I Am Ozzy
by Ozzy Osbourne
Read by Frank Skinner
Early in his memoir, Ozzy Osbourne reveals that years ago he was diagnosed with Attention
Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and an addictive personality. Those tendencies
help shape the content of his life and the telling of this story, which chronologically (more
or less) describes the foul-mouthed rocker’s rise to fame and his struggles with substance
abuse. As read by British comedian Frank Skinner, the story comes alive through his enthusiastic
delivery which never imitates Osbourne, but interprets the story and mines the material for its
most entertaining aspects.
Throughout the three CDs, the author moves abruptly from one bizarre anecdote to another,
including his youthful days working in a variety of strange metal jobs, struggling to make it
in the music business, killing a coop full of chickens that his first wife (Thelma) had bought
for him, watching his former band Black Sabbath grow in popularity through luck and talent,
biting the heads off a dove and a bat, escaping several near-death accidents and experiences,
and meeting and "romancing" his current wife, Sharon. Keep in mind, Osbourne’s idea of romance
usually included drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence.
Osbourne’s story is not a tale of deep introspection, a how-to for singers and musicians,
or even a cautionary tale for addicts. Instead, his unique life shows what one man did to
escape his impoverished background, and how his inner needs were satisfied through outer
excesses. This audio book should entertain anyone with a strong enough stomach to make it
through until the final track, which includes an interview with Osbourne. This interview
provides little in the way of new information, but gives solid evidence why I Am Ozzy
needed a professional reader rather than the author as narrator. |
The Book |
Hachette Book Group |
January 2010 |
Audio Book / Abridged / 3 CDs / Appx 3 hrs |
978-1-60788-520-7 |
Memoir |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: Profanity, Sexuality, Violence |
The Reviewer |
Leslie Halpern |
Reviewed 2010 |
NOTE: Reviewer Leslie
Halpern is the author of
Reel Romance:
The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies,
Dreams on
Film, A Writer's Guide to Fearless Interviews, and the co-author of
Connections: A Collection of Poems. Coming Soon: Passionate About Their Work:
Celebrities, Artists, and Experts Discuss Creativity. |
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