Ozzy Osbourne in 2002: “I’m the working-class hero – not bad for a guy from Aston”

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This article was first published in TopMob in October 2002.

I show up ahead of schedule, find a spot to park beyond the entrance gates, spot two wooden crosses etched into the front door and a metal plaque with the message, “Disregard the canines. Take heed of the proprietor.” Suddenly, a police vehicle arrives, and two individuals step out from the house to inquire about my business.

The security measures are tightened on the street near Beverly Hills off Sunset Boulevard, due to the unusual residents at number 513 gaining unprecedented fame as America’s most talked-about family. They have surpassed Sex and the City in ratings and earned an Emmy for exceptional reality series just last month.

The unexpected subject matter of “The Osbournes” is the family of a heavy-metal musician from Birmingham who became famous as the “Prince of Darkness,” leading the band Black Sabbath until his dismissal in 1978 and then launching a successful solo career, reportedly earning a £40 million fortune.

Today, Ozzy Osbourne serves as a poignant illustration of the destructive effects of alcoholism, substance abuse, and uninhibited romantic escapades. His home, with its mock-Gothic design, features cherubs, stained-glass windows, crosses, and other such elements. Family photos grace a hallway table; these include Sharon (his wife and manager), Aimee (18, who opted out of the initial series: Sharon explains, “She’s the only rational one”), Kelly (17), and Jack (16).

Images of dogs and cats adorn the spiral staircase, each marked with a cross. This individual’s affection for animals seems undeniable, especially considering his frequent appearances on TV, where he struggles to rescue a cat infected with herpes from coyotes. Could it be an effort to make amends? His past actions speak differently – he once killed 17 of his cats in a fit of drunken anger.

As a fan, I’m always excited to see him approach me, dressed casually yet stylishly in black tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt. He sports gold chains adorned with crosses around his neck, along with rings, one of which bears the Union Jack symbol and another with the engraving “OZZY” etched on his left-hand finger using a pencil lead, a memento from his teenage years spent in jail for theft.

He stands with limp arms, quivering fingers, speech muddled and halting, spectacled through round blue sunglasses, deafened by decades of sound intensity. His hair, now dyed glossy black, is tied back into a ponytail, the reddish ends cascading onto his hunched shoulders.

He mentions that he has Attention Deficit Disorder. To manage this, he takes medication which greatly assists him. In his words, “without this medication, following a conversation or focusing on one task would be impossible for me.

In this rephrased version, I’ve attempted to maintain clarity while making it more accessible and conversational: I left out eight offensive words from those 28 phrases. Their frequent use of the “f-word” happens about every 19 seconds, a continuous stream that initially startles, but eventually loses its effect. Sharon exclaimed, “We never knew just how much we swear.

Ozzy’s fame is so immense that President Bush invited him for dinner at the White House not long ago, and following his performance at the Golden Jubilee concert held at Buckingham Palace last July, he even had the chance to meet the Queen.

Initially, I was quite terrified. I thought perhaps I was the subject of their private jokes. I’m often my harshest critic and doubt my own worth, feeling unworthy not just for them or you, but for anyone. The Queen addressed me, yet I couldn’t comprehend her words. Just looking at photographs leaves me stunned. Even opening a box of chocolates can cause me to hyperventilate. I am the most anxious individual, always on edge from morning till night, a timid man living in constant fear. Fear has been with me since birth.

As a passionate cinephile, if I could express my feelings accurately, it would surely spare me a significant amount on my therapy bills. Sharon once said, ‘With the top-rated TV series under your belt, a record-breaking Ozzfest summer tour [that she initiated in 1996 and transformed into one of the world’s most successful touring rock shows], and an adoration that surrounds you – you step out under a clear blue sky, yet you don’t find contentment until you spot a cloud.’

Indeed, I often find myself desiring solitude, choosing to spend a good deal of time in isolation. People seem to have certain preconceived notions about me due to hearsay and gossip – some believe I consume bats or drink urine, others think I’m mentally unstable, addicted to drugs, alcohol, or simply uncaring towards others. However, I don’t take myself too seriously. When I perform, it feels as though I am experiencing a form of schizophrenia, sometimes losing control on stage.

