Ozzy Osbourne

Legendary rocker and one of the founders of Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne (real name John Michael Osbourne) was born in Birmingham in 1948. When John was fifteen years old, he was expelled from school and the future rock star worked in different places, but he did not feel like it was his destination. John tried to steal and as the result he found himself in jail. There he made his famous tattoo OZZY on the left hand fingers.

After the jail Ozzy decided to try himself in music. He placed an advertisement and pretty soon he met Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and William Ward. The musicians called their band Earth and started playing cover-versions. Their first composition was titled Black Sabbath, and later the band took its name, because a group called Earth had been already organized. In 1970 the band released their debut album titled Black Sabbath. Seven years later Ozzy quitted the band, however soon he returned back. The musicians started to work on the material for Never Say Die, but the process went rather slow: Ozzy’s dad died, and the rocker was drinking and using drugs. After the record was completed Black Sabbath went on a tour, after which Ozzy quitted the band and started his solo career.

Ozzy decided to organize a new band due to his future wife Sharon Arden’s advice. Thus, he placed an advertisement and in no time he was contacted by Randall Rhoads. Later they were joined by Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake. The quartet recorded the debut album titled Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. Ozzy wanted to improve relationship with the record company CBS and brought two pigeons to their office. He planned to let them fly, so everyone will pay attention to that gesture. The rocker attracted attention, but in a different way. The first pigeon was set free and flew away. The second one was less successful: Ozzy simply bit his head off. Pictures of that event immediately appeared in the press and John achieved his aim – he was definitely noticed. Meanwhile the band was gaining popularity and working on the new material. The fans at the shows were having fun – Ozzy threw raw meat and pluck to the audience. Once after a show somebody called to the band’s management and asked for advice how to wash off the blood.

In 1981 Ozzy released his second solo album The Diary of a Madman, which got quite a heavy sound. That record was very well-received by the fans and by the musical experts. Ozzy’s music and lyrics were gloomy, and the lead song from the next album Bark at the Moon (1983) even influenced a young man from Canada in a bad way. At the New Year night he killed a woman and her two sons. Later he explained that he had a strange feeling every time when he had listened to Ozzy’s song Bark at the Moon.

Album The Ultimate Sin was issued in 1986 and it got unusually soft sound. The musicians used the keyboards, and the whole album’s theme was peace and refusal from violence. The following studio work No Rest For The Wicked (1988) was recorded with the help of an extremely talented guitarist Zakk Wylde, and the musicians collaborated after No Rest For The Wicked was completed. Album No More Tears (1991) was created with the help of another legendary frontman – the vocalist and bass player of Motörhead Lemmy Kilmister. No More Tears became one of the most successful Ozzy’s albums and it was certified 4x Platinum. In 1995 Osbourne released his seventh studio album Ozzmosis, which became one of his best works. Zakk Wylde also contributed to that record, which included such hits as I Just Want You and See You on the Other Side.

In 1996 Ozzy organized a famous festival Ozzfest, where the best rock and metal bands perform every year. In 1997 all the rock music fans were excited: legendary Black Sabbath reunited in their original line-up. The band went on an international tour; nevertheless they did not record a new album. In 2001 Ozzy’s discography was enlarged by a new album Down to Earth. The sound became even heavier; however the lyrical songs, such as Dreamer were also presented. In 2007 Ozzy released Black Rain, and later he stated that it was his very first album he recorded while being sober. Probably the changed sound may be connected with that.

In 2010 Ozzy issued his tenth studio work, created in his own studio The Bunker. The album was titled Scream and it got fair reviews, which is not a surprise. Ozzy Osbourne’s professionalism and talent let him create the music without any limits. That album proves Ozzy’s skills and the original sound is a guarantee of a real pleasure from listening to Scream.