Challenges in the Life of Ozzy Osbourne in a Detailed Timeline
Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Ozzy Osbourne. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne, is a celebrated English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He gained fame in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Known for his distinct vocal style and stage presence, Osbourne became synonymous with the band's groundbreaking sound and dark imagery, earning him the moniker "Prince of Darkness." After being fired from Black Sabbath, he went on to achieve a successful solo career, solidifying his status as a rock icon and pioneering figure in heavy metal music. He has also appeared in reality television and various other media ventures.
1971: First Experience with Cocaine
In early 1971, Ozzy Osbourne had his first experience with cocaine at a hotel in Denver, Colorado, after a Black Sabbath show with Mountain. Mountain's guitarist, Leslie West, introduced him to the drug.
1978: Admitted to Substance Misuse
In 1978, Ozzy Osbourne admitted to Sounds magazine that he regularly got high and drunk, questioning the system that led people to substance misuse.
April 1979: Ejection from Black Sabbath
On April 27, 1979, Ozzy Osbourne was ejected from Black Sabbath due to unreliability and substance abuse issues.
1979: Fired from Black Sabbath
In 1979, Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath due to alcohol and drug problems.
1979: Fired from Black Sabbath and Substance Misuse
In 1979, after being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne spent three months in his hotel room consuming vast amounts of alcohol and other drugs daily. He credits Sharon with saving his life by offering to manage him.
1981: Former band members let go.
In 1981, Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake were let go, leading to issues regarding owed royalties on the original masters.
1981: Substance Misuse Issues During Early Solo Career
In 1981, Don Airey, keyboardist for Ozzy Osbourne, left the band due to the vocalist's substance-misuse issues. Former bassist Rudy Sarzo detailed the frustrations of touring with the vocalist, who was in a state of near-constant inebriation.
February 1982: Urinating on the Alamo Cenotaph
On February 18, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne drunkenly urinated on a cenotaph near the Alamo in Texas and was arrested, leading to a decade-long ban from the city. He also drunkenly fired his entire band and physically attacked Randy Rhoads and Rudy Sarzo.
March 1982: Death of Randy Rhoads
On March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads, along with Andrew Aycock and Rachel Youngblood, died in a plane crash in Florida while on tour with Osbourne. This event led to Osbourne falling into a deep depression.
April 1982: Tour Resumes with Bernie Tormé
In April 1982, Ozzy Osbourne's tour resumed with Bernie Tormé, but his blues-based style was not well-received by fans, leading to his departure after a few shows.
May 1984: Arrested for Public Intoxication in Memphis
In May 1984, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee, for public intoxication.
1984: Suicide Linked to "Suicide Solution"
In 1984, California teenager John McCollum committed suicide while listening to Ozzy Osbourne's "Suicide Solution", leading to allegations that Osbourne promoted suicide in his songs.
August 1989: Attempted Strangulation of Sharon Osbourne
In August 1989, Sharon Osbourne claimed that Ozzy had tried to strangle her after returning home from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in a haze of alcohol and drugs. This led to Ozzy spending six months in rehabilitation.
1991: Waller v. Osbourne Lawsuit
In 1991, Ozzy Osbourne was sued by the parents of Michael Waller for $9 million due to his son's suicide, similar to the 1984 McCollum case, but the courts once again ruled in Osbourne's favour.
2000: Lawsuit Filed by Bob Daisley
In 2000, Bob Daisley, former band member, filed a lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne, claiming Osbourne was delinquent in paying royalties.
2002: Lawsuit Filed by Lee Kerslake and Phil Soussan
In 2002, Lee Kerslake and Phil Soussan, former band members, filed a lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne, claiming Osbourne was delinquent in paying royalties.
November 2003: Dismissal of Lawsuit Upheld
In November 2003, a Federal Appeals Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by former band members Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake, regarding unpaid royalties and denied credit.
December 2003: Quad Bike Accident and Emergency Surgery
On December 8, 2003, Ozzy Osbourne was rushed into emergency surgery after a quad bike accident on his estate, breaking his collar bone, eight ribs, and a neck vertebra.
2003: Over-Medication Incident
In 2003, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he was nearly incapacitated by medication prescribed by a Beverly Hills doctor, who allegedly prescribed 13,000 doses of 32 drugs in one year. The doctor was later exonerated.
May 2005: Diagnosis of Parkin Syndrome
In May 2005, Ozzy Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkin syndrome, a genetic condition with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, requiring daily medication.
2010: Howard Stern Interview - Driver's License
In 2010, during an interview on the Howard Stern Show, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that it took him 19 attempts to pass his driver's license test due to being drunk.
January 2013: Minor Burns From House Fire
In January 2013, Ozzy Osbourne suffered minor burns after a small house fire.
April 2013: Relapse and Apology
In April 2013, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he had relapsed into smoking, drinking, and drug use for the past year and a half, but had been sober again since early March. He apologized to his family, friends, bandmates, and fans.
February 2019: Moved to Intensive Care and Fall
By February 12, 2019, Ozzy Osbourne had been moved to intensive care and later cancelled all shows scheduled for 2019 after sustaining serious injuries from a fall at his home while recovering from pneumonia.
February 2019: Hospitalized Due to Flu Complications
On February 6, 2019, Ozzy Osbourne was hospitalized due to flu complications, leading to the postponement of the European leg of his "No More Tours II" tour.
2019: Spinal Damage Incident
In 2019, Ozzy Osbourne suffered an accident that resulted in spinal damage, which led to the cancellation of tours and a move towards smaller-scale performances.
January 2020: Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis Revealed
In January 2020, Ozzy Osbourne publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in February 2019.
February 2020: Cancelled North American Tour for Treatment
In February 2020, Ozzy Osbourne cancelled his 2020 North American tour to seek treatment in Switzerland until April.
2020: Emphysema Diagnosis Revealed
In 2020, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he had the smoking-induced lung condition, emphysema.
January 2023: Cancellation of European Leg of "No More Tours II"
In January 2023, Ozzy Osbourne announced the cancellation of the European leg of the "No More Tours II" after postponements, effectively retiring from touring due to spinal damage from a 2019 accident but planned smaller scale performances if his health permitted.
