Whatever there is to be found on Ozzy Osbourne, OzzMan's World will try to bring you the scoop...Check out the news on what the Ultimate Madman is up to in 1999...
October 19
Guns N Roses To Cover Black Sabbath on New Album
It's been six years since Guns N' Roses released an album (with the 1993 cover collection "The Spaghetti Incident?"). Next month, the band will finally be releasing its live LP.
The record, "Live Era '87-'93," could mark the final GN'R release featuring frontman Axl Rose and guitarist Slash. Among the tracks on the album will be a cover of the Black Sabbath song, "It's Alright" (from the 1976 Sabbath album, "Technical Ecstasy").
Meanwhile, "Oh My God," the new song by the current version of GN'R (which includes Rose, long-time keyboardist Dizzy Reed, ex-Vandals drummer Josh Freese, former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson and guitarist Paul Huge) will be released on November 9 along with the rest of the "End Of Days" soundtrack.
The song also features guitar contributions from Gary Sunshine, former Jane's Addiction/Red Hot Chili Peppers member Dave Navarro, and one-time Gunner Robin Finck, who recently left the band to return to Nine Inch Nails.
As for the "End Of Days" soundtrack, the disc will also feature tracks by the likes of Limp Bizkit, Korn and Rob Zombie, among others.
Fans who want to hear a longer snippet of "Oh My God" than can be heard in the "End Of Days" commercial may want to pay a visit to the Interscope Records Web site at www.interscope.com, where a portion of the track is available via RealAudio.
Here's the track list for "Live Era '87-'93:"
Disc one:
"Nightrain", "Mr. Brownstone", "It's So Easy", "Welcome To The Jungle", "Dust N' Bones", "Coma", "My Michelle", "You're Crazy", "Used To Love Her", "Patience", "It's Alright", "November Rain",
Disc two:
"Out Ta Get Me", "Pretty Tied Up", "Yesterdays", "Move To The City", "You Could Be Mine", "Rocket Queen", "Sweet Child O' Mine", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Don't Cry", "Estranged", "Paradise City"
October 17
Ozzy & Others To Cover Rolling Stones Tune
Ozzy Osbourne, Kid Rock and the Fun Lovin' Criminals will contribute to a BBC-organized recording of the Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock 'N Roll." (Credit to Ratt N Roll)
October 12
Pumpkins Hire Ozzy's Wife as Manager
The Smashing Pumpkins finally have a new manager. And she's got a pretty famous husband. According to the Los Angeles Times, the band has hired Sharon Osbourne, wife of none other than heavy metal demigod Ozzy Osbourne, to run their affairs. The band split with their former representatives, Q-Prime, in late 1998, and have since been on their own, with frontman Billy Corgan reportedly calling most of the shots.
"Billy talked to every manager in the industry, I think, and he liked me best," Osbourne told the paper. "There's going to be some bruised egos, I'm sure, I think [Corgan] wanted someone who would be hands-on, someone who doesn't have a whole roster of superstars, somebody who has been around a long time … Nobody has the history I do."
Osbourne basically grew up in the business; she met her future husband when her father, Don Arden, became Black Sabbath's manager almost three decades ago. She manages her husband's career, and has a hand in the immensely successful Ozzfest package tours over the last few years.
"This is the goods, it's not like I'm bartering off with Tommy Lee," Osbourne said. "Billy is a huge talent, and the band is hugely talented."
The Pumpkins will undoubtedly keep her on her toes — the band's new record, the follow-up to 1998's Adore, is due in February. But having a manager will surely make life easier for the band. Now, if they could only line up a bassist. (Credit to Wall Of Sounds)
October 7
R&R Hall of Fame Board Upset with Ozzy
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voting board wasn't too pleased with OZZY OSBOURNE's statements about pulling BLACK SABBATH from the nomination list because fans don't vote on the inductions. One member called Osbourne's statements "pompous" and another accused him of chasing publicity. But another pointed out that artists have no say in the decision-making process, so there's a chance Black Sabbath could be inducted anyway. (Credit to Metal Edge)
October 6
OZZY JUST SAYS NO TO ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME!
