Diary of a Madman (album)
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:24:59 PM Wikipedia source
Diary of a Madman is the second studio album by the English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released in October 1981. This is the last Osbourne studio album to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads and drummer Lee Kerslake. An altered version appeared in 2002 with the original bass and drum parts removed and re-recorded. In 2011, a Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition was released with all original parts restored. To date, the album has sold over three million copies worldwide. Diary of a Madman was supported by the Diary of a Madman Tour, which began on November 5, 1981, and ended August 8, 1982, spanning Europe, North America, and Asia. On March 19, 1982, during the North American leg of the tour, Rhoads died in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida; after a two-week break, the tour continued with guitarist Bernie Tormé performing several shows in place of Rhoads before in turn being replaced by Brad Gillis.
Infobox
Released
October 1981 (1981-10)
Recorded
1981
Studio
Ridge Farm Studio, Rusper, England
Genre
Heavy metal
Length
43:19
Label
Jet
Producer
Max Norman Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Bob Daisley
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
MusicHound Rock
MusicHound Rock
Review scores
MusicHound Rock
Review scores
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff
Review scores
Martin Popoff
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| MusicHound Rock | |
| Martin Popoff | |
| Rolling Stone | |
· Charts
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1981–1982)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peak
position
17
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1981–1982)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
14
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1981–1982)
US Billboard 200
Peak
position
16
| Chart (1981–1982) | Peak position |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 17 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 14 |
| US Billboard 200 | 16 |
· Charts
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1986)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peak
position
42
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 42 |
· Charts
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Chart (2011)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
11
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 11 |
· Charts
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Chart (2021)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
24
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)
Peak
position
3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
Peak
position
9
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 24 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) | 9 |
References
- The Great Rock Discographyhttps://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/610/mode/2up
- "Music Week"https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1981/Music-Week-1981-10-17.pdf
- "Ozzy Osbourne singles"https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ozzy+Osbourne&titel=Over+The+Mountain&cat=s
- Recording Industry Association of Americahttps://web.archive.org/web/20070626174049/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php
- Blabbermouthhttp://www.blabbermouth.net/news/drummer-tommy-aldridge-says-ozzy-made-fun-of-ronnie-james-dio/
- "Lee Kerslake - A Steel Mill Interview"https://web.archive.org/web/20150715214525/http://www.kkdowning.net/interviews/leekerslake.html
- "The Fuze interviews Lee Kerslake"https://web.archive.org/web/20141021030053/http://www.bobdaisley.com/interview/fuse-lee-kerslake
- "Heaven And Hell (Part 1) - Bob Daisley Reflects On A Career That Has Seen The Veteran Bassist Playing Alongside Some Of Rock's Legends"https://web.archive.org/web/20051204233821/http://www.rockdetector.com/interviews/artist%2C43134.sm?id=65
- "Ozzy Osbourne"http://www.gettyimages.it/detail/fotografie-di-cronaca/photo-of-louis-osbourne-and-ozzy-osbourne-with-fotografie-di-cronaca/85000219
- AllMusichttp://www.allmusic.com/album/diary-of-a-madman-mw0000191217
- The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties
- Diary of a Madmanhttps://web.archive.org/web/20070205085458/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ozzyosbourne/albums/album/192271/review/6211330/diary_of_a_madman
- The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
- MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guidehttps://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612
- Thal, Ronhttp://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/guns-n-roses-bumblefoot-reviews-ozzy-osbourne-blizzard-of-ozz-diary-of-a-madman-reissues-449536
- BBC Musichttps://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/h3gb/
- Rolling Stone LLChttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-w486923/anthrax-among-the-living-1987-w486946?
- "News – Federal Appeals Court: Ozzy Does Not Owe Royalties"https://web.archive.org/web/20140724062427/http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=2558
- PopMattershttps://www.popmatters.com/review/osbourneozzy-blizzard/
- I Am Ozzyhttps://archive.org/details/iamozzy0000osbo