{alltv} Rock Photographer MARK WEISS Joins Forces With Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

{alltv} Rock Photographer MARK WEISS Joins Forces With Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program

World-renowned photographer Mark Weiss has been shooting Ozzy Osbourne for 30 years. What began in 1981 as an assignment for Circus magazine — to shoot a small black-and-white as part of a "Rock 'n' Roll Yearbook" theme — ended with the infamous photo of Ozzy on the cover, resplendent in a pink tutu and cowboy boots. So began the decade's long camaraderie between the two, resulting in the provocative, dramatic and amusing iconic images of a legend.

Twelve photographs were originally unveiled at the Andaz, a.k.a. "The Riot House" in Hollywood after Ozzy's historic performance at the Sunset Strip Music Festival in September 2009. In celebration of the release of "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne", the much-anticipated "intimate" documentary that delves deep into the life of Ozzy Osbourne, these one-of-a-kind archival giclée prints on canvas, with original signatures by Ozzy and Mark, and dated by Ozzy on April 25, 2011, one day after they were displayed at the documentary's premiere, will be auctioned off to benefit The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars Sinai and The Women and Cancer Fund.

Mark was honored when Jack interviewed him for the documentary on his dad, and he is proud to be a part of the film. Watching all of the Osbourne kids grow up, whether photographing family Christmas cards, Kelly's album cover, or the controversial shot of Ozzy dressed as a housewife in curlers ironing baby Aimee (the iron wasn't plugged in), he has been there. It has been quite a ride with Ozzy and more than once throughout his successful career Mark has surely uttered the phrase "God bless Ozzy Osbourne."

"I've known Mark Weiss since he was a teenager," said Ozzy. "He was relentless in the pursuit of his art. Mark would knock on my hotel door all hours of the day and night wanting to take photos. He definitely had and still has the rock and roll spirit."