One of Ozzy Osbourne most famous antics was biting off the head of a bat while on stage. To mark the anniversary of the memorable event, the rocker, 70, has released a special plush toy for fans to enjoy.
The former Black Sabbath frontman made history in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 20, 1982, after a concertgoer threw a bat at him during his performance. Ozzy believed the creature was a fake and famously bit off its head, only then realizing the bat was alive.
“Today marks the 37th Anniversary since I bit a head off a f—ing bat,” he tweeted on Sunday. “Celebrate with this commemorative plush with detachable head.”
The 12-inch toy is listed at $40 at the official Ozzy store; unfortunately, the first batch has sold out. The “web exclusive” is listed with the following description: “Bring the legendary moment in rock history to life with this soft toy plush bat, featuring the Ozzy Osbourne logo and a velcro detachable head.”
Ozzy opened up about the incident in his 2009 memoir, I Am Ozzy. He wrote, via UltimateClassicRock.com, “Immediately… something felt wrong. Very wrong. For a start, my mouth was instantly full of this warm, gloopy liquid, with the worst aftertaste you could ever imagine. I could feel it staining my teeth and running down my chin. Then the head in my mouth twitched.”
The bat fought back and bit Ozzy in return, which forced the rocker to get treatment to battle a possible rabies infection.
During a recent interview with the Pasadena-Star News, Ozzy looked back at how much he partied during the ‘70s and ‘80s and couldn’t believe he thought drinking and doing drugs was such an integral part of his lifestyle.
“I now think, ‘How did I think going into a bar and getting smashed and doing all that cocaine was fun?’” he said. “I have come to think that if, right now, you had a gun, a bag of cocaine and a gallon of booze and you said, ‘Take your pick,’ I’d pick up the gun. It’s not worth it.” He reported: “I’m just enjoying life now to the fullest. I don’t drink alcohol anymore. I don’t smoke tobacco. I don’t use drugs. … I’m doing good right now.”
If you still want a plush bat and were unable to secure one from the first batch, the item is available for pre-sale with orders being fulfilled in March.
