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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne: Inside His Ups and Downs, from an Arrest for Attempted Murder to a Black Sabbath Firing
Osbourne died on Tuesday, July 22 at age 76 Ozzy Osbourne experienced peaks and valleys prior to his death at age 76. Despite his health challenges, Osbourne, who was a legendary rockstar and reality TV star, never stopped playing music. The rock star performed from a throne at the Black Sabbath farewell concert on July 5 in Birmingham, England. Osbourne rose to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, which formed in 1968 and helped pioneer the heavy metal genre, along with members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. A decade later, he launched a solo career that proved to be equally successful. From getting fired from Black Sabbath to launching Ozzfest, here are Osbourne's life and career ups and downs. Osbourne once worked in a slaughterhouse Before Osbourne formed Black Sabbath, the rock star worked in a slaughterhouse in Birmingham, England. In 2002, he told Rolling Stone it was "the longest job I ever had." When asked what he did there, he said, "Kill — at the end of it." He continued, "It was automated, but the guys would let me shoot a cow now and then. My first job there was emptying sheep's stomachs of the puke. There was a giant mountain of the stuff. The stink was unbelievable. But you get used to it." He was fired from Black Sabbath (1979) In the late 1970s, Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath due to his excessive drug and alcohol use. At the time, his bandmates, especially Iommi, found him difficult to work with. After his exit, Osbourne was replaced by Ronnie James Dio and he launched a successful solo career. His 1980 album Blizzards of Ozz included iconic tracks like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley." In 2002, he opened up to Rolling Stone about the firing. "We deserved to fire each other. There was no one worse than anybody else. If the others had been churchgoing Bible punchers and I was f---ing their wives, I could have expected it. But they were doing booze and quaaludes too," he said. "In those days, we were well into cocaine. That turns you into a powder-seeking freak. The thing was, get the gig over with so we could get our bump of coke. We had a guy on tour with suitcases full of different strengths of coke," he added. Osbourne concluded, "We went head over heels. It made me incredibly afraid. I remember lying in bed at night, feeling my heartbeat, thinking 'Please, God, let me sleep for an hour, so I'll be OK.' Then I'd wake up and [makes sniffing noise] be straight into it again. We did it for years. Eventually it turned everything sour. One minute, we were a rock band doing coke. The next, we were a coke band doing rock." The death of Randy Rhoads (1982) After Osbourne's bandmate Randy Rhoads died in a plane accident in 1982, it sent the rockstar into a spiral. "As we speak here, my head instantly goes back to that field where the airplane crashed into the f---ing house. It never leaves me," he told Rolling Stone in 2002. Osbourne continued "I said to Sharon, 'It's over. I don't want this kind of life anymore.' Sharon got really pissed. She says, 'You're not quitting, because Randy and Rachel [an assistant who also died in the plane crash] would not want us to quit.' I vowed to Randy's mom — by playing the songs we wrote together, it's going to keep his memory alive. Randy was too young and too nice a guy to die. It's always the assholes in the world who live to 199." He was arrested for attempted murder (1989) During a drug and alcohol infused blackout in 1989, Osbourne almost choked his wife Sharon Osbourne to death. In his 2020 documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, Osbourne and Sharon recalled the incident and said there had been several fights leading up to that moment. "I felt the calmest I've ever felt in my life," Osbourne recalled of the incident. "It was like serenity. Everything was just peaceful." "He just says, 'We've come to a decision that you've got to die,'" Sharon said in the documentary, before describing how he began to choke her. "He was calm, very very calm and he lunged across at me," she remembered. "I felt the stuff on the table and felt the panic button and just pressed it. Next thing I know the cops were there." At the time, Sharon decided to drop the charges against him and he was ordered to compete six months in a treatment facility. The Osbournes get their own reality show (2002) In 2002, MTV launched The Osbournes, which made the rockstar a pop culture icon, along with Sharon, 72, and his daughter Kelly and son Jack. In a 2023 episode of The Osbournes Podcast, Osbourne said the show made him "a bit crazy at times." 'It's so intrusive in your house,' he said. 'At the time, I said I wanted a safe room where I could go and pick my nose and squeeze a zit if I want to without being on camera, and they had a f---ing camera in there. When you've got hidden cameras, you start to freak out.' He continued, "It won't happen again. Never in a million years," Osbourne concluded. The show ran for four seasons until 2005. Ozzfest becomes a phenomenon (1996-2018) In 1996, Osbourne and Sharon created Ozzfest, which was a touring metal festival that helped launch the careers of several bands like Linkin Park, Slipknot, System of a Down and Mötley Crüe. In October 2023, Osbourne opened up about the festival — which featured an iconic Black Sabbath reunion orchestrated by Sharon in 1997 — during an episode of The Osbournes Podcast. 