I Am Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne

Well I just finished listening the audio book I Am Ozzy and had to go dig out some Black Sabbath vinyl and give it a listen. (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was my choice - love Sabra Cadabra.)

Can you believe Ozzy is 62 years old? (and still rockin') By his own admission, he finds it hard to believe as well.

"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say."

I Am Ozzy lets us see where things started - in a working class neighbourhood in Birmingham. The story of how Black Sabbath came to be (the origin of the name isn't what you would think. The effort to 'make it' - standing outside venues hoping a band wouldn't show so they could play (it worked!) The beginning of heavy metal and the musicians he's known. The excesses and mistakes made on the way really do make you wonder how he is still alive! We've all heard the biting the head off a bat story, but we get to hear the real story - it wasn't intentional. Now the dove - that was.

But what I enjoyed most was hearing more about Ozzy as a person, not the stage persona and the character we see on stage. He's a man who wanted to please his dad and desperately missed him when he died. We all know about Sharonb, Jack, Kelly and even the elusive Amy. But did you know Ozzy has two other children?

Now this wasn't read by Ozzy - or quite frankly it would take forever to listen to it and I probably would't understand every fifth word. Instead it's read by Frank Skinner - a noted British comedian who hits the right tone when reading. It's actually very easy to imagine it's Ozzy talking. Be warned - it is like Ozzy talking - lots of the 'f' word. There is an interview included on the last disc of Ozzy himself.

I listened to the abridged version I really liked the packaging - it's three discs on a fold out sleeve with photos and a little more information than the usual blank black holders.

Love him or hate him - he's made his mark....

In his own words - " 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."

Listen to an excerpt of I Am Ozzy. Read an excerpt of I Am Ozzy.

And if you'd like to hear more, you've still got time to enter my giveaway for one of three copies of I Am Ozzy - ends Saturday Feb. 27th at 6 pm EST.