OZZY OSBOURNE – FACTS AND TRIVIA

Ozzy Osbourne was one of the true legends of heavy metal, and his passing leaves a deep void. Yet, knowing Ozzy, he wouldn’t want us to mourn in sadness—and we’ll honor that wish. Here at Myth of Rock, we try to smile through the tears, celebrating the life, times, and incredible legacy of the Prince of Darkness. Ozzy has finally returned home, and we choose to remember him with joy. So light it up, everyone… No More Tears!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

• Ozzy’s real name was John Michael Osbourne. Born on December 3, 1948, in Birmingham, England, “Ozzy” is actually a childhood nickname that stuck for life.
• He had dyslexia. Ozzy had openly talked about struggling with dyslexia and learning difficulties during his school years, which led him to leave school at the age of 15.
• He was arrested for burglary before forming Black Sabbath. In his teens, Ozzy was involved in petty crime and even served a short stint in prison for burglary—his father refused to pay his fine as a lesson.
• He got his first tattoo at age 15 – and did it himself. Ozzy famously tattooed “O-Z-Z-Y” across the knuckles of his left hand using a sewing needle and pencil lead.
• He used to work in a slaughterhouse. Before fame, Ozzy worked at a meat processing plant, which he said desensitized him to gore – possibly influencing his future stage antics.
• He was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979. Ozzy’s excessive drinking and drug use led to his dismissal from the band. Ironically, his solo career that followed made him even more successful.
• The bat incident really happened – kind of. In 1982, during a show in Des Moines, Iowa, Ozzy bit the head off a bat thrown on stage, thinking it was rubber. It turned out to be real, and he had to be rushed to the hospital for rabies shots.
• He had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ozzy received his own star in 2002, and Black Sabbath has a separate one, too—so he’s there twice!
• He survived a near-fatal ATV accident. In 2003, Ozzy was seriously injured in a quad bike crash, breaking several bones and being placed on a ventilator. He eventually made a full recovery.
• He once tried to kill his wife, Sharon. In 1989, during a drug and alcohol-fueled blackout, Ozzy attempted to strangle Sharon. He was arrested and later sent to rehab. They both talked openly about the incident, and Sharon chose to stay with him after he got help.
• He had a phobia of cats. Despite his dark image and affinity for the macabre, Ozzy reportedly had a deep fear of cats—especially black ones. He once said they “freak him out.”
• He was supposed to be in “Ghostbusters”. Ozzy was meant to have a cameo in the 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot, and while he did appear briefly, most of his scene was cut from the final film.
• He legally became an American citizen in 2002. Even though he had been proudly British, Ozzy became a naturalized U.S. citizen while living in California, thanks to the success of The Osbournes and his long stint in America.
• He couldn’t drive – and once crashed a car into his own house. Ozzy never got a proper driver’s license until much later in life. After he did, he reportedly crashed a Ferrari into a gate at his own home!
• He had his genome sequenced for science. In 2010, Ozzy had his DNA analyzed to understand how he survived decades of substance abuse. Scientists found genetic mutations that could explain his “iron constitution.”
• He bit the head off a dove… in a boardroom. Before the bat incident, Ozzy bit the heads off two doves during a meeting with CBS executives in 1981, trying to make a statement. Needless to say, they were horrified.
• He was terrified of heights. Despite his wild stage presence, Ozzy suffered from severe acrophobia. He hated flying and had openly admitted that being high up makes him anxious.
• He wrote a (surprisingly good) memoir. Ozzy’s autobiography, “I Am Ozzy” (2010), was a bestseller and earned praise for its brutally honest, hilarious and touching stories. It gave fans insight into the chaos, tragedy and triumphs of his wild life.

Rest in Peace, Ozzy.