Former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo recently shared details about the dangerous atmosphere surrounding the band’s 1982 tour. He revealed how security concerns forced band members to keep their distance from the frontman during performances. The revelations came during an interview on David Ellefson’s show.
Sarzo described the unpredictable nature of performing with Osbourne. He also detailed the specific security threats the band faced following a controversial incident.
“I was like the second generation of Ozzy’s band. First being with Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake. And second, of course with Randy and both with Tommy and myself,” Sarzo said. “And I got to tell you, it was paradise with a lot of unpredictability from Ozzy. We knew that he was going to do something. It was predictable that he was going to be unpredictable that night on stage or off the stage or whatever.”
The bassist then detailed the specific security concerns that arose after Osbourne’s infamous incident at the Alamo.
“Okay, this is right after he pissed on the Alamo. So we were getting threats from the Daughters of the Revolution and all these Texas, you know, militant groups. This is again 1982,” he continued. “And so the thing was [we were told], ‘Don’t stand close to Ozzy just in case he gets shot.’”
Sarzo explained how this warning affected the band’s stage performance and interactions with their frontman.
“So every time Ozzy would come to one of us, either Randy or me, we were like running away from you might get something on you,” he concluded.
The security concerns Sarzo described were part of a broader pattern of chaos that defined Osbourne’s early solo career. This was particularly evident during the tumultuous 1982 tour period.
The 1982 Diary of a Madman tour became legendary for its shocking incidents. The most notable occurred when Osbourne bit the head off a bat during a performance. Society of Rock reported that the incident occurred when a teenage fan threw what appeared to be a dead bat onto the stage. Ozzy initially thought it was a rubber prop. After realizing his mistake, Osbourne had to undergo a series of painful rabies shots as a precautionary measure.
The atmosphere of danger and unpredictability reached its tragic peak just weeks after the bat incident. Guitarist Randy Rhoads died in a plane crash during this period. Loudwire noted that Rhoads’ death added another layer of volatility to an already chaotic period. The remaining band members had to navigate both external threats and internal grief while continuing the tour.
The rabies treatment Osbourne underwent following the bat incident was particularly grueling. Know Your Instrument documented that the treatment required injections in nearly every part of his body. This added physical suffering to the mental stress of performing under constant security threats.
These incidents collectively created an environment where band members like Sarzo had to balance their musical duties with genuine concerns for their safety. This made the 1982 tour one of the most dangerous periods in rock history.
