 Ozzy's
Time Line |
| 1948 DECEMBER 3 John, Michael Osbourne is born in Aston, Birmingham, England to John and Lillian Osbourne. He's the fourth of their eventual six children. 1965 Ozzy, who left school at 15 began breaking into houses, serves two months in Winson Green Prison for burglary 1967 Having had short-lived jobs in a slaughterhouse and a car horn factory, and as a bricklayer, laborer, and shop assistant, Ozzy realizes his only way out of the dead-end poverty is music and puts a Musicians Wanted notice up in a local shop. Tony Iommi, Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and Bill Ward respond and they form Polka Turk, soon retitled to Earth. Tours of the U.K. and Europe follow. 1969 Band adopts a heavier sound and changes the name to Black Sabbath, from the title of one of their songs. 1970 APRIL Black Sabbath is recorded in 12 hours over two days for $900 and released on the Vertigo label in the U.K. OCTOBER Paranoid is released in the U.K. and hits #1. DECEMBER Black Sabbath is released in the U.S. by Warner Bros. as the band tours colleges. It is now certified platinum. 1971 MARCH Paranoid hits #12 on the U.S. chart. It goes on to sell four million copies. SEPTEMBER Master of Reality hits #5 in the U.K. and #8 in the U.S. It is now platinum. 1974 NOVEMBER Black Sabbath Vol. 4 reaches #8 on the U.K. chart, #13 in the U.S. 1972 FEBRUARY Fifth album Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath hits #4 in the U.K. and #11 in the U.S. It will eventually sell a million copies. APRIL 6 Black Sabbath performs at California Jam in Ontario, CA. 1975 SEPTEMBER Sabotage is released and reaches #7 in the U.K. and #28 in the U.S. 1976 APRIL Double compilation disc We Sold Our Souls For Rock 'n' Roll is released in the U.S. and hits #48 after reaching #35 in the U.K. NOVEMBER Technical Ecstasy is released in the U.S. after troubled recording sessions and hits #51 in the U.S. Released a month earlier in the U.K. it hit #13 1977 NOVEMBER Ozzy quits Sabbath only to rejoin two months later 1978 MAY Black Sabbath tours the U.K. with Van Halen opening. DECEMBER Released two months earlier in the U.K., where it hit #12, Never Say Die is released in the U.S. and hits #69 on the char. It is eventually certified gold. Ozzy tours with Sabbath for one final time. 1979 JANUARY Ozzy embarks on a solo career with Blizzard of Ozz, signing with Don Arden's Jet Records. 1980 AUGUST Ozzy and his band-- a guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake-- tours in the U.K. and releases Blizzard of Ozz there in September. It hits #7. 1981 WINTER Ozzy bites the head off a live dove at a meeting of record company executives in Los Angeles. he and Sharon are ejected from the building. The ensuing publicity translates to sold out shows. MAY Ozzy launches a U.S. theater tour to support the just released Blizzard of Ozz, which eventually peaks at #21 and goes quadruple platinum. Drummer Tommy Aldridge and Bassist Rudy Sarzo replace Kerslake and Daisley, who left to join Uriah Heep. OCTOBER Released on Halloween, Diary of a Madman reaches #14 in the U.K. and #16 in the U.S. It is now certified triple platinum. 1982 JANUARY 20 With Daisley back in the band, and Don Airey on keyboards Ozzy launches a U.S. tour, and makes headlines when he bites the head off a bat on stage in Des Moines, IA. Ozzy who didn't realize it was a real bat, has to undergo rabies injections. The incident gets him banned in Boston. FEBRUARY Ozzy is arrested for urinating on the Alamo after a night of drunken revelry and is banned from playing in San Antonio for a decade. MARCH 19 While the band is on tour in Florida, an airplane joyride turns tragic: the plane's wing clips the tour bus, and crashes into a house, killing Randy Rhoads, Ozzy's hairdresser, and the pilot. Although devastated, Ozzy decides to complete