Retro Raunch Revisit

Listen in awe. Happy 35th Anniversary to Ozzy's 3rd solo album since his departure from BLACK SABBATH, which featured the hit title track video, another radio rotation steady, and a ballad video that while a hit was unpopular with fans. Still another song was a dig at Ozzy's shrewd and much-disliked wife/manager Sharon. BATM is the first to feature guitarist Jake who although is wrongly not credited, co-wrote a majority of the music -- later saying he was cheated out of publishing claims/royalties. By year's end, Ozzy who is synonymous with controversy, faced backlash when a 20yr old Canadian man stabbed a woman and her 2 sons to death in Nova Scotia and claimed the murder was inspired by Ozzy's Jekyll & Hyde/werewolf character. Media & Christian groups immediately dogpiled Ozzy with accusations of his music having Satanic influence -- only adding to his troubles as he would further face allegations of his song 'Suicide Solution' from his 1980 debut album, blamed for having caused a 19yr old California fan to kill himself in Oct 1984. And 2 more again both in Georgia (a 16yr old in May 1986, and a 17yr old in Mar 1988). The parents all filed civil suits that saw Ozzy put on trial on the basis he should be held responsible for his lyrics but he was exonerated each time. The judges ruled the deaths were not a forseeable result and however impressionable or susceptible the listener, reasonable persons understand figurative expression which is protected by the First Amendment, and that the song was not a call to action.