A Photographic Retrospective By John Robert Rowlands

Ozzy Osbourne

b. 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.

Photograph of Ozzy in 1978 by John Robert Rowlands