After three years being denied entry, Ozzy Osbourne has asked the "supposed elite of the industry and the media" who run the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to take Black Sabbath off the Class of 2000 nominating ballot. "Just take our name off the list," Osbourne, the band's singer, said in a statement issued Monday through his publicity firm, Susan Blonde Inc. "Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite of the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is totally irrelevant to me." "Let's face it, Black Sabbath have never been media darlings," Osbourne said. "We're a people's band, and that suits us just fine." (Credit to Ratt N Roll)
October 1
Zakk Wylde to play National Anthem at Baseball Game
OH SAY CAN YOU SHRED? The "Wylde Man" himself, Zakk Wylde will perform an all electric version of the National Anthem at Shea Stadium in New York this Saturday, October 2. After which, the ex-Ozzy axe will give Mets' catcher Mike Piazza a signature Gibson guitar. (Credit to Ratt N Roll)
September 29
A REAL TONY IOMMI SOLO ALBUM!?
Remember how 1985's Seventh Star release from "Black Sabbath" was originally supposed to be a Tony Iommi solo project? Well, the legendary Sabbath axe has apparently grown secure enough to release a work under his own name. The album, still being recorded, includes guest appearances from Peter Steele (Type-O Negative), Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Rob Halford (ex-Judas Priest), Ian Astbury (Cult), Brian May (Queen), and Henry Rollins. (Credit to Metal Edge)
September 27
Ozzy to be on Charity CD?
JON BON JOVI is among the artists participating in the recording of a cover of the ROLLING STONES' "It's Only Rock N' Roll (But I Like It)" that will benefit Children's Promise and will, like "We Are The World," be part of a forthcoming charity CD, video, and TV special that will be available in December. Other artists approached but not confirmed include AXL ROSE and OZZY OSBOURNE. Bon Jovi will not, however, take part in the NetAid benefit on October 8, as was previously announced. (Credit to Metal Edge)
September 24
Type O Negative's Peter Steele Teams with Tony Iommi
TYPE O NEGATIVE, who shot a video for "Everything Dies" from new album World Coming Down at the New York Shipyard last weekend, will launch a U.S. tour on September 29 in Cleveland, Ohio that will run through November 13 in Providence, Rhode Island. Frontman PETER STEELE collaborated with BLACK SABBATH's TONY IOMMI on a track called "Just Say No" on Iommi's in-the-works solo album, which will also feature guest appearances from PHIL ANSELMO, ROB HALFORD, IAN ASTBURY, BRIAN MAY, and HENRY ROLLINS.
Zakk Wylde + Black Label Society Headline Tour
TOUR DE ZAKK: Former Ozzy axe Zakk Wylde's new project Black Label Society will tour the East Coast September 23 through October 9, with Loud Mouth opening up. The band will do one West Coast gig on Halloween night at the Whisky in Los Angeles, California. The band already plans to return to the studio in November or December. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll) ***Check TOUR DATES section for dates, and venues of shows***
September 21
Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen, Clapton Lead List Of Nominees For Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class Of 2000
Hard rockers, R&B groups, singer-songwriters, and guitar heroes head up the list of nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 200-.
To be nominated for induction into the Hall Of Fame, a performer's debut album has to have been released at least 25 years ago. Included on this year's ballot are Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen, Lou Reed, the O'Jays, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Solomon Burke, the Moonglows, the Lovin' Spoonful, Steely Dan, Richie Valens, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Lou Reed and Eric Clapton are already members of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Reed was inducted in 1996 as a member of the Velvet Underground. Clapton, meanwhile, was inducted in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds, and again in 1993 as a member of Cream. He stands to be the first artist inducted into the Hall three times. (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young are among the artists who have been inducted twice).
Some of the groups on this year's ballot have had revolving-door lineups over the years: both Black Sabbath and Steely Dan have experienced massive turnover within their ranks. However, all the current and former members of these bands needn't rent their tuxes just yet: the Hall Of Fame nominating committee decides which members of groups with several different lineups will be inducted.