Tragically, Sharon Osbourne was diagnosed with colon cancer in July, just a few days prior to finalizing a £13 million deal for the second season of The Osbournes. The production team plans to document her journey, although she humorously comments, “How many chemotherapy sessions can they air on TV? I believe it will be beneficial for women. I was unaware that we could contract this type of cancer, so there must be countless others who are similarly oblivious. I recently celebrated my 50th birthday, and I embrace my age. Currently, I have a deep-seated fear of death because my children are not yet settled. I long to witness them getting married before I pass. I’ll be there with my borrowed diamonds.

Some people consider the show to be less like a sensational peek into the lives of a real-life Addams Family, Munsters, and Simpsons combined, and more as a cleverly marketed retirement plan for an aging celebrity. The family members are portrayed as performing for the camera, with Sharon, as co-producer, having significant input on the content. However, it’s hard to imagine that Ozzy’s behavior is anything other than genuine, given his known eccentricities.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express that the success of this programme surpassed our wildest expectations. Frankly, we didn’t foresee it altering our lives so profoundly. My kids have been dealing with quite a bit as a result. Jack, in particular, has had tears on his daily agenda. Recognition at school wasn’t exactly what he signed up for, reading harsh comments online was tough, and he felt his credibility was being questioned – all of which made him feel uncomfortable. Yet, the good far outweighs the bad.

I’m off to an audition for a Ben Affleck movie, and just as I’m feeling a bit nervous about it all, Kelly has dropped a surprise! She’s been working on a cover of Papa Don’t Preach and is now sharing her excitement with everyone. But here’s the catch – she’s also made a commitment to complete a project, and despite her longing to spend time with her friends, she’s determined to see it through.

Ozzy only caught a glimpse of less than an entire episode, and he feels satisfied with that. He was present during the time when over 50 cameras were constantly recording inside their home for extended periods, day and night, including instances like his surprise when Sharon hired a pet therapist following one of her many small pets soiling the furniture.

She expresses that our family isn’t typically ‘normal’, yet she points out that no family is as they portray themselves to be. There are always secrets hidden beneath the surface, but what truly matters is our deep affection for one another, our tolerance, acceptance of each other’s flaws, and our ability to move forward. Ozzy, in particular, stands out with his humor and unapologetic honesty; it’s rare to find someone in the public eye who isn’t afraid to be filmed in their underwear, slightly intoxicated, with a protruding belly. Today’s celebrities lack character and strive to present an image of perfection, which she finds insincere.

It’s impossible for them to be charged with that. Kelly talks about the cleanliness related to thongs. They toss a ham and foul-smelling objects over their neighbor’s hedge due to their loud singing of folk songs. “Ozzy Osbourne, with his tattoos, scars, and long hair, is not the typical resident of Beverly Hills,” Ozzy clarifies to me, maintaining a serious expression. “They don’t extend invitations for Christmas parties to me, but I wouldn’t want to attend. They are arrogant snobs.

His endearing confusion at ordinary family life, played out on a grand scale, lies at its core. It’s genuine and filled with affection. ‘I love you all,’ he says, but quickly adds, ‘You’re crazy!’ He confides in me, ‘The children swear, just like the rest of the world. They’ve been with us on tour, and in rock ‘n’ roll, profanity is the lingo. Sharon and I have never been parents who cooed and gushed.’

The only instance where he exhibits immaturity is during conversations about the bat event, which transpired 20 years ago in Des Moines, Iowa. During this time, he and his crowd exchanged animal waste, and he believed a bat to be rubber before biting its head off. Subsequently, he endured two weeks of excruciating rabies vaccinations. “My gravestone won’t read ‘Ozzy Osbourne, the man who sold X million albums.’ Instead, it will say ‘The man who bit the head off a bat.’ It’s like, move on, dude.

On the day we cross paths, I’m informed that I’ve become a grandpa for the first time. My estranged daughter, Jessica Sunshine, has just welcomed a baby girl named Isobel into the world at the age of 30. “A grandfather? Ha!” I chuckle, surprised by this new title. Alongside our daughter, my ex-wife Thelma and I share a son, Louis, who’s now 26 years old. Our paths split back in 1979 with the dissolution of our marriage.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been hit hard by the harsh reality of divorce for quite some time now. The sting of rejection still lingers, making me feel like a broken dreamer, a failure in my own right.

Regarding England, it holds a special place in my heart. I own a home and 188 acres there, specifically in Buckinghamshire. However, I must admit that the thought of waking up to constant drizzle can sometimes make me cringe. But don’t get me wrong; I adore England, its charm, and history.