the tour with Bernie Torme, and then Brad Gillis on guitar. JULY 4 After his divorce from first wife Thelma becomes final, Ozzy marries Sharon Arden in Maui, HI. Tommy Aldridge is his best man. 1983 JANUARY Speak of the Devil, a double album of old Black Sabbath material recorded in New York in May, 1982 by Ozzy, Tommy Aldridge, Rudy Sarzo, and Brad Gillis in response to the Sabbath release Live Evil with Ronnie Dio on vocals, hits #14 in the U.S. It eventually goes platinum. MAY 29 Ozzy performs at the U.S. Festival in San Bernardino, CA for a crowd of over 350,000. SEPTEMBER 2 Aimee Osbourne is born DECEMBER Ozzy, now managed by Sharon, and signed to CBS/Epic Records, releases Bark at the Moon Featuring Jake E. Lee on guitar, it reaches #19 in the U.S. and #24 in the U.K. It eventually goes double platinum. 1984 FEBRUARY Ozzy postpones eight dates of his U.S. tour when glass from a broken mirror used in the "So Tired" video lodges in his throat. OCTOBER 27 Kelly Osbourne is born. NOVEMBER Ozzy checks into rehab at the Betty Ford Center. 1985 JANUARY After an appearance at the Rock in Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Tommy Aldridge leaves the band followed by Bob Daisley. Drummer Randy Castillo, and bassist Phil Soussan join up. JULY 15 Ozzy reunites with original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward to play the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia, PA. Don Arden had tried to prevent Sabbath from playing via a lawsuit, to no avail NOVEMBER 8 Jack Osbourne is born 1986 JANUARY 13 parents of California teenager John McCollum sue Ozzy and CBS Records, claiming that listening to "Suicide Solution" drove the youth to suicide. MARCH Ozzy embarks on a tour of the U.S. in support of The Ultimate Sin, which hits #8 in the U.K. and #6 in the States. It is now certified double platinum. MAY 2 Ozzy co-hosts NBC-TV's Friday Night Videos with sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. DECEMBER 19 A California Superior Court judge denies a motion to reinstate the "Suicide Solution" lawsuit, citing First Amendment protection. 1987 MARCH In an ironic bit of casting, Ozzy plays a fanatical fundamentalist preacher in the heavy metal movie Trick or Treat. APRIL The Ultimate Ozzy video is certified gold. Tribute, a double live album dedicated to Randy Rhoads and featuring his guitar playing, hits #6 in the U.S. after making it to #13 in the U.K. It is certified double platinum today. JULY 17 Ozzy begins a six week tour of U.K. prisons. The set, appropriately, includes "Jailhouse Rock" DECEMBER Zakk Wylde (21) joins the band 1988 JULY 18 A California appeals court upholds the decision to dismiss the "Suicide Solution" lawsuit. OCTOBER Ozzy begins a U.S. tour to support No Rest For the Wicked, with Zakk Wylde, Randy Castillo, and Geezer Butler on bass. The album reaches #23 in the U.K. and #13 in the States, and eventually goes double platinum. 1989 MARCH Wicked Videos is certified gold. JUNE ,br> Ozzy's duet with Lita Ford, "Close My Eyes Forever," is a #8 on the Billboard singles chart. AUGUST 12=13 Ozzy performs at the Moscow Music Peace Festival with Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, the Scorpions, Skid Row, and Cinderella. SEPTEMBER 2 Ozzy is jailed after attacking and threatening to kill wife, Sharon, but is released on the condition he go into rehab. He does, for three months, and they reconcile. 