I Am Ozzy

Ozzy Osbourne

Jan 2010 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

The final word in sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne shares his unbelievable story for the first time in this tell-all memoir.
"They've said some crazy things about me over the years. I mean, okay: 'He bit the head off a bat.' Yes. 'He bit the head off a dove.' Yes. But then you hear things like, 'Ozzy went to the show last night, but he wouldn't perform until he'd killed fifteen puppies . . .' Now me, kill fifteen puppies? I love puppies. I've got eighteen of the f**king things at home. I've killed a few cows in my time, mind you. And the chickens. I shot the chickens in my house that night.

It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty f**king years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at f**king two miles per hour.

People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of sixty, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f**king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time.

A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working-class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."

Ratings and reviews

I honestly have never read a full book in my 63 years. I have always loved Black Sabbath and Ozzy. I love the late, great, Geezer Butlers fantastic bass playing, being a (lousy) bass player myself. I have read 60 pages in a day. It's very difficult putting it down. Just reached the point where they changed their name to Earth. I can't wait to read more. I'll update my review later. So far, so great!! Update: I finished the book a few weeks ago and still find myself daydreaming about some of the things in it. It's a very powerful look at how life is for the powerful. It's amazing he's alive. He has a rare DNA. The pages about Ronnie Rhodes' death were extremely sad. I remember when it happened. Ozzy's look from the inside was informative and intense!! The fact that I read the whole book without getting bored says a lot!! I've even gone back and re-read some parts. Excellent read with no BS...... Just what you'd expect from Ozzy!!

I haven't ever listened to Black Sabbath or Ozzy until recently. For some reason, I enjoy learning about other people, how they tick, what makes them different. My heart actually goes out to all of the Osbournes for all of the tragedy and misfortune they've encountered. God spared your life not once, not twice.....I believe you have been spared for a good reason. I pray for you and your family sir, that you will know the peace that passes all understanding. God bless you always... Lisa Eng (CT)

Uncensored and unabridged. The life of Ozzy as he remembers it, all the good and all the bad -- he tells it like it is. It was a great read as it confirmed what I had already known, reminded me of things about him I had forgotten, and educated me about the things I didn't know. Truly a great story. I was fortunate enough to meet Ozzy on a couple of occasions (and Zakk Wilde once) and this book was a great cap onto those experiences. His friends and family are truly blessed to have him in their lives. Aloha!

About the author

Ozzy Osbourne was born in Aston, Birmingham, in 1948. He has sold over a hundred million records both with Black Sabbath and as a Grammy Award-winning solo artist. He has five children and lives with his wife, Sharon, in California and Buckinghamshire.