a theology of…Ozzy Osbourne
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne…
Ozzy Osbourne
As well as being a Christian I have been a fan of firstly Black Sabbath and then Ozzy Osbourne’s solo output for the last three decades or so.
Back in the 1980′s the right wing evangelicals led by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) they were set on increasing parental control over the access of children to music that was deemed to be violent, have drug use or be sexual. It was led by Tipper Gore wife of statesman Al Gore and three other women.
So who got to judge the music…well they did of course, did they understand it…well they did help lots of musicians sell a lot of album by trying to ban them…so I guess not but now as a parent myself I can understand their concern if not their methods.
Anyway Ozzy Osbourne was on the agenda, his concerts were picketed and he was vilified and became this prince of darkness figure, of course for those of us that followed him we knew he wasn’t this dark satanic figure or a madman but just a normal guy struggling with a life of alcohol and drugs.
Even looking at his lyrics in Black Sabbath, he never sang of being in league with the devil or any such thing, it was more like hammer horror of the 1960 if anything (incidentally the name came from a 60′s film)
In fact look at some of the lyrics of the song Black Sabbath,
Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling people their desire
Satan’s sitting there, he’s smiling
Watch those flames get higher and higher
Oh no, no, please God help me!
clearly not embracing the dark-side.
So last night I watched a documentary called ‘God Bless Ozzy Osbourne’. It was decidedly sad as it followed a man with very bad dyslexia and clearly suffered from a huge lack of self esteem.
It was sad too watch his way of coping with the stress of fame and fortune with alcohol, in fact he would drink so much he would pass out with his eyes open.
And then there was the drugs.
Black Sabbath became very famous very quickly and people were throwing money at the band, and the 1970′s were notorious for drugs and so was Ozzy.
It didn’t help when his father died, he was sacked from Black Sabbath and was found by his now current wife, Sharon (who went on to manage him) covered in urine and completely out of his head in 1979, I think it would fair to say she saved his life.
In the documentary his five children repeat that he was never there and they are right he never was, he had always provided everything they wanted except one thing…he had never been a father and it was this that ultimately helped him to clean up and become the dad he could’ve and should’ve been.
And now he is clean, five years and counting.
But right at the end of the video we see him get down on his knees to pray…so yes, God loves you Ozzy Osbourne and God Bless you!