A panel of 800 professionals from the music industry will vote on the ballots over the next several weeks, and the formal announcement of those who've been selected for the Rock Hall won't be made until later in the year. The actual induction ceremony usually takes place in January. (Credit to MTV)
September 14
A WYLDE Re-Issue
Pride and Glory, Zakk Wylde's mostly acoustic Southern flavored CD, has been re-issued by Spitfire Records with 5 bonus tracks. The tracks include a cover of Black Sabbath’s "The Wizard", Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dyin’" and the Beatles "Come Together." (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
September 10
Zakk Wylde To Begin Tour, Re-Release Album
ZAKK WYLDE, who is about to launch a tour in support of his band BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's album Sonic Brew, has teamed up with fellow former OZZY OSBOURNE cohort MIKE INEZ to re-record the Osbourne favorite "No More Tears," now called "No More Tears 2000," and designated for an expanded reissue of Sonic Brew. (Credit to Metal Edge)
September 8
Megadeth Decides Sabath Song to Cover
NEVER SAY 'DETH: Former thrashers Megadeth have recorded a cover of "Never Say Die" for the Black Sabbath tribute Nativity in Black II. Lead singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine insists the song was the band's second choice. "We chose 'Paranoid,'" he says, "Now because the options pretty much have run out, we did 'Never Say Die.'" (Credit to Ratt N Roll)
September 4
Megadeth, Godsmack, Pantera, Others Line Up To Salute Black Sabbath
After the band's farewell shows take place in England this December, fans won't be seeing the original Black Sabbath again anytime soon, but plenty of other acts are happy to keep the Sabbath flame alive.
Megadeth, Godsmack, Pantera, System Of A Down, Monster Magnet, Primus, and Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne are all expected to kick in tracks for the Sabbath tribute album "Nativity In Black II."
According to Osbourne Management, which handles Black Sabbath, the collection will boast the extraordinarily intriguing pairing of Ozzy and Primus for a rendition of the Sabbath nugget "N.I.B." In addition to that collaboration, the album will also see a slew of fresh studio recordings, including Godsmack's cover of "Sweet Leaf," Monster Magnet's take on "Into The Void," System Of A Down's version of "Snowblind," and Pantera's cover of "Electric Funeral."
The tribute looks to also carry at least one live track, courtesy of Megadeth, though the cover that will turn up on "N.I.B. 2" wasn't the band's first choice.
"In Denver, Colorado probably about two weeks ago, we recorded 'Never Say Die,'" Mustaine told MTV News. "It was a very grueling process to pick the song. I respect Black Sabbath a lot, not as much as [Megadeth guitarist] Marty Friedman does, because Marty is a Black Sabbath freak. But we listened to all their records, every single song from top to bottom from one end to the other, and the reason we picked 'Paranoid' was because it seemed to be the most straightforward, rocking type of song, and there didn't seem to be anything else that we could have done, excluding 'Never Say Die.'"
"We chose 'Paranoid,'" Mustaine continued, "and now because the options pretty much have run out, we did 'Never Say Die.' I felt that it was really exciting to do, because we were doing a song that's significant to me. It was a song that I played in the band that I was in prior to Metallica [from 1981 to 1983], and then I see fans out in the audience singing along with me, and I'm thinking, 'Thank God, in case I forget the words.'"
During a recent interview with MTV News, recent Ozzfest grads and future Megadeth tour openers Static-X also said that they had recorded a track for the album.
"We did a techno version of 'Behind the Wall of Sleep,'" Static-X bassist Tony Campos told MTV News. "It came out really cool, and I got to do the bass solo at the end, so that was pretty cool."
The final track listing for "Nativity In Black II" has yet to be firmed up, and no release date has been set yet, but we'll keep you posted.
The collection follows the 1994 release of the first "Nativity In Black" tribute, which saw Sabbath classics revisited by White Zombie, Megadeth, Type O Negative, Biohazard, Faith No More, Sepultura, and others. (Credit to MTV)
September 2
Megadeth, Type O Negative, Others Come Out For Concrete Charity Bash
Megadeth, Type O Negative, and a host of hard rock heavy hitters took the stage Wednesday night to help Concrete Marketing celebrate 15 years in the business, raising $56,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation in the process.
While giving a boost to the Foundation's fight against pediatric AIDS, the show (which also featured Puya, Full Devil Jacket, and DDT) also gave artists a chance to thank Concrete for years of continued support of hard rock and heavy metal acts.
