Early Life and Education of Ozzy Osbourne: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Ozzy Osbourne. From birth to education, explore key events.

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is a prominent English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He achieved fame in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the influential heavy metal band Black Sabbath. During this time, he gained the moniker "Prince of Darkness" due to the band's dark and heavy sound. After being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy embarked on a successful solo career, further solidifying his status as a rock icon. His solo work explored similar themes and continued his signature heavy metal style. Beyond music, Ozzy became a reality television star through "The Osbournes", offering a glimpse into his family life and contributing to his enduring popularity.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1915: Birth of Ozzy's Father

In 1915, John Thomas "Jack" Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne's father, was born. He later worked night shifts as a toolmaker at the General Electric Company.

1916: Birth of Ozzy's Mother

In 1916, Lilian (née Unitt), Ozzy Osbourne's mother, was born. She later worked at a Lucas factory.

December 1948: Ozzy Osbourne Born

In December 1948, John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born. This event marks the beginning of his life journey as a singer, songwriter, and media personality.

1963: Inspiration from The Beatles

In 1963, upon hearing The Beatles' song "She Loves You", a 14-year-old Ozzy Osbourne was inspired to become a musician.

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1971: Marriage to Thelma Riley

In 1971, Ozzy Osbourne met Thelma Riley and later married her that year. They had two children, Jessica and Louis, and Osbourne adopted Riley's son Elliot.

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.

1977: Death of Ozzy's Father

In 1977, John Thomas "Jack" Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne's father, passed away.

1978: Sounds Interview

In 1978, Ozzy Osbourne admitted to Sounds, "I get high, I get fucked up ... what the hell's wrong with getting fucked up?"

1979: Departure from Black Sabbath

Upon being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy Osbourne spent the next three months locked in his hotel room taking vast amounts of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco all day, every day.

1981: CBS Europe Incident

In 1981, Ozzy Osbourne claims in his autobiography that he was invited to a meeting with the head of CBS Europe in Germany where he performed a striptease on the table and kissed the record executive on the lips while intoxicated.

1981: Dove Head-Biting Incident

In 1981, after signing his first solo record deal, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a dove during a meeting with CBS Records executives in Los Angeles, an act that became infamous.

1981: Randy Rhoads prediction

In 1981, guitarist Randy Rhoads predicted that Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Arden would probably get married someday, despite their bickering and Ozzy being married to Thelma at the time.

January 1982: Bat Head-Biting Incident

On January 20, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat during a performance at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, leading to rabies treatment.

February 1982: Alamo Cenotaph Incident

On February 18, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne drunkenly urinated on a cenotaph near the Alamo in Texas, leading to his arrest and a ban from San Antonio. Earlier that day he had drunkenly fired his entire band.

March 1982: Death of Randy Rhoads

On March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads, along with Andrew Aycock and Rachel Youngblood, died in a plane crash during the Diary of a Madman tour, profoundly affecting Osbourne and leading to a two-week tour cancellation.

July 1982: Marriage to Sharon Arden

On July 4, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne married his manager Sharon Arden. He chose the date so he would never forget their anniversary.

September 1983: Birth of Aimee Osbourne

On September 2, 1983, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's first child, Aimee, was born.

1983: "Bark at the Moon" Influence on Murder

On New Year's Eve 1983, James Jollimore killed a woman and her two sons in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after listening to the "Bark at the Moon" song, which a friend claimed made him feel strange and incited violence.

May 1984: Arrested in Memphis

In May 1984, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee for public intoxication.

October 1984: Birth of Kelly Osbourne

On October 27, 1984, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's second child, Kelly, was born.

1984: Suicide Solution Controversy

In 1984, John McCollum committed suicide while listening to Ozzy Osbourne's song "Suicide Solution", sparking allegations that Osbourne promoted suicide. The McCollum family sued Osbourne, but the courts ruled in Osbourne's favor, determining there was no connection between the song and McCollum's suicide.

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November 1985: Birth of Jack Osbourne

On November 8, 1985, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's third child, Jack, was born.

August 1989: Attempted Strangulation of Sharon

In August 1989, Sharon claimed that Ozzy Osbourne had tried to strangle her, leading to his six-month rehabilitation.

1991: Waller v. Osbourne Lawsuit

In 1991, Ozzy Osbourne was sued by the parents of Michael Waller for $9 million over allegations that his music incited their son's suicide. The courts once again ruled in Osbourne's favour.

