Ozzy Osbourne never showed a gentle side on stage, but when it came to his beloved family, he was a completely changed man with a different persona
By the mid-1980s, Ozzy Osbourne was not just the Prince of Darkness – he was also a husband and father, balancing rock stardom with family life.
His marriage to Sharon in 1982 was a turning point, personally and professionally, shaping the rest of his life. She was not just his wife; she became his manager, anchor and the force keeping his career (and life) on track. Their first child together, Aimee, was born in September 1983. Even with the chaos of touring life, Ozzy was determined to be present.
In July 1984, Sharon gave birth to their second child, Kelly, during a brief but crucial break in Ozzy’s live dates.
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Ozzy – who had three children (Jessica, Eliot and Louis) from a previous marriage – went to the Betty Ford Center in 1985 to have treatment for substance abuse. But family life had taken a firmer hold. Sharon recalled to Variety in 2021 how she persuaded Ozzy to get help: “I said ‘You’ve got to go.’
“I gave birth to Kelly, and the next morning, Ozzy left for Palm Springs. We lived in the countryside, in England. All there was were the pubs. I just knew that this wasn’t the way people should carry on when they’ve got kids.”
Son Jack was born in November 1985. That same year, Ozzy was juggling musical work with his ongoing battles with substance abuse.
“It’s a very selfish disease. You don’t think about it because you’re loaded, in an altered state,” Ozzy told Variety.
It was a period of intense pressure, but family photos show a softer side of the wildman: Ozzy cradling Aimee and Kelly, laughing with the toddlers, and doting on Aimee. Ozzy was a dad first.
Sharon, meanwhile, was the ultimate multitasker: managing Ozzy’s increasingly complicated career, running the household, and raising three children. Yet in the middle of the madness, there was a strong bond built on love.
In 2012 Sharon told the Guardian: “Structure in a family makes you feel safe otherwise you’re all over the place.”
The family found new fame in reality TV series The Osbournes in 2002. In May, Ozzy told the Guardian: “It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids. I don’t want to die in a hotel room. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.”
* The article is extracted from the new Black Sabbath – End Of An Era magazine, which is available to buy now.
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