Sisters reveal the real Ozzy Osbourne

Jul 3 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

HE'S the "Prince of Darkness", but Ozzy Osbourne has a much lighter side according to the three women who know him best - his sisters.

Sisters Jean Powell, aged 67, Iris James, 65, and Gillian Hemming, 62, spoke to The Birmingham Mail for the first time as their brother prepares to be honoured in the city.

And despite his wild antics on stage, they reveal the "gentlemanly" side of Ozzy, who rings home every weekend without fail, sang in aid of blind children as a child and loves nothing better than a cosy family sing song in his mansion.

They grew up with John - who took his school nickname of Ozzy as a stage name - with two other brothers Paul and Tony in a terraced house at 14 Lodge Road, Aston.

Times were hard with parents Jack and Lily unable to afford holidays for their six children - a far cry from the millionaire lifestyle Ozzy now lives.

Mother-of-two Jean, who now lives in Aldridge and has 10 grandchildren, said: "Ozzy's stage presence portrays him as the Prince of Darkness, but he has always been very close and happy with his family, especially his relationship with his children and his devotion to Sharon.

"The family gets together at least once a year at Ozzy's homes in Buckinghamshire and Los Angeles, so we often have a good old sing song and chat about our early lives in Birmingham.

"Ozzy was forever playing us up. He telephones me every weekend no matter where in the world he is, just to know how we are."

Mum-of-two Gillian said that with no television in the house, they grew up having musical evenings instead.

"Both dad and mum had lovely voices and we all took part," said Gillian, of Redditch. "Some of the children in our road put on variety shows, which we all took quite seriously with proceeds going to the Sunshine Home for blind babies.

"When Ozzy began his career, we sisters were just beginning to bring up our own families, but he was following his dreams, and what a dream!"

While Iris, a mum-of-two and grandmother-of-three of Kidderminster, said Friday's event was a big honour. "Ozzy is very gracious and a gentleman from a little terraced house in Aston," said Iris.

"The Hall of Stars has just blown us away with pride, especially as Birmingham means so much to us, we just wish our parents could have been here to share this wonderful occasion."

The sisters will be at Centenary Square on Friday to see Ozzy honoured with a Hollywood-style star for Birmingham's Walk of Stars.