Ozzy Osbourne marks anniversary of biting bat's head off with commemorative plush toy

The musician famously only realised afterward that the bat was real and not, in fact, made of rubber

(Getty Images for Live Nation)

Ozzy Osbourne has marked the 37th anniversary of his most infamous onstage incident with a new piece of merchandise.

On 20 January, 1982, Osbourne bit the head off a bat during a live show at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. The creature, thought to be already dead, was thrown on stage by a fan.

The musician only realised afterward that the bat was real and not, in fact, made of rubber, with Osbourne swiftly rushed to hospital after the concert for rabies shots.

Osbourne has now marked the incident’s anniversary with a plush toy bat with a detachable head.

In a tweet promoting the toy, he wrote: “Today marks the 37th Anniversary since I bit a head off a f***ing bat! Celebrate with this commemorative plush with detachable head.”

The tweet is accompanied by a GIF demonstrating that the bat’s head can, indeed, be removed from its body.

On the rocker’s official merchandise page, the toy bat is on sale for $40, although the pre-sale has already sold out.

The product's description reads: "The Ozzy Osbourne Plush Bat is a web exclusive. 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.”

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