1990 JANUARY Live EP Just Say Ozzy, recorded at London's Brixton Academy, is released. It hits #58 in the U.S. and #69 in the U.K. and eventually ears god certification. AUGUST A compilation of old material, Ten Commandments, is released by Priority Records and reaches #163 in the U.S. OCTOBER Another pair of suicide lawsuits are filed -- parents of two Georgia teens who shot themselves blame Ozzy's music for the deaths. DECEMBER 16 Ozzy makes a cameo appearance on the TV series Parker Lewis Can't Lose. 1991 FEBRUARY 8 New bassist Mike Inez debuts with Ozzy at KNAC radio station's anniversary concert in Long Beach CA. MAY 6 A District Court judge in Atlanta dismisses the suicide lawsuits on First Amendment grounds. SEPTEMBER 17 No More Tears debuts at its #7 peak in the U.S. and reaches #32 in the U.K. Today it's certified triple platinum. SEPTEMBER 24 Home video Don't Blame Me: The Tales of Ozzy Osbourne, including rare footage and interviews with Ozzy and artists he's known and influenced is released. The video has reached gold status. OCTOBER 5 Ozzy headlines in the Foundations Forum convention in Los Angeles. Three weeks later, Ozzy breaks his foot on stage in Chicago, and after three more shows and infection causes him to postpone the rest of the tour. 1992 JANUARY 5 Ozzy resumes his Theater of Madness tour in Sunrise, FL, with Prong in support. MARCH 26 Ten years since his tragic death, the Randy Rhoads Memorial Concert takes place at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA. Ozzy dedicates proceeds to building a new tomb for the late guitarist. MARCH 28 Ozzy invites audience members on stage at Irvine Meadows in Laguna Hills, CA, but frenzied fans overdo it causing $100,00 worth of damages. Ozzy receives minor bruises. JUNE Ozzy embarks on what he says is his last tour as a solo artist. Randy Castillo, Mike Inez, and Zakk Wylde back him up. OCTOBER 1 The Supreme Court upholds rulings that the First Amendment protects Ozzy against lawsuits that allege his music encourages suicide. Ozzy performs in San Antonio, donating $10,000 to the caretakers of the Alamo, where relieving himself got him banned from town in 1981. OCTOBER 31 Ozzy takes part in ABC-TV's Halloween Jam at Universal Studios on a bill that includes the Black Crowes, Slaughter, and AC/DC. NOVEMBER 14-15 The final dates on the Ozzy's No More Tours tour at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, CA end with a Black Sabbath reunion: Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward join Ozzy for a 30 minute set. NOVEMBER 18 Black Sabbath is honored with a star at the Rock Walk on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. 1993 JULY 3 The double live set Live and Loud debuts at its #22 peak and is later certified gold. OCTOBER Ozzy makes an appearance on ABC's Halloween Jam II. 1994 MARCH 1 Ozzy wins a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for "I Don't Want to Change the World." SEPTEMBER Ozzy's duet with Miss Piggy on "Born to Be Wild" is included on the children's album Kermit Unpigged OCTOBER Ozzy joins forces with Therapy? on a cover of "Iron Man" on Nativity in Black -- ATtribute to Black Sabbath. 1995 AUGUST Finding retirement overrated Ozzy returns to the road, launching a tour of Latin America in Monterey, Mexico, followed by short tours of the U.S. and Europe. Joe Holmes is the new guitarist, and Randy Castillo replaces Deen Castronovo after eight shows. OCTOBER Ozzmosis, recorded by Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, Geezer Butler, and drummer Deen Castronovo, and released in September, debuts at #4 in the U.S. following a #22 U.K. peak, and eventually goes platinum. Ozzy tours Europe Nov. 8 though mid-December. DECEMBER 31 Ozzy's U.S. Retirement Sucks tour launches in Denver, CO and ends with five concerts in Japan in March. Korn and Life of Agony support. Geezer Butler starts the tour, but Alice in Chains' Mike Inez steps in when Geezer opts not to continue. 