'It was bloody chaos — but in the best way. Every night was a party, and every band brought their A-game. We just let the music speak for itself," he said. Not 1, but 2 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions (2024) In 2024, Osbourne received his second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a solo artist, following his first in 2006 as a member of Black Sabbath. In an interview with Billboard following the announcement, Osbourne said he's "more than honored" to receive his second induction, which "feels big" and "different" from his first, since his solo career has "been a much larger part of my overall music career as a whole." While he did not perform, an all-star lineup of musicians came together to honor the Prince of Darkness, including Billy Idol, Jelly Roll, Wolfgang Van Halen and Tool frontman Maynard Keenan. His final bow (2025) On July 5, Osbourne took the stage for the last time with Black Sabbath for Back to the Beginning — his farewell show at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, following a series of health-related issues that he's faced since 2018. The concert was hosted by Jason Momoa and included additional performances from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Ronnie Wood, Steven Tyler, Slayer, Pantera, Tool, Yungblud, Papa V/Ghost, Tool's Danny Carey, Travis Barker and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith. Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, who served as the concert's music director, revealed afterward that the show raised $190 million for Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice. "We set out to not just create the greatest day in the history of heavy metal," Morello captioned his Instagram post recapping the show's highlights. The guitarist also gave a shout-out to Osbourne, who performed from a throne during Black Sabbath's set. "THANKYOU @ozzyosbourne for trusting me to be the Musical Director of the 'Back to the Beginning' show. It was over a year of hard work but heavy metal was the music that made me love music and it was a labor of love." "We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats," added Morello. On Friday, July 18, Osbourne announced the performance will be released in theaters as a concert film next year. Read the original article on People
The Independent
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
In Pictures: Hellraiser Ozzy Osbourne toned down his act to reach wider audience
Ozzy Osbourne very much embodied the hellraising rockstar when he first found fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath but in later years had settled into settled domesticity with wife Sharon and his family. Growing up in the West Midlands, like many people his age it was the work of the Beatles that convinced him to try his luck in the music industry. The gothic stage persona and the heavy rock with Osbourne's trademark vocals made songs like Paranoid well known across the airwaves with bandmates such as Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi. With addiction issues dogging him, it was wife Sharon who would help clean up his act and his life. Her managerial acumen ensured that a more respectable lifestyle in Los Angeles was ideal reality TV fodder as he toned his act down. He never lost his West Midlands accent and his exploits earned him a star on the city's walk of fame and having a tram named after him. He was a natural choice to perform at the city's 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne dies at age 76: Family says legendary Black Sabbath singer was 'surrounded by love'
Osbourne, who lived with Parkinson's disease, had recently performed a farewell show in the U.K. Rockstar Ozzy Osbourne has died, per multiple reports. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' his family said in a statement to the press, signed by wife Sharon Osbourne and their children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, as well as his son Louis from his prior marriage to Thelma Riley. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' The Black Sabbath rocker lived with Parkinson's disease. Earlier this month Osbourne played what was dubbed his 'final bow' from a throne at Villa Park in the U.K. Solve the daily Crossword
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
India's golf revolution tees off with power, parity, and pure entertainment
