I am Ozzy

I remember the first time I ever read this book. I was young, foolish, stupid and thought I was cool. Zoom forward a few years later, and much of that is still true, except that I have seen and done a few things since then, and know a thing or two about life.

I remember my feelings when I finished this book originally. I was a bit sad, and a little bit teary eyed because I'd just finished what I thought was the greatest biography I'd ever read (and it probably is) and the feelings are the same this time around as well...

Ayers takes Osbourne's myriad of takes and knits it together in the form of a neat little book. While he does this, he still keeps Osbourne's voice from shining through the words, and that kind of sucks everyone into the tale. There are all kinds of tales on this book too! Band politics, alcoholic adventures, drug tales, stories of meeting other stoned or pissed rock ‘n' rollers... You name it, you'll find it here.

Osbourne captivates us with tale after tale of his drunken debaucheries, regaling the various encounters he's had with his father-in-law, the good times he's had with Bill, Geezer and Tony and later on, with Randy Rhoades... I'll be lying if I said that I never once cried while reading the book.

Because, all through the funny anecdotes, Osbourne also shines out as a brutally honest person and he has some brutally honest things to tell us as well. The stories of the passing of his mum and dad, the story of his split up with Thelma, his ex-wife, and not to mention the least, the story of Sharon fighting cancer and surviving.

Throughout the course of the book, you'll soon come to realise that there's probably not a single drug that Osbourne has not tried. Toward the closing of the book, Osbourne questions himself, asking how the fuck he lived through it all with hardly anything going wrong with him, health wise. Being a drug junkie and an alcoholic, Osbourne recounts how he overcame both and has been on a clean slate ever since... I applaud you, John!

The thing that really tore me up though, were the photos towards the end. Just seeing them there... I don't know, they made me realise that the book was now done and that I had to go on with reading other stuff.

But I shall read the book again, and yet again, I shall come and edit this review to reflect my feelings then.

Please do read this book even if you've never heard of Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne before. Honestly, this book is more like a chicken soup for the soul than anything else.