1992: Church of England

In 1992, The New York Times reported that Ozzy Osbourne was a practicing member of the Church of England and prayed before each show.

2001: Death of Ozzy's Mother

In 2001, Lilian (née Unitt), Ozzy Osbourne's mother, passed away.

2002: Booklet of Diary of a Madman

According to Ozzy Osbourne in the booklet to the 2002 edition of Diary of a Madman, the bat was not only alive but managed to bite him, resulting in Osbourne being treated for rabies.

2002: White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

In 2002, Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne were invited to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. President George W. Bush acknowledged Osbourne's presence by referencing his hit recordings.

December 2003: Quad Bike Accident and Emergency Surgery

On December 8, 2003, Ozzy Osbourne had an accident with his quad bike on his estate in Jordans, Buckinghamshire. He broke his collar bone, eight ribs, and a neck vertebra and was rushed into emergency surgery at Slough's Wexham Park Hospital.

2003: Medication Overdose

In 2003, Ozzy Osbourne told the Los Angeles Times how he was nearly incapacitated by medication prescribed by a doctor. The doctor was alleged to have prescribed 13,000 doses of 32 drugs in one year. However, after a nine-year investigation, the physician was exonerated.

2004: Rolling Stone Article on bat head biting incident

According to a 2004 Rolling Stone article, the bat was alive at the time.

May 2005: Diagnosis of Parkin syndrome

In May 2005, Ozzy Osbourne discovered he had Parkin syndrome, a genetic condition with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. He learned he would need daily medication for life to manage the tremors associated with the condition.

October 2010: TEDMED Conference appearance

In October 2010, at the TEDMED Conference, scientists from Knome, a human genome interpretation company, joined Ozzy Osbourne to discuss the analysis of his whole genome, providing insights into his survival despite decades of substance misuse.

2010: Driver's License

In 2010, during an interview on the Howard Stern Show, Ozzy Osbourne said that it took him 19 attempts to get his driver’s license because he was so drunk.

2010: Favourite Movie

In a 2010 interview with Us Weekly, Ozzy Osbourne stated that his favorite movie is Monty Python's Life of Brian.

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2011: God Bless Ozzy Osbourne Documentary

In the 2011 documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy stated that The Beatles made him realise that he was going to be a rock star for the rest of his life.

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January 2013: Minor Burns in 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 announced via Facebook that he had relapsed into smoking, drinking, and drug use for the past year and a half, attributing it to a "very dark place". He stated he had been sober again since early March and apologized to his family, friends, bandmates, and fans for his behavior.

December 2013: Birthday Charity Donation

On his 65th birthday on December 3, 2013, Ozzy Osbourne asked fans to celebrate his birthday by donating to the Royal Marsden cancer charity in London.

January 2019: "Ozzy Plush Bat" Toy Release

On January 20, 2019, Ozzy Osbourne commemorated the 37th anniversary of the bat incident by offering an "Ozzy Plush Bat" toy "with detachable head" for sale on his personal web-store.

Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzy Plush Bat

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February 2019: Moved to Intensive Care

By February 12, 2019, Ozzy Osbourne had been moved to intensive care. He later cancelled the tour entirely, and ultimately all shows scheduled for 2019, after sustaining serious injuries from a fall in his Los Angeles home while still recovering from pneumonia. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in February 2019.

February 2019: Hospitalization for 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. He suffered from a severe upper-respiratory infection following a bout with the flu, which his doctor feared could develop into pneumonia.

January 2020: Parkinson's Diagnosis Revealed

In January 2020, Ozzy Osbourne publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in February 2019.

February 2020: North American Tour Cancellation

In February 2020, Ozzy Osbourne cancelled the 2020 North American tour, seeking treatment in Switzerland until April.

2020: Emphysema Reveal

In 2020, Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he had the smoking-induced lung condition, emphysema.

February 2021: Sobriety discussion with son Jack

In February 2021, Ozzy Osbourne and his son Jack discussed their experiences with recovery in an interview with Variety. Ozzy revealed he had been sober for about seven years.

January 2023: Cancellation of European Leg of No More Tours II

In January 2023, Ozzy Osbourne announced the cancellation of the European leg of his No More Tours II tour, citing spinal damage from an accident in 2019. This effectively marked his retirement from large-scale touring.