Exclusive Sneak Peak: Ozzy Osbourne's Memoir, 'I AM OZZY'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The rock legend turned reality star releases his long-awaited memoir 'I AM OZZY' on January 25. FOX411 got a special sneak peak at Ozzy's tell-all tome. Click through for outrageous, exclusive excerpts, as well as classic photos of Ozzy through the years. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Click here to buy 'I AM OZZY.</a>') (REUTERS)
Ozzy left school at 15 and was employed as a construction worker, trainee plumber, apprentice toolmaker, car factory worker and slaughterhouse worker before joining up with Black Sabbath. He also spent a few weeks in prison for not paying a fine (he was found guilty of robbing a clothing shop). Look at him now! (AP)
“Deep down, I knew that all the booze and drugs had turned sour on me; that I’d stopped being funny and zany and had started to become sad.” (Photo: 'I AM OZZY' by Ozzy Osbourne, Grand Central Publishing) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Buy the book here.</a>
On his family's reality show: “I remember watching some clips from 'The Osbournes'—and even I didn’t have a clue about what I was talking about.” The series showcased Osbourne and his family (wife Sharon, children Jack and Kelly and special guest appearances from his son Louis, but not their eldest daughter Aimee, who declined to participate). It became one of MTV's greatest hits. The show ran from 2002 to 2005. (Photo: 'I AM OZZY' by Ozzy Osbourne, Grand Central Publishing) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Buy the book here.</a>
Black Sabbath band members (l-r): Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, pose after being inducted at the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dinner in 2006. (AP) (AP )
“There was a lot of drinking at that wedding, not to mention seven bottles of Hennessy in the wedding cake. If you’d been breathalysed after eating a slice of that stuff, you’d have gone to jail.” (Photo: 'I AM OZZY' by Ozzy Osbourne, Grand Central Publishing) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Buy the book here.</a>
Though known for being dark and demonic, Ozzy says the band wasn't actually evil, he writes. “I can honestly say that we never took the black magic stuff seriously for one second. We just liked how theatrical it was. Even my old man eventually played along with it: he made me this awesome metal cross during one of his tea breaks at the factory. When I turned up to rehearsals with it, all the other guys wanted one, so I got Dad to make three more.” (Photo: 'I AM OZZY' by Ozzy Osbourne, Grand Central Publishing) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Buy the book here.</a>
On touring solo: “With every gig, it just got crazier and crazier. Eventually people started to throw things on stage with nails and razor blades embedded in them…. Some of the crew started to get freaked out about it, especially after a real snake ended up on stage one night.” (Photo: 'I AM OZZY' by Ozzy Osbourne, Grand Central Publishing) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Ozzy-Osbourne/dp/0446569895">Buy the book here.</a>
The British rocker, born John Michael Osbourne, in an undated publicity photo. (REUTERS)
Ozzy and the gang in the early days. Black Sabbath are ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band of All Time." Since its formation in 1968, the band has had multiple lineup changes for a total of 22 former members.
Wife Sharon (L), daughter Kelly (C) and Ozzy arrive at the Brit Awards at Earls Court in London on February 20, 2008. (REUTERS)
Ozzy performs with Metallica during the second of two 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concerts in NYC on Oct. 30, 2009. (REUTERS)
Ozzy pals around with fellow frontman Jon Bon Jovi at England's Stanstead Airport in 1989. (AP)
Osbourne performing at his signature music festival, Ozzfest, in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1997. (AP)