The Osmonds’ lead singer reveals that he’s bidding farewell to his musical career as he discusses the agonizing struggles he’s endured and recalls wild antics from hysterical fans.
Smuggled around London in everything from ambulances and fire engines to hearses and rubbish trucks, The Osmonds were forced to take extraordinary measures to stay safe from hysterical fans.
So intense was ‘Osmondmania,’ that when the quintet of Mormon brothers from Utah, USA, flew into Heathrow in 1973, a viewing balcony at the airport collapsed after a crowd surge by some of the 10,000 waiting fans.
Merrill Osmond, 72, claims that Utah police even armed them in an exclusive interview after a fan threatened to kill him. Osmond recently released his autobiography, Black Bear: My Life Story.
Merrill, the lead singer on hits including Crazy Horses and Love Me for A Reason, tells The Mirror: “There were death threats and there was a guy who wanted my head for his wall.
“He was an eccentric fan. Thank goodness his wife tipped off the cops before he got to the hotel. We had security on tour, but when we got back home it got weird. Because of the continuous death threats, we were made policemen.
“Whenever I was stopped by a police officer while I was driving, I typically outsmart the officer who was stopping me!” We carried weapons. In the event of an attack, we had to be prepared. We were taught to use weapons; however, we had to be very aware.
The Symbionese Liberation Army, an American terrorist organization, was also in the news for the Osmonds.
According to Merrill, “the threat was that we would be executed if we didn’t stop entertaining by a certain day.” Everywhere my wife Mary went, security vehicles had to be with her to prevent kidnapping.
Top martial arts instructor Chuck Norris also provided lessons for the Osmond brothers, Alan, Merrill, Wayne, Jay, and Donny. Merrill recalls that “He introduced us to karate.”
“So, in addition to the fact that I was very knowledgeable about using a weapon, I also knew that I was reasonably capable of handling myself if I had to confront someone directly on the street.”
With the release of Crazy Horses in 1972, the band achieved fame in the UK. The Osmond family, which even had their own cartoon series, released 13 UK singles in the year, with Donny launching a lucrative solo career along with sister Marie and younger brother Jimmy.
Merrill recalls how the fans would assume that the team would be traveling by limousine during their 1973 visit, but that we would be hiding in ambulances, security vans, hearse, garbage trucks, milk trucks, fire engines, and bread vans.
“We could get out of the hotel because the fire department was squirting people out of the streets with hoses.” It was astounding.
You’re not experiencing mania, Paul McCartney said, and that’s a completely different thing.
Backstage at one concert, many of the fans who attacked us took a break. My hair was coming out as I lay on top, and my shirt was coming off.
“That was the situation that everyone of us was in. It was a very risky situation. My mother was escorting people away. It was “out of control.”
Ironically, Merrill was 20 when he had his first kiss at the dentist’s, despite the brothers’ desperate to date an Osmond.
He recalls, “I was on a date and had no idea how to kiss each other, so I had to get my act together.”
“Well, the dentist’s nurse was present to hear the entire conversation.” When the dentist finished, she said, “Hey, I can help you if you want to learn how to kiss.” Come in the back door and let me in when the dentist leaves. I’ll lower the seat and demonstrate each technique to you while you’re in the dentist chair.
When I finally went on a date with my wife Mary, she said I was the best kisser she had ever had kissed, which was funny!
One of the many obstacles that the Osmond brothers faced was the temptation to hire sexy nurses. Merrill admits, “I’ve seen things that I don’t think any teenager should see.”
“We were good ol’ Christian boys and we came from the farm and the next thing we’re thrust into the world of mania.
“Our rooms had prostitutes in them,” the statement read. To keep us in the press, our manager made every effort to stir up controversy. They’d try to catch us by planting drugs in our cars.
The brothers even counted Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein among their fans with 100 million album sales worldwide and additional chart-topping hits like Let Me In and The Proud One.
When the military entered his palace, they discovered a number of our music albums in one of the bunkers below it. I’m not sure if that is a good or a bad story. Merrill exclaims, “.
However, Merrill’s life has also experienced a lot of sadness. He is open about his depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, suicidal thoughts, and bulimia in Black Bear and details the sexual abuse he experienced as a child as a result of a tutor’s treatment.
He reflects, “I’ve had three nervous breakdowns, and I can only attribute it to the amount of information that was pounding at me at such a young age.”
I’m a sensitive guy, and I was dealing with real-world problems that a 20-year-old kid shouldn’t be facing. I also have a condition called diabetes and other problems that I don’t talk about.
Although they have undergone numerous reforms over the years, the Osmonds eventually parted ways in 1980.
Merrill claims that it is now, in fact, over. His 76-year-old brother Alan has multiple sclerosis, Wayne passed away last year at the age of 73, and Jimmy, 62, is recovering from a stroke. Jay, age 70, and Donny, age 67, still perform as solo artists.
And Merrill, who is widely believed to be the group’s heart, claims he will never sing again.
He says, “I’m retired now,” and that’s it. My final trip to England was this one. I’m here to promote the book, say goodbye to many wonderful people, and then head home.
“My life is entering a new phase.” My sweetheart has given her life to help me, and I’m with her. While the Lord continues to give me access to many of my children’s football games, I’m going to try to live my life through them.
