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Rocker Ozzy Osbourne Tried to Hang Self
Reuters ^

Posted on 06/18/2002 11:42:37 AM PDT by wallcrawlr

LONDON (Reuters) - Rock rebel Ozzy Osbourne tried to hang himself from a clothes-line during a wild childhood, but was stopped in the nick of time by his angry father, according to a book excerpt released Monday.

"The 14-year-old made a noose out of his mother's clothes-line, put it over his head, fixed the other end securely to a high gate and jumped from a chair," said the excerpt from the new book "Ozzy Unauthorized" by Sue Crawford.

"The teen-ager who was to become one of rock's most outrageous men may have died right there except that he was caught in the act by his father -- who then gave him a sound beating," added the excerpt, published in Britain's The Sun newspaper.

Crawford's book paints a picture of chaos and poverty during Osbourne's upbringing in the central English city of Birmingham.

The British heavy metal rocker, famed for biting off a bat's head on stage, has lately acquired a new cult following due a hit U.S. docu-soap, "At Home With The Osbournes," charting daily life at his Beverly Hills mansion.

Rich and famous at 58 -- he recently sang for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in London -- Osbourne was so poor as a child he only owned one pair of shoes and socks at a time.

"My mother was an amateur singer, my father was an amateur drunk," he was quoted as saying of his parents.

Having witnessed his father beating his mother, he became violent, at age seven organizing "hanging squads" that terrified other children by stringing them up in the toilets.

He later joined in gang fights with dustbin lids, iron pokers and even once a set of meat cleavers. "I can remember one pitched battle where I deliberately tried to drown some kid. Where I came from it was kill or be killed," he said.

Not surprisingly, Osbourne drank hard. At 17 he ended up in jail for six weeks for breaking into a shop. In prison, to escape a murderer's unwelcome attention, he smashed him over the head with a metal chamber pot, the excerpt said.

Osbourne's love of music came from his mother, who encouraged him to take part in school musicals. But it was the Beatles who were his first direct inspiration.

"If he did not have the money he would simply hide the records under his coat and do a runner," Crawford's book said of Osbourne's desperation to acquire the band's material.

The rocker left school early and worked as a slaughterman, killing 250 cattle a day and cutting the guts out of sheep, the book added. "It fostered his weird reputation for a fascination with animals and death," it said.


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To: Uncle Meat
That should be "Doomsday"
61 posted on 06/18/2002 3:47:10 PM PDT by Uncle Meat
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Comment #62 Removed by Moderator

To: StoneColdGOP
"Original comment by StoneColdGOP: It doesn't cost a cent to clean the Alamo."

"All it takes is a water hose, and the rocker piss stain is gone."

That may be so, but it's the principle of the thing! People died at the Alamo fighting for freedom! Why not go piss on the Independence Hall in Philadelphia? Why not go piss on a soldier's grave in Arlington National Cemetary? Why not go piss on the White House? I mean there are some things that just should not be done- and pissing on the Alamo is one of those things!

63 posted on 06/19/2002 5:27:16 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: SarahW
"BUt it would help keep the place open and clean for visitors."

The Alamo is "open and clean for visitors" now without being used as a toilet by anybody! Is it your contention that rich people should be allowed to do whatever they want- just because they have money?

64 posted on 06/19/2002 5:32:05 AM PDT by Destructor
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Comment #65 Removed by Moderator

To: wallcrawlr
I thank God that I didn't have a childhood like Ozzy's. I can understand now why he is like he is.
66 posted on 06/19/2002 5:38:12 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

Comment #68 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazamataz
I guess not, if your definition of "reality" is that it's okay to piss on the Alamo.
69 posted on 06/19/2002 6:34:52 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: Lazamataz
I wonder what will happen to the Alamo when Mexico takes Texas back?
70 posted on 06/19/2002 7:19:35 AM PDT by cibco
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To: cibco
Take?

Can't we give?

71 posted on 06/19/2002 7:21:56 AM PDT by JoshGray
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To: cibco
I wonder what will happen to the Alamo when Mexico takes Texas back?

Any attempt by the states to secede from the Union will cause a quick, decisive attack by a superior United States Armed forces.

Any attempt to conquer Texas by Mexico will cause a quick, decisive attack by a superior United States Armed forces.

72 posted on 06/19/2002 7:27:15 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Lazamataz
I think they are in the procces right now. Where are our troops?
73 posted on 06/19/2002 7:30:50 AM PDT by cibco
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To: cibco
I think they are in the procces right now. Where are our troops?

I know all about La Raza and Aztlan, and La Reconquista, but I think it is a fools errand. I do, however, forsee the same situation arising between 'Aztlanians' and Americans as exists between 'Palestinians' and Israelis.

74 posted on 06/19/2002 7:33:01 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Lazamataz
We got more to watch than "OZ". ;0)
75 posted on 06/19/2002 7:34:32 AM PDT by cibco
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To: StoneColdGOP
All it takes is a water hose, and the rocker piss stain is gone.

In the future, Ozzy "small talent-no class" Osbourne would be wise to relieve himself only on your home or pantleg. That way you can yuck it up and beg for his autograph, he can oblige by fingerpainting his name on your shirt using his feces, and the rest of us can ignore you both.

76 posted on 06/19/2002 7:46:12 AM PDT by Kevin Curry
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To: Destructor
You can pee on my leg if you give me ten thousand dollars.
77 posted on 06/19/2002 8:45:34 AM PDT by SarahW
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To: Destructor
Well, maybe not, but you could pee on my my house.
78 posted on 06/19/2002 8:56:29 AM PDT by SarahW
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To: SarahW
I have no desire to pee on your leg...
79 posted on 06/19/2002 9:24:38 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: SarahW
...or your house.
80 posted on 06/19/2002 9:25:01 AM PDT by Destructor
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