Reflecting on the legendary Prince of Darkness, who recently passed away, and separating fact from fiction in his enduring legacy.
1. The Bat Incident (1982) – ✅ Confirmed
“I thought it was a rubber bat… until it bit me back.” — Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy bit the head off a real bat during a show in Des Moines and needed rabies shots afterward.
2. Bit Two Doves at CBS Meeting – ✅ Confirmed
“It was meant to be a joke… didn’t go down well.” — Ozzy, I Am Ozzy
At a label luncheon, Ozzy released two doves — then bit off their heads when no one paid attention.
3. Snorted Ants While on Tour – ✅ Confirmed
“He snorted a line of ants and looked at me like he’d just reinvented rock.” — Nikki Sixx
Described in The Dirt and later confirmed by Ozzy and Sharon.
4. Took 13,000+ Pills in a Year – ✅ Confirmed
“He was so doped up we had to subtitle him on The Osbournes.” — Sharon Osbourne
Ozzy’s overprescription during his MTV reality show era almost killed him.
5. Tried to Kill Sharon – ✅ Confirmed
“He looked me in the eye and said, ‘We’ve come to a decision — you’ve got to die.’” — Sharon Osbourne
In 1989, Ozzy attacked Sharon during a blackout and was arrested for attempted murder.
6. Peed on the Alamo – ✅ Confirmed
“I was drunk, wearing a dress, and thought it was just a wall.” — Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy was banned from San Antonio for a decade after urinating near the Alamo Cenotaph.
7. Teen Burglar Left Fingerprints – ✅ Confirmed
Ozzy wore gloves with fingers cut off while burglarizing homes. He was arrested quickly.
8. Couldn’t Speak Clearly for Years – ✅ Confirmed
His speech was heavily impaired due to years of substance abuse and medications.
9. Blew Up a Toilet on Jackass 3D – ✅ Confirmed
While not as extreme as ant-snorting, Ozzy did appear in Jackass 3D.
10. Bit a Pigeon’s Head at the Airport – ❌ False
No footage or corroboration exists. Likely confused with the CBS dove incident.
11. Shot 17 Cats in One Sitting – ⚠️ Unproven
Grim rumor repeated often but never verified. Possibly apocryphal.
12. Suicide Pact with Sharon – ❌ Denied
“There was no pact. That’s insane.” — Kelly Osbourne
Rumor emerged in 2025 and was quickly denied by the family.
13. Declared Dead Multiple Times – ❌ False
Just hoaxes and social media rumors. Ozzy’s death has been falsely reported numerous times before 2025.
14. Secret Satanist – ❌ False
“I’m not a Satanist. I’m just Ozzy.” — Ozzy Osbourne
Despite themes in Sabbath’s music, Ozzy denies any Satanic affiliations.
15. Ate Raw Mice on Stage – ❌ False
No credible evidence. Often dismissed even by Ozzy himself.
16. Ordained Online Minister – ✅ Confirmed
Ozzy registered as a Universal Life Church minister in the 2000s.
17. Hired a Ghost Hunter – ✅ Confirmed
During The Osbournes TV show, the family called in paranormal investigators to clear bad energy.
18. Auditioned with a Stolen PA – ✅ Confirmed
Ozzy lied about owning a PA system to audition for Black Sabbath — then stole one to follow through.
19. Wasn’t the First Choice for Black Sabbath – ✅ Confirmed
Bandmates admitted they weren’t sold on Ozzy initially, but his persistence won them over.
20. Retired Three Times (At Least) – ✅ Confirmed
“This is my final tour… until the next one.” — Ozzy Osbourne
First in 1992, again in 2007, and again in 2023 — each time followed by a comeback.
Final Thought: Ozzy Osbourne’s wild ride came to an end, but his myth, music, and madness live on forever.
R.I.P., Master!
