A new documentary on Ozzy Osbourne, titled Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, is set to premiere on A&E this Monday (September 7th). We caught up with the metal legend’s son Jack Osbourne to discuss the film and so much more.
Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne tells Ozzy’s life story from childhood to the present day — including growing up a nervous kid in Birmingham, England; fronting Black Sabbath; going solo; his infamous onstage incidents; his drug and alcohol addiction; his tumultuous relationship with wife Sharon; the legend of Randy Rhoads; the launch of Ozzfest; the reality show The Osbournes; and so much more.
Jack, an executive producer on the documentary, recently checked in with Heavy Consequence via Zoom while on vacation with Ozzy and family. In addition to discussing the documentary, Jack offers us an update on Ozzy’s health; gives us the latest on a planned biopic; and reflects on the importance of Ozzfest to the metal scene.
The documentary does a nice job of chronicling Ozzy’s life and career without glossing over the dark moments. Among the most difficult incidents covered in the film is the time Ozzy was arrested on attempted murder charges for strangling his wife Sharon while he was on a drug and alcohol binge in 1989.
“When you look at it from a producer standpoint, you’re like, ‘Oh my god, it’s great we got this on camera’,” Jack tells us of that point in the documentary. “But then you go, ‘Oh, but wait, that’s my parents, that’s my mom and my dad talking about this horrible thing.’ I had a tendency to try and remove myself from it and just focus on the content with which we were working with… When you look at it from a more human side, that’s messed up that it happened.”
Jack also discusses Ozzfest and its impact on the metal world. “I always look at Ozzfest as [Sharon’s] crowning achievement,” he remarks. “She helped seed and grow dozens of very successful bands that are still successful today. Ozzfest was that kind of launchpad.”
In addition to the topics already mentioned, Jack divulges a funny yet embarrassing story that involved Ozzy and a Backstreet Boys song.
Watch our full interview with Jack Osbourne above, and tune in to the documentary Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne on September 7th at 9 p.m. ET / PT on A&E.
Trouble viewing the video interview in the player above? Watch on YouTube.
