Ozzy Osbourne became known as a provocative and powerful performer on stage, as well as an unbridled hedonist off it.
The Black Sabbath vocalist and successful solo musician became famous for his challenging live performances.
Drug and alcohol use often fueled his manic behavior in front of his devoted audiences, as well as his more eccentric behavior between shows.
Here are some of the most memorable and infamous episodes from the late heavy metal pioneer's turbulent life.
Alamo
In 1982, Osborne wore one of his wife's dresses for a photo shoot near the Alamo in Texas, the site of the heroic sacrifice of Texan soldiers fighting off Mexican invaders.
A drunk rock star defecated on a cenotaph dedicated to the victims, then donated thousands of dollars to an organization that supports the Alamo.
Cats
Osborne said he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and decided to shoot 17 cats with a shotgun.
The rocker claims his wife found him under the piano holding a knife in one hand and a shotgun in the other.
Ants
In the 1980s, Osbourne toured with Motley Crue, and it was then that he reportedly shocked his fellow rockers by “noticing” a line of ants.
Bassist Nikki Sixx claimed that Osbourne took a straw and, as if snorting cocaine, snorted a chain of ants into his nose.
Bats
In 1982, Osbourne performed on stage during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa, during his US tour.
A fan threw a bat on stage, and in the middle of her performance, Osbourne, mistaking it for rubber, bit off its head. There is still debate about whether the bat was alive or dead when it was thrown.
Pigeons
Osbourne has a history of decapitating birds, beginning with an incident that shocked CBS Records executives.
In 1981, to celebrate the release of a new album, the Black Country rock star was about to symbolically release two doves on the label. Instead, he grabbed a dove and bit its head off, after which he was thrown out.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