I think first and foremost [the appeal of doing this show] is to do the benefit for the children with AIDS," Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele added, "and to play to show our respect to Concrete, and finally, but not lastly, to come and play a show for our fans who have been extremely loyal and they have been with us since day one, which was ten years ago, and they're still with us now."
"I've always loved doing benefits," Puya vocalist Sergio told MTV News. "And what better way to help congratulate Concrete on their anniversary than to just come in and kick some jams for them."
Of course, while all the acts on the bill were mindful of Concrete's legacy, most were sketchy on the details.
"Can I be perfectly honest with you? I really don't know what they do," Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele joked. "No one really tells me anything. I signed a contract 15 years ago with someone named Lucifer, and here I am. All I know is that Concrete's been belly belly good to me."
"I will say that I'm happy to pawn off all the extra work to these people behind the scenes," Full Devil Jacket guitarist Jonathan Montoya noted. "They're doing a hell of a job. Without them, this wouldn't be possible."
Beyond the charity work and the congratulatory vibe, there was the music... served up loud, dark, and in heaping helpings. Type O Negative passed on the chance to roll out material from its upcoming album "World Coming Down" in favor of a tight set rich with crowd favorites. However, the band did reach into its bag of tricks to pull out a uniquely Type O cover of the Beatles' "Back in the U.S.S.R."
Megadeth then filled its ample set time with a blend of fresh material from the newly released "Risk" (which hit stores this week), and road-tested classics like "Peace Sells," "Trust," "Symphony Of Destruction," and "Sweating Bullets." Mustaine and company also headed for cover country in closing their set, delivering a blistering version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" that helped to bridge the gap between the show and an evening-capping Sabbath jam session that featured Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson as well as members of Anthrax, Type O, and Rob Zombie's band. (Credit to MTV)
August 31
Black Sabbath Tribute to Feature Heavy Metal Superstars
Fans will have the chance to meet MEGADETH at an in-store appearance at Looney Tunes in West Babylon, New York tonight (Monday) at midnight to celebrate the release of Risk and in advance of their appearance at Roseland in New York at the Concrete Marketing anniversary party, which is being filmed by VH1. The event's finale will be a BLACK SABBATH tribute jam session, featuring ROB ZOMBIE, LARS ULRICH, and SLAYER. TYPE O NEGATIVE, PUYA, and DDT will also perform. (Credit to Metal Edge)
August 30
Zakk Wylde To Release "No More Tears 2000"
COVERING YOUR OWN TRACKS: NEW YORK, NY -- Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wylde, has brought “No More Tears” (one of Ozzy Osbourne’s biggest hits co-written by Wylde) to the brink of the new millennium. “No More Tears 2000” will be added to the next run of Black Label Society’s current release Sonic Brew on Spitfire Records. The next pressing, which includes new artwork, warrants collectors-item status. The track features Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde (guitar/vocals) and drummer Phil Ondich along with Mike Inez of Alice In Chains and will be available in September. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
August 20
Ozzy Up For Favorite Male Artist
Fans will have the opportunity to vote in the first annual ARTISTdirect Online Music Awards, which will be given out on October 7 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Nominees in 15 categories were selected by visitors to artistdirect.com sites, and the winners will be chosen by the Net public as well. Among the nominees in the Favorite Hard Rock category are KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, MARILYN MANSON, METALLICA, and TOOL; OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, LENNY KRAVITZ, and RICKY MARTIN are vying for Favorite Male Artist; Best Rock Fansite nominees include fan-created pages for Korn, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Rob Zombie, PEARL JAM, and CAPTAIN BEEFHEART; and Pioneer Artist on the Internet nominees (selected by an industry panel) are AEROSMITH, BEASTIE BOYS, KORN, MIKE WATT and KRISTIN HERSH. In other award news, nominees have been announced for the first annual WB Radio Music Awards, which honor the impact of radio airplay. In contention for the Alternative/Active Rock Song of the Year include Metallica's "Turn the Page," CREED's "One," Lenny Kravitz's "Fly Away," CAKE's "NEver There," SUGAR RAY's "Every Morning," and EVERLAST's "What It's Like," and the Alternative/Active Rock Artist of the Year nominees are Rob Zombie, GODSMACK, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, OFFSPRING, BLINK182, and SMASH MOUTH. In the very interesting Parents Just Don't Understand category, Rob Zombie appears again, competing against Korn, Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, INSANE CLOWN POSSE, and KID ROCK. The awards will be given out October 28 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada in a live telecast. (Credit to Metal Edge)
August 18
Black Sabbath Grabs Music Award
Classic heavy rock veterans Jimmy Page, Black Sabbath and Megadeth's DaveMustaine took home Kerrang! magazine awards in London on Monday. Page entered the Kerrang! hall of fame and Sabbath took Artist of the
Millennium honors. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
August 7
Megadeth + Black Sabbath One Time Only Concert?
