Ozzy rock memorabilia up for auction

A former rock drummer is planning to write a book about his unorthodox life as he today told of his decision to sell off his treasured collection of rock memorabilia.

The avid music fans collection will go under the hammer at auction on Saturday. They include exclusive recordings of legendary star Ozzy Osbourne. Items taken from the personal collection of Barry Spencer Scrannage, a drummer who worked alongside Ozzy after he left Black Sabbath, are among the latest pieces to be offered up for sale.

The items on sale in Stourbridge include the iconic crucifix used for lighting for Sabbath tours in the 1970s.

There are also programmes, posters and photos up for grabs, as well as two exclusive tape recordings.

One of the tapes features recordings of Ozzy and his first wife Thelma made at his Birmingham home in 1979 where Mr Scrannage lived with the veteran rocker. The other features John Bonham.

Mr Scrannage, who moved to Stourbridge more than 20 years ago and used to run the Rock Tavern in Hill Street, Brierley Hill, met the stars through his own musical career which started out in a band with Glenn Tipton, now famous as part of Judas Priest.

The memorabilia will be sold by Fieldings Auctioneers, based in Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, as part of their Christmas Sale on Saturday.

Mr Scrannage, aged 54, was born in Smethwick but spent a turbulent childhood in and out of care before being sent to a school run by Franciscan Fathers in Dorset. The fathers positively encouraged my interest," said Mr Scrannage, whose career saw his band Starfighters tour with ACDC. I am very grateful for the opportunities they gave me and I owe them a lot."

Mr Scrannage has made the heart wrenching decision to part with some of his most treasured memorabilia following his 50th birthday. "I was looking back at my life and it struck me that I should write a book.

"I want to publish the book myself because I want the account to be true and exact and in researching it, I came across all my old photos and recordings."

Mr Scrannage, who now works as an actor wants to use money from the sale to fund his book.