"Let's make it all for one and all for love." The words of Canadian rock star Bryan Adams' chart-topping song now echoes through a new arena - not an amphitheatre, a cricket stadium or football pitch, but the expansive greens of India's newest obsession: golf. Yes, golf - but not as you know it. This September, India is stepping into a fearless new direction. It's launching a movement, one that reimagines the centuries-old game into an explosive, inclusive, and futuristic sporting experience. Welcome to the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) - where sport meets spectacle, and golf enters a bold new era. Once seen as the quiet gentleman's game, golf is undergoing a paradigm shift, and it's being led by a bold Indian experiment that has the potential to revolutionise the game. "Golf has always been globally respected, but remains underappreciated in India. A dynamic format can attract broader audiences and athletes,' said cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, who has joined IGPL as both co-owner and brand ambassador. 'Joining the IGPL team is an exciting opportunity to rejuvenate this remarkable sport,' he added. Golf for All, All for Golf The IGPL's war cry is clear - "Golf for All, All for Golf." This isn't a league for the privileged few. This is a national campaign to make golf India's next big sport, with three powerful pillars: 1. The IGPL Tour World's first fully mixed-gender pro golf tour boasting equal prize money for men and women. No cuts, only pure competitive golf over 11 high-stakes tournaments in its first year, growing to 15 in the future. This Tour isn't just about winning, it's about creating heroes, rivalries, and a new generation of champions. It's a platform where young prodigies, some even before their teens, get scholarships and a shot at greatness. 2. Turf Wars – Clash of the Cities A franchise-based showdown where city pride is on the line, Turf Wars features top-tier male and female golfers competing in fast-paced matchups made for the digital generation. Backed by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) and the Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI), the league includes teams from Delhi, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. With drama, rivalries, flash golf, packed crowds, and a high-stakes grand finale, this is where golf gets personal. 3. The Showdown - X-Treme golf One course. One chance. One winner. A high-octane stadium finale in a lightning-fast X-Golf format featuring lights, team walkouts, music, cameras and madness - is all built for digital. Golf is evolving, stepping fearlessly into the spotlight with a fresh, fast-paced format designed for today's audiences. "Golf is no longer hidden. It's loud, proud, and finally, fun," says the IGPL manifesto. It will include a celebrity wildcard format, imagine golf supercharged, with the buzz of a rock concert and the intensity of prime-time sport. "This is turbo-charged sportainment. And it's what moves the needle," said IGPL Director Manav Jaini. The IGPL hopes to ignite passion and rally fans and players nationwide ahead of the big launch by kicking off a thrilling 10-city tour from September to December 2025. Crafting Golf's New Blueprint What truly sets IGPL apart is its vision to build not just a league, but an enduring ecosystem. This is a proudly Made-in-India initiative, not imported, not adapted, but designed from the ground up to serve Indian athletes and audiences. IGPL isn't just staging tournaments; it is actively investing in golf infrastructure, developing a comprehensive tech platform, curating merchandise, and managing talent at every level. It's a blueprint for how sport can be both spectacular and sustainable. As cities pick their icons like Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia, Gaurav Ghei, Jyothi Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, the IGPL is shaping up to be India's most disruptive sporting innovation in years. "The IGPL is not only India's league but also a gift to global golf,' declared IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy. The Final Putt Golf is no longer just about birdies and bogeys. It's about tenacity, gender equality and energy. It's also about India, and it's about reclaiming golf for everyone. The Indian Golf Revolution has begun.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Tony Blair was happy to keep guitar from Bono but not one from Mexico's president
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair was delighted to keep a guitar presented to him by the rock star Bono . However, when it came to a similar gift from the president of Mexico , he was less enthused. Official files released to the UK National Archives show Mr Blair was keen to take advantage of rules on ministerial gifts to buy the instrument given to him by the U2 singer once he left office. He did, however, question whether he would have to pay 'the full purchase price'. Officials at 10 Downing Street suggested the prime minister – who fronted a rock band called Ugly Rumours in his student days – might want to take the same approach when it came to a white Fender Stratocaster, valued at £2,500, from the Canadian singer Bryan Adams . However, Mr Blair was much less enthusiastic about an acoustic Vargas guitar presented to him by president Vicente Fox during an official visit to Mexico in 2001, noting: 'I don't actually use it.' The files also show that Mr Blair rejected advice that he should not keep a Pro Braided tennis racket given to him by the manufacturer, Slazenger. Officials feared that it was part of a 'marketing ploy' by the company and suggested it should be donated to a children's charity as 'you cannot be seen to endorse any product'. Mr Blair, however, instructed them just to thank the company, adding: 'It is very churlish to refuse to use it.' - PA