Concrete Marketing, a hard rock and metal promoter, is celebrating their 15th anniversary in NY on September 15th. Megadeth will headline the show with Black Sabbath a possible addition. Proceeds from the show will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation, which battles pediatric AIDS. (Credit to Ratt-N-roll)
August 5
Ozzy Mentioned in 'TV Guide'
In the July 17-23 issue of 'TV Guide' (with actor Dennis Franz on the cover) there is an article entitled "Between a Rocker and a Hard Place" in the "Insider" section regarding Steven Van Zandt (Guitarist from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band). It speaks of his acting performance as a hitman in the HBO original show "The Sopranos". The article continues to mention that he does a fine acting job for the show and it then goes on to discuss other rock 'n roll stars who could fit "the hitman image" for the show. Among the other stars mentioned, Ozzy is! It contains a cartoon picture of him dressed in a high class black suit, wearing a red tie and a black gangster hat. He is holding a large revolver in one hand, and in the other he is holding a chicken by the throat. The caption beneath it reads "Don't Move...or the chicken gets it!"
As quoted directly from the 'TV Guide' the part of the article pertaining to Ozzy reads, "According to heavy-metal folklore, Osbourne once tore the head off a chicken (or, some say, a bat) and spit it out right onstage. If anyone is ready for 'The Sopranos', It's Ozzy" (Credit to Cuzz)
July 25
Final Black Sabbath Tour Dates Set
The original Black Sabbath's final shows ever will now take place Dec. 21 and 22 in Birmingham, England. Meanwhile, drummer Bill Ward told the L.A. Times that, "It's so final. It feels awful. But I'm trying to cherish and remember every gig and put 110% in every one of them." Ward plans to release his third solo album, "Remembering," this fall after finding a label. He also hopes to re-release his previous solo albums "Ward One: Along the Way," and "When the Bough Breaks."
(Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
July 22
Zakk Wylde Album Info
In Zakk Wylde news, both Book Of Shadows (with the bonus tracks 'Evil Ways', 'Color Green' and 'Peddlers Of Death' - alternate take) and Pride & Glory (with bonus tracks 'The Wizard', 'Torn & Tattered', 'In My Time Of Dying', 'The Hammer & The Nail' and 'Come Together') are out now. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
July 19
New Year's Eve Ozzy Concert Info
OZZY has announced that he will be playing a show in Hawaii on December 31st to see in the new millennium. This will take place on Ford Island at the Pearl Harbour Base on the island of Oahu. He is also currently preparing for his next solo album, due out in Spring 2000, recording for which begins as soon as the Ozzfest dates are over. (Credit to Hard Radio)
July 11
Rumored London Dates for Black Sabbath & Co.
BLACK SABBATH will not be playing the previously announced shows in England on August 14-15, due to the extension of the U.S. run, but the shows will be rescheduled for a later date as the band still wants to end its career in the U.K., where it began. There are rumors that Sabbath, who will take OZZFesters GODSMACK and DRAIN STH (whose singer, MARIA SJOHOLM, is engaged to Sab guitarist TONY IOMMI) along for an August run, will play the Birmingham NEC on December 21 and 22. OZZY OSBOURNE will then turn his attentions to a new solo album that will be out next spring, but will likely take time out to play a show at the Pearl Harbor Naval base in Hawaii on New Year's Eve.
(Credit to Metal Edge)
July 9
Black Sabbath Postpones Farewell, Adds Dates With Godsmack, Drain STH
Apparently the men of Black Sabbath just aren't that good at good-byes.