I made my way to America back in 1976 due to a hereditary condition called dyslexia within my family. Many English schools were not equipped to deal with this challenge effectively at the time. My journey here has been fruitful, allowing me to provide my children with an excellent education.

Born as the fourth of six siblings in Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy grew up with a bit of an unconventional streak – at age 11 he fatally wounded his aunt’s cat and attempted to burn his sister. After dropping out of school at 15, he found work in a slaughterhouse, turned to minor theft, and landed in jail when his father, who worked nights in a tool factory, declined to cover his fines.

In 1968, he experienced a turning point in his life when he helped establish Black Sabbath. However, this milestone was followed by a challenging decade marked by substance abuse. He would consume four bottles of brandy daily and used so much cocaine that he once mistakenly ingested ants thinking they were more of the substance.

He got arrested and prohibited from entering Texas (the state where President Bush resided), due to an incident where he urinated on the Alamo while donning women’s clothing. In 1978, he was dismissed from Black Sabbath as a drug-addled misfit, spending six months in a hotel room drinking, doing drugs, and seeking opportunities for intimacy whenever possible.

Sharon, whose father had overseen Black Sabbath, was the one who rescued him. She didn’t try to alter him in any way; instead, she helped him out from a grimy alley. In her own words, “I was quite the wild one. I could drink and do drugs with the best,” she admitted. However, she stopped when she recognized that she needed to settle down.

1982 saw my union, a journey that couldn’t have been smooth sailing. Fast forward seven years, and I found myself in handcuffs, accused of an attempt to choke the very person I had pledged my life to. Once, in a moment of absent-mindedness, I returned to our Tokyo hotel room, only to find an unexpected companion – a groupie who had mistakenly thought she was my date for the night.

He admits that he had lost control of his life and didn’t care about his survival. Despite turning 54 this year, he can’t explain why he’s still alive. He’s been prescribed numerous psychiatric medications, antidepressants, and meets with a therapist monthly, which leads him to question his sanity. With 14 stints in rehab under his belt, he continues to struggle with alcohol, limiting himself to a glass of wine or a few beers. He jokingly refers to Viagra as an effective sleep aid for his wife.

He takes a longer-than-normal pause, then comments gloomily, “I assumed I’d work and save some money for my wife to live comfortably as an elderly lady, since I’ll pass away before her. Unfortunately, that plan has been ruined, although I could expire at any moment.

Sharon recently underwent a body scan after I suggested it because of my tendency to worry about health issues. I had the same scan done, and they discovered a small polyp in me which could potentially lead to cancer, but thankfully it was benign. I recommended she get tested too, and unfortunately, they found a malignant tumor in her case.

It struck me as forcefully as a rushing freight train. A week later, I embarked on a tour, yet I can’t recall the journey. Sometimes, you feel angry at fate. Still, I remain in disbelief: is this truly occurring?

Chemo is taking a heavy toll on her, but she’s expected to pull through. Things could get much harder. I might be earning the minimum wage without health insurance. However, I can access top-notch medical care because of my situation. When cancer strikes a family, everything else pales in comparison. It has made me realize that each day we waste is another memory lost, so don’t idle away your time.

In simpler terms,

“I didn’t realize television is the most influential form of entertainment out there. I still ponder its significance. It was in Boston where I’ve appeared countless times, and this respectable middle-aged woman approached me and asked, ‘What on earth are you doing here?’ Upon telling her I’m there to perform, she responded with a mix of surprise and disbelief, ‘Wow. You do that as well?’ It turns out I’ve reached an audience without them knowing I’m a rock ‘n’ roller. I find it satisfying that I can still surprise people in this way. I consider myself the working-class icon. Not bad for someone from Aston.

Absolutely, I have regrets about certain things, but I strongly believe that our lives are predetermined before we’re born. I find it hard to take the TV series too seriously because it feels like there’s a camera crew invading my privacy all the time – it’s as if I can’t escape an annoying fly in my eye. It can be stressful for my nervous system, but as long as I’m able to make people laugh, whether at me or with me, I really don’t care.

Right now, I’m all the rage and everyone wants to see me, but it won’t last forever; one day we’ll just be a memory. When that happens, I’ll find peace once more. I hope so.

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2025-07-23 18:05