Ozzy’s tales of hard rock clangers
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Dark prince … Ozzy Osbourne remains one of the most adored rock performers of the past four decades. Picture: Mark Weiss
Source: Supplied
THE steps leading to Ozzy Osbourne’s home in Beverly Hills resemble a giant pumpkin patch as one of pop culture’s most famous families prepare to celebrate Halloween.
Ozzy is also readying his return to the Black Sabbath fold, having promised fans one final album and world tour next year.
To remind fans of the three decades of solo work between his Sabbath stints, he has released Memoirs Of a Madman, a career-spanning compilation CD and DVD.
Ozzy says he has already started writing new songs for his next solo album because he is 65.
“Oh my God, if I don’t start creating songs now, by the time I’m off the Sabbath tour, I could be 68 and then I could be 70 before I had my next solo album out. I don’t want to die before I get it done,” he says, laughing.
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Final farewell … Black Sabbath will do one last album and world tour. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
For all the Prince Of Darkness mythology, Osbourne may be one of the most charming men in rock.
He looks younger than his 65 years, despite the decades he consumed more drugs and alcohol than one human should be able to survive.
And he has a joke ready about every single facet of his life and career.
Mention his Liberace-esque sequined outfits of the mid 1980s and he says it was like wearing barbells.
“They were so heavy those suits, I couldn’t move. But we got a bigger crowd because all the gay guys came to check it out; we emptied Santa Monica Boulevard,” he says of the famous Los Angeles gay precinct.
Shooting pool….not 100% sure I’m doing this right. pic.twitter.com/Dbw2EcxYGa
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) October 20, 2014
He suffered several wardrobe related casualties both with Sabbath and during his early solo years because of the extra height afforded by the platform boots popular in the era.
“I was forever banging my head on the tops of doors,” he says.
“And I nearly drowned in a moat in front of a stage once when I tried to walk across it to the crowd. I fell over and my boots went up and I went under.”
But fans and those he have inspired have never treated Osbourne as a joke.
There is no shortage of fanboys in bands who will proclaim their eternal devotion to the metal god.
He calls that legacy a “gift from God”.
Rock survivor … Osbourne credits wife Sharon for saving him from death by alcohol or drugs. Picture: Sam Taylor Johnson
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But should he be tempted to indulge his ego, which is unlikely because of the humbling daily visits to AA meetings, there is always that one fan who will bring him crashing back to earth.
Osbourne is a generous celebrity when it comes to posing for photos or signing autographs unless he is dining or facing a long dash in the rain. Understandable, really.
“I’ll tell you a story. One time I was trying to check out of a hotel and there was a wedding reception in the bar and a woman who had been there was very, very drunk, sitting outside against the wall. And she says to me, ‘Hey buddy, gimme a f!@#ing autograph’,” Osbourne says.
“It was pissing down with rain and the bus was in the middle of the carpark and I was in a hurry so I said ‘Not now’.
“I was running to the bus, getting soaked and I get there and think ‘You miserable bastard, you couldn’t even stop for a second to give her an autograph. Oh shit!’
“I ran back to this woman, soaked to the skin and go to this woman ‘Go on then, gimme a bit of paper.’
“And she tells me to f!@# off. That’s my luck. I ran back to the bus and I was drenched.”
Played a Reverend in theses scenes from the 1987 horror movie Trick Or Treat
http://t.co/UNHZgrZgU2
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) October 21, 2014
A man inspired by the Beatles to follow his dreams of a music career in the quest to escape his working class struggle street is a voracious consumer of music today. He really should be a talent show judge.
Osbourne is a harsh judge of those who use technology as a crutch for deficiencies and anyone who mimes, expressing disappointment in Britney Spears.
Still rocking … Ozzy Osbourne releases Memoirs Of A Madman, a solo career-spanning collection. Picture: Mark Weiss
Source: Supplied
But he adores Lady Gaga and Adele, citing both as timeless artists.
“That Adele album 21, that was f!@#ing awesome that album. It’s a well-crafted work. That album was mapped out perfectly. You buy that album in 25 years and you will still go ‘Wow’. And she’s a friend of my daughter, Kelly,” he says.
And perhaps that is the main reason why he is releasing Memoirs Of a Madman, both the music compilation and DVD retrospective. Besides topping up the superannuation fund.
He personally can’t watch more than 30 seconds of anything he is in.
But he likes the idea of it acting as a defacto home movie for his grandchildren.
“I have never even watched the Osbournes, that would be totally weird. But when my grandchildren get older, they might get a laugh out of it.”
HEAR: Memoirs Of a Madman out now
