised a clever plan. She invited the musician to meet with three white pigeons and release them in public. John Michael decided to replay the script: in front of everyone he bit off the head of one of the birds. What made him do it? Extra portion of alcohol. Those present were shocked, but the contract was signed - the youth became interested in a crazy musician.
• Legend has it that the real witch cursed the participants of Black Sabbat. Her anger caused the group's refusal to give a concert at a satanic gathering. Ominous spells resulted in the uncertainty of musicians. Then Ozzy's father made aluminum crosses for all, which were later replaced with gold ones.
• Young Ozzy Osbourne’s imprisonment could last less than 6 months if his father paid a bail for him. But he showed pedagogical wisdom, which the wayward son appreciated - the thefts were over.
• Ozzy was able to get a driver's license only in 60 years. He proudly announced this event in social networks. Prior to this, 19 unsuccessful attempts to pass the exam were undertaken. After receiving the coveted document, the rock musician managed to break the new Ferrari in the very first independent trip. His driving license, of course, deprived.
• Ozzy's phenomenality is not only in a successful career, but also in longevity. At the time of this writing, the musician is 68 years old! He is quite alert and capable. It seems that the effects of prolonged use of drugs, alcohol and other drugs have passed it. What is so special about his body and immune system will have to be dealt with by geneticists - the British have already bequeathed his body to study scientists.
• Some data on the health of Osborne are available now. American researchers took blood samples from the illustrious British and studied its DNA. It turned out that Ozzy Osbourne is a descendant of Neanderthals. This news did not surprise the singer - his antics in alcohol intoxication is proof of that. Also, the musician is involved in the Romanov dynasty. According to the study, he is a distant relative of Nicholas II.

• The King of darkness has thoughts about his own funeral. All requirements are reduced to one thought - it must be funny and with a touch of black humor. For example, knocking from a coffin would be superfluous.
• Ozzy likes to tickle nerves around. This proves the case in Madame Tussauds. Instead of walking between the exhibits, the man froze in a fixed pose on the couch. Visitors who decided to take a picture with the figure of a great musician, waited for a spectacular sight in the form of a revived Ozzy Osborne.
• John Michael knows what poverty is, so he doesn't shun giving money to the poor. A gold chain with a crucifix, 100-dollar bills go into motion when he sees vagrants and beggars around him. He also participates in charity events with his wife, Ozzy.
• Tattoo rocker compares with addiction. Nakolov one drawing, you certainly want to continue to "decorate" the body with all sorts of images. Ozzy regrets about many of his tattoos. For example, he does not understand why there was a smiley on his knee! In more than 60 years, it looks at least funny, according to the musician.

• The legendary metalhead once said that on his tombstone necessarily mentioned bitten head of a bat. Indeed, this case will always be with Ozzy. The situation was as follows. At the performances, the rocker took pieces of flesh and threw them into the auditorium. The audience picked up the idea and began to throw the bodies of dead cats, the internal organs of animals, etc., onto the stage. Once, someone threw a bat onto the stage. The musician thought it was a toy and bit her head off. The mouse suddenly came to life and dug into Ozzy. It all ended with a hospital and rabies shots.
• Shooting the video for the song "So Tired" could end for the rock singer miserably. During the work of the film crew a large mirror suddenly broke. His shards drove straight into Osborne's neck. The performer was taken to the hospital, and the scheduled performances were canceled.
• In 2010, Ozzy’s autobiographical book titled “I Am Ozzy” was published. It has true facts from the life of a rocker, humor and self-irony inherent in the musician.

Best Ozzy Osbourne Songs

• "Mama, I'm Coming Home"Judging by the title line, the musician sings about his mom. It's not quite like that. He calls Mom Sharon, his wife. He dedicated the song to her. By the way, the song’s name is very autobiographical. Ozzie told his wife by phone about his return from touring.

"Mama, I'm Coming Home" (listen)

• "Crazy train"is a heavy metal classic and Osborne's first single as a soul singer. It sings about the madness of the modern world: military actions, people's fears and indifference towards each other.

"Crazy Train" (listen)

• "Dreamer"- one of the most favorite songs of the rocker. She is very similar to the composition of John Lennon's" Imagine ". And this is not surprising - Ozzy has repeatedly said about his admiration for Lennon's work. The single was only able to work 10 lines in the charts, which does not interfere with fans the metalhead has been humming her for more than 15 years now.