After giving the States one last go as part of this summer's Ozzfest tour, the reunited heavy metal titans were scheduled to play two final reunion shows in London in August. However, word has now come that the band's swan song has been pushed back, as Sabbath will play a string of dates with Godsmack and Drain STH after Ozzfest wraps later this month in California. The triple bill will roll across the U.S. for the bulk of August.
While giving U.S. fans one more chance to catch the seminal metal outfit, the tour also gives Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and Drain STH singer Maria Sjoholm more chances for quality time, as the couple recently got engaged.
Here's how the Black Sabbath/Godsmack/Drain STH tour shapes up:
8/2 - Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast
(Credit to MTV)
July 6
Black Sabbath Tour Ranked in Top Ten!
Check out below...this list shows the top-ten grossing tours in 1999 so far...and Black Sabbath is ranked at number nine..just some info you might enjoy!
1. Rolling Stones - $64.7 million
(Credit to Christopher O'Connor)
June 28
Ozzy Article in "Metal Hammer" Magazine
In the current edition of "Metal Hammer" Magazine... there is an article regarding the movie to be made about Ozzy's life..it talks about the idea as well as production and when they hope to script and begin to film...it was about one page in length with Ozzy pictures around it...*NOTE: This magazine may be difficult to find for sale because it is an imported heavy metal magazine from the United Kingdom..it sells for $6.75 american money.* (Credit to OzzMan91@gateway.net)
June 24
Pantera to Cover "Electirc Funeral"
PANTERA, who are working on a new album of their own, will also be heard covering BLACK SABBATH's "Electric Funeral" on the Nativity in Black II Sabbath tribute CD and on the Heavy Metal: FAKK 2 soundtrack via a new song, "Immortally Insane." The Restless Records soundtrack, due out in the fall, will also include "Silver Future" from MONSTER MAGNET, "Buried Alive" from BILLY IDOL and STEVE STEVENS, "Worlds Collide" from POWERMAN 5000, and possibly a new track called "Lucky" from TOMMY LEE and SNOOP DOGG. ROB ZOMBIE will also tentatively take part, and he's also slated to join Sabbath's TONY IOMMI, BILL WARD, and GEEZER BUTLER to remake "Fairies Wear Boots" on the aforementioned Nativity in Black II. (Credit to Metal Edge)
June 23
Rob Zombie to Cover "Faires Wear Boots"
Rob Zombie will unite with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for a remake of "Fairies Wear Boots" for an upcoming Black Sabbath tribute album. Also, look for Zombie to release a remixed Hellbilly Deluxe including new material in the fall. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
June 21
Ozzy's Next Solo Album Tidbits
Look for Ozzy Osbourne's new album to be released sometime around March 2000 on Epic/Sony. Most of the album is already written and recording will be finalized in the fall. (Credit to Ratt-N-Roll)
June 16
Ozzy: Shows Will Go On Despite Bruised Ribs
An overzealous fan with a mighty grip nearly derailed Black Sabbath's farewell tour soon after its start, but Ozzy Osbourne and the band are soldiering on as part of Ozzfest '99.
"I said, 'No f***ing way, man,'" Ozzy told the crowd when the tour hit Holmdel, New Jersey a few days later. Despite relaying the story to the crowd, lightning nearly struck twice when yet another fan stormed the stage at the Holmdel show. A limber Ozzy managed to fend off the would-be hugger with an extended leg before security swooped in.
