The Madman: OzzyOsbourne Trivia

Little Ozzy

Born John Michael Osbourne to a working class Birmingham family in 1948, the future lead singer of Black Sabbath was first called nicknamed " Ozzy " by his schoolmates. Times were hard, his family was almost penniless, and Ozzy didn't fare very well at school. The future seemed grim.

The teenage Ozzy started out as a plumber's apprentice before getting stuck into some blood-smattered work at a slaughterhouse. He then had a stint as a car horn tuner (his first experience of being paid to make an unholy racket) before trying his hand at petty theft. He wasn't much of a crook, though, and was promptly thrown in jail for 3 months.

Ozzy and his early bandmates were an intrepid, put-upon bunch. Driving around in an old van, they lacked bookings, money and recognition. Some life-changing inspiration came from an old horror film called Black Sabbath. Taking that as their name, the band decided to ditch their old style and become a touch scarier. It worked: Sabbath were soon being accused of blaspemy and raking the cash in.

By 1980 Ozzy had left Black Sabbath and was hoping to launch a solo career. As a publicity stunt, Ozzy planned to release doves into the air during a meeting with music executives. In a last minute change of plan, he also chose to bite the head off one of the doves. "I think he ate the head," said one shocked witness. "He started spitting feathers out." An avalanche of outraged publicity ensued.

Ozzy was performing at an American concert in 1982 when a member of the audience threw what looked like a plastic bat onto the stage. Ozzy gamely picked it up and sank his teeth into its head – only to realise it was very real and very alive. Even Ozzy was horrified as he found himself rushed to hospital for rabies jabs.

He's been through alcholism, drug addiction and depression, but Ozzy Osbourne is now a media phenomemon. As well as fronting MTV's most popular show ("The Osbournes"), he has dined with George W Bush and played for the Queen. Could the old hellraiser have finally mellowed?