Ozzy osbourne lyrics and Ozzy osbourne guitar tabs, Ozzy osbourne pictures and biography

John Osbourne, 3 December 1948, Aston, Birmingham,
England. In 1979 this highly individual and by now infamous
vocalist and songwriter left Black Sabbath, a band whose
image and original musical direction he had helped to shape.
His own band was set up with Lee Kerslake, formerly of
Uriah Heep, on drums, Rainbow 's Bob Daisley
(bass) and
Randy Rhoads
(b. Randall William Rhoads, 6 December 1956,
Santa Monica, California, USA, d. 19 March 1982), fresh
from Quiet Riot, on guitar. Rhoads' innovative playing ability
was much in evidence on the debut, Blizzard Of Oz. By the
time of a second album, Daisley and Kerslake had left to be
replaced by Pat Travers drummer Tommy Aldridge and Rudy
Sarzo
(bass). Throughout his post-Black Sabbath career,
Osbourne has courted publicity, most famously in 1982 when
he had to undergo treatment for rabies following an onstage
incident when he bit off the head of a bat. In the same year his
immensely talented young guitarist, Rhoads, was killed in an
air crash. In came Brad Gillis but, so close was Rhoads'
personal as well as musical relationship to Osbourne, many
feared he would never be adequately replaced. Talk Of The
Devil was released later in 1982, a live album that included
Sabbath material. Following a tour that saw Sarzo and Gillis
walk out, Osbourne was forced to rethink the line-up of his
band in 1983 as Daisley rejoined, along with guitarist Jake E.
Lee. Aldridge left following the release of Bark At The Moon,
and was replaced by renowned virtuoso drummer Carmine
Appice
(b. 15 December 1946, Staten Island, New York,
USA). This combination was to be short-lived, however,
Randy Castillo replacing Appice, and Phil Soussan taking on
the bass guitar. Daisley appeared on No Rest For The
Wicked, although Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler played on
the subsequent live dates. The late 80s were a trying time for
Osbourne. He went on trial in America for allegedly using his
lyrics to incite youngsters to commit suicide; he was eventually
cleared of these charges. His wife, Sharon
(daughter of Don
Arden ), also became his manager, and helped Osbourne to
overcome the alcoholism that was the subject of much of his
work. His lyrics, however, continued to deal with the
grimmest of subjects, including the agony of insanity, and
1986's The Ultimate Sin was concerned almost exclusively
with the issue of nuclear destruction. In later years Osbourne
has kept to more contemporary issues, rejecting to a certain
extent the satanic, werewolf image he constructed around
himself during the early 80s. In March 1989 he enjoyed a
US Top 10 hit with a duet with Lita Ford, 'Close My Eyes
Forever'. He embarked on a farewell tour in 1992, but broke
four bones in his foot which inhibited his performances greatly.
He also donated $20,000 to the Daughters Of The Republic
Of Texas appeal to help restore the Alamo, and performed
his first concert in the city of San Antonio since being banned
for urinating on a wall of the monument in 1982. Predictably,
neither retirement nor atonement sat too comfortably with the
man, and by late 1994 he was announcing the imminent release
of a new solo album, recorded in conjunction with Steve Vai.
He also teamed up with Therapy? to sing lead vocals on the
track 'Iron Man' for the Black Sabbath tribute album, Black
Nativity. Far less likely was his pairing with Miss Piggy of The
Muppet Show on 'Born To Be Wild', for a bizarre Muppets
compilation album. He also confesssed that his original partner
on his 1992 Don Was -produced duet with actress Kim Basinger,
'Shake Your Head', was Madonna, although he had not actually
recognized her. Other strange couplings included one with the
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly and the popular UK boxer
Frank Bruno on the 'Urpney Song', written by Mike Batt for the
cartoon series Dreamstone. Ozzmosis
(1995) was arguably his
best album to date, and was a major success. The line-up on
the album was Geezer Butler
(bass), Rick Wakeman
(keyboards),
Zakk Wylde, who co-wrote six tracks
(guitar), and Deen
Castronovo
(drums). Osbourne is one hard-rocker who has
tried every excess known and has survived. Amazingly, his
work continues to sound inspired and exciting.