1996 APRIL Ozzy shoots the video for "I Just Want You," the third single from Ozzmosis. MAY Ozzy hits the road again to support Ozzmosis, with a lineup featuring Joe Holmes, bassist Rober Trujillo, and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin, who opened for Ozzy in 1991 when he was with Infectious Grooves. Henry Rollins, Type O Negative, Sepultura, and Filter support on various legs of the tour. AUGUST 17 Ozzy co-headlines the Castle Donington festival with KISS. It's Ozzy's third time at the Donington -- he played there in '84 and '86. SEPTEMBER Ozzy continues touring for Ozzmosis with Danzig, Sepultura and Prong in support. The tour, which runs until Nov. 11 in Honolulu, HI includes two expanded OZZfest concerts Oct. 26 and in Phoenix and Oct. 27 in San Bernardino, with Slayer, Fear Factory, Coal Chamber, and Neurosis added to the bill. 1997 MARCH The compilation album OzzFest Live!, featuring bands from '96 OzzFest is released with a companion home video MAY OZZfest '97 begins, with Ozzy doing double duty, playing with his own band and Black Sabbath -- Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Mike Bordin -- with Pantera, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, Machine Head, and Fear Factory as main stage support and on second stage, Coal Chamber, Powerman 5000, Downset, Vision of Disorder, Slo Burn, and Drain S.T.H. JUNE 5 OZZfest goes on in E. Rutherford, NJ despite local authorities threats to pull the show if Marilyn Manson took part -- they backed down when Ozzy counterthreanted to sue on First Amendment grounds. NOVEMBER 11 The Ozzman Cometh, compilation featuring classic Ozzy songs, Black Sabbath basement tapes, an interview, and "Back on Earth" is released. It's now platinum. DECEMBER 5 In Birmingham, England (Ozzy's hometown) Black Sabbath recorded "Renunion" (a two cd set containing two new songs due out Oct. 20th, 1998)on the second of two sold out shows. It is the first time since 1979 that the original members have played full length concerts since 1979. 1998 MAY 29 Ozzy launches a European festival tourn in Numburg, Germany that includes two shows there, followed by one in Berlin and a run of Black Sabbath dates in Hungary, Austria, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. JUNE 20 OZZfest is held at the Milton Keynes Bowl in England with Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Foo Fighters, Korn, Pantera, Soulfly, Slayer, Fear Factory, Coal Chamber, Life of Agony, Limp Bizkit, Entombed, Human Waste Project, Neurosis, and Pitchshifter. Afterward Ozzy plays four more festivals with Sabbath in Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium. JULY 3 The U.S. OZZfest begins in Holmdel, NJ. SEPTEMBER Ozzy has an interview in Penthouse magazine. A new book entitled "Paranoid: Black Days with Sabbath & Other Horror Stories" by Mick Wall is out. SEPTEMBER 24 Black Sabbath is nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame OCTOBER 18 Ozzy is on cartoon "Chef's Aid" (South Park). OCTOBER 20 Black Sabbath released "Reunion" a double disk cd featuring two new songs "Psycho Man" and "Selling My Soul" the first album from the original members in 20 years. The album debuts at #11 in the U.S. OCTOBER 21 Ozzy has a half hour interview on MTV's "Revue" OCTOBER 30 Black Sabbath appears on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and sings "Paranoid". This is the first time in 23 years they have made a live tv performance. 1999 FEBRUARY Reunion goes platinum. It is the 1st Sabbath album since Heaven and Hell to do so. MAY 27 Ozzy kicks off his fourth annual Ozzfest, featuring Black Sabbath with Ozzy as front man! Ozzfest is also known as "The Last Supper" this year because this is the last time Black Sabbath will tour together. Other bands touring on the Ozzfest are: Rob Zombie, Deftones, Slayer, Primus, Godsmack, System of a Down, Fear Factory, Slipknot, Puya, hed(pe), Drain STH, StaticX, Flashpoint, Apartment 26 and Pushmonkey. JULY New comic book from Todd McFarlane feating Ozzy is out! Great artwork! Also the Todd McFarlane Ozzy doll, comes complete with headless bats and doves! Be sure to grab these! |
