I met Ozzy when I was 21 - and ended up on his Christmas card list

ROCK CITY BOSS REMEMBERS THE GENTLER MAN BEHIND THE IMAGE

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

BITING the heads off bats, heavy drinking and an outlandish lifestyle it's fair to say Ozzy Osbourne left behind a wild legacy.

The Prince of Darkness never shied away from controversy during his long career.

For Nottingham fans of the Black Sabbath frontman, the moment the singer cancelled a Rock City gig at the last minute in 1988 due to a throat infection was a low point. It caused a riot which resulted in fruit machines being thrown, musical equipment being damaged, and the windows of the box office being smashed.

But when the metal hero returned seven years later for a secret show, things were much tamer.

Kicking off his Retirement Sucks tour in 1995, Ozzy was finally ready to play Rock City after the previous mishap.

Tickets were £14 and doors opened at 7.30pm and nobody remembers the November 12 gig better than George Akins.

Now boss of DHP Family, which runs the famous city venue, George was 21 when Ozzy played his 1995 show.