"Dreamer" (listen)

• "Paranoid". This song came to light helped by chance. The Black Sabbath band was preparing for the release of the second album, but all the songs were too short - one more was needed to fill out the record. After half an hour," Paranoid "was ready, which overnight became the title song of the album By the way, in 2002, Ozzy performed it on the anniversary of Elizabeth II. What is it about in the track? About a depressed person who is not happy about anything.

• "Changes"- a beautiful ballad about relationships, known to many by Ozzy and his daughter Kelly. Initially, the song was recorded in 1972 by Black Sabbath musicians and was rarely used at concerts. The composition began to play in new ways in 2003, when the father and daughter decided to record Duet. In addition to the first place in the charts, the track was awarded the Grammy nomination.

Personal life of Ozzy Osbourne

Almost everyone knows about Ozzy-Sharon’s union. But Sharon is the second legitimate spouse of a rock musician. The first wife was Thelma Mayfair. A man married her in 1971 and immediately adopted the five-year-old son of Thelma, Elliot. Soon the family acquired common children: a daughter and a son.

It seems that it was Telma who should have supported her husband, who had lost his way in problems, and “pulled him out” of hard drinking. But Sharon did it. Fate brought them together by chance. Chubby brown-haired girl went to the already former Black Sabbat lead singer for a debt and ... became his lawful wife. But this celebration was destined to occur only after 3 years. In the meantime, Sharon is trying in every way to instill in a man who is intoxicated with confidence in his musical talent. As history has shown - she did it.

An enterprising girl bought a contract with Ozzy Osbourne from her own father, who at that time produced pseudo-Satanists, and assumed the duties of a producer to the newly-made boyfriend. Began the solo career of the King of Darkness under the strict guidance of Sharon.

Sharon and Ozzy celebrated their wedding on July 4, 1982. The date was not chosen by chance. So, the rock musician insured himself against forgetfulness: on July 4, Independence Day is celebrated in the USA. In the next three years, their family grew by exactly one member: first, Aimee was born, then Kelly, and finally Jack.

Raising children, working as a producer and the constant antics of her alcoholic husband is no wonder why Sharon is admired by others. Despite all the troubles, this pair is still together. 35 years of marriage of two hearts devoted to rock music.

And how did the veteran of the rock genre take care? He was next to his wife when they set cancer. He supports his children in their endeavors and enjoys playing with their grandchildren.

At the beginning of the two thousandth, everyone could watch the life of the Osbournes thanks to the reality show "The Osbournes Family". True, the elder daughter, Amy, refused to take part in the show.

Ozzfest or Ozzy Osbourne's Triumphant Return

In 1991, the famous British released the sixth studio album "No More Tears". In support of him, he goes on a tour, in the title of which the word tears has been replaced by tours. "No more touring" - so, Ozzie decided to tell everyone about his retirement from music. The fatigue from constant concerts and the need to spend more time with the family affected.

But in 1996, the thirst for huge stadiums and mad energy took possession of a rock musician. Osborne expressed a desire to take part in the Lollapaluza festival and was refused - the organizers considered the King of Darkness too old for such events.

In the Osbournes family it is not customary to give up Sharon offered to organize their own festival. So, in the fall of 1996, the first Ozzfest took place in the USA. Fans of hard rock have well received the idea of ​​an adventurous couple - after 2 years they have already enjoyed the festival in the UK.

Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park and other rock artists took part in the Ozzfest. A large-scale show is held every year during the summer period.

Films about Ozzy Osbourne and his participation

In 2011, the movie "God Save Ozzy Osbourne" appeared on the screens. It tells about the life of a musician, from childhood to the time of filming. The tape was produced by Ozzy's son, Jack.

You can see the legendary British vocalist in feature films. He played himself in Austin Powers: Goldmbert, the group’s manager in Jokers, and also played the voice of the animated film Gnomeo and Juliet.

Ozzy Osbourne's Music in Movies

Heavy rock music finds its fans among filmmakers. In which tapes can we hear the voice of the King of Darkness?

In fact, the list of films in which Osborne's work is involved has long exceeded the value of 100.

Such is the brief history of the crazy and shocking Ozzy Osbourne, without which it is impossible to imagine modern music.