The singer has managed to make each of Ozzfest's stops since then, capping a bill that includes Rob Zombie, Deftones, Slayer, Godsmack, Primus, System Of A Down, Fear Factory, Drain STH, and others. (Credit to MTV)
June 12
Randy Castillo on playing with Motley Crue
New Motley Crue drummer Randy Castillo was among the musicians at Thursday (June 10)'s show in L.A. by the Cult, and he told allstar before the concert that -- as a long-time Motley fan -- he's psyched to go on the road soon with the band. He also said he and the rest of the Crue have recently written two new songs, one of which they'll likely play while touring with the Scorpions. The longtime Ozzy Osbourne drummer also said that, as a graduate of the "University of Ozzy," he's ready to work again with the Mad Man "whenever he calls." (Credit to Troy J. Augusto)
June 11
George Lynch to cover Ozzy song
George Lynch will be appearing on 2 new tribute projects including a Van Halen tribute which George will be playing ``Panama". Also George will be on the Motley Crue Tribute CD playing on the Track ``Kick Start My Heart". Also confirmed by George - He will be playing the Ozzy cut ``Flying High Again" on the Ozzy tribute project. (Credit to Chris J)
June 9
Randy Castillo + Dio on Aerosmith cover album
According to producer BOB KULICK, the AEROSMITH tribute record, Not the Same Old Song and Dance, is done but there's no release date yet. Included tracks: "Back in the Saddle," with MARK SLAUGHTER on vocals, ALBERT LEE on guitar, and QUIET RIOT's RUDY SARZO and FRANKIE BANALI on bass and drums; "Rag Doll," with TED NUGENT on vocals and guitar, TONY FRANKLIN on bass, VINNIE COLIAUTA on drums, and DEREK SHERINIAN on keyboards; "Chip Away the Stone," with VINCE NEIL on vocals, BLUES SARACENO on guitar, RICKY PHILLIPS on bass, PAT TORPEY on drums, PAUL TAYLOR on keyboards, and DAVID GLEN EISLEY on backing vocals; "Sweet Emotion," sung by JACK BLADES and TOMMY SHAW (who also plays guitar), with MIKE INEZ on bass and RANDY CASTILLO on drums; "Draw the Line," with JEFF KEITH on vocals, his TESLA/SOFAKING bandmate TOMMY SKEOCH on guitar, TONY LEVIN on bass, and ERIC SINGER on drums; "Dream On," with RONNIE JAMES DIO on vocals, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN on guitar, STU HAMM on bass, GREGG BISSONETTE on drums, and PAUL TAYLOR on keyboards; "Same Old Song and Dance," with JACK RUSSELL on vocals, JEFF 'SKUNK' BAXTER on guitar, JEFF PILSON on bass, and BOBBY BLOTZER on drums; "No Surprise," with JANI LANE on vocals, CHRIS HOLMES on guitar, STEVE RILEY on drums, and JOE PERRY's son ADRIAN on bass; "Toys in the Attic," sung by STEPHEN PEARCY, with TRACII GUNS on guitar, PHIL SOUSSAN on bass, and AYNSLEY DUNBAR on drums; "Walk This Way," with FEE WAYBILL on vocals, STEVE LUKATHER on guitar, TIM BOGERT on bass, and TOMMY ALDRIDGE on drums; and "Last Child," sung by MICKEY THOMAS (STARSHIP), with EARL SLICK on guitar, NATHAN EAST on bass, and STEVE FERRONE on drums. Meanwhile, Aerosmith will reunite with RUN-DMC for a follow-up to their 1986 "Walk This Way" collaboration, updating the rap trio's '87 tune "It's Tricky" on thier upcoming release Crown Royal. (Credit to Metal Edge)
June 3
The Flys Record 'Crazy Train' For Soundtrack
The Flys have recorded a version of Ozzy Osbourne's metal classic "Crazy Train" for inclusion on the upcoming soundtrack to Universal Soldier: The Return.
The Orange County, Calif.-based alternative rock band, whose roots are steeped in the cheesy, rock opera band Mozart, have used the anthem for a live encore for the past year or so and now have found the perfect spot for a recorded version to live.
"We've been on the road with the Offspring, and Dexter [Holland] came up to me yesterday and he was like, 'Dude, that song "Crazy Train" is just too much,'" says Flys frontman Adam Paskowitz. "Everyone loves it."
"Crazy Train" will be the first single from the soundtrack, which is scheduled for a July 27 release on Trauma Records. Although the rest of the soundtrack's lineup is not confirmed at press time, a spokesperson at the label promises a metal extravaganza. (Credit to Kevin Raub)
May 29
Mrs. Ozzy Says Ozzfest Is 'Summer Camp'
With Lollapalooza on hiatus for '99, and all-estrogen fest Lilith Fair embarking on its third and final run, the summer festival season is ripe and primed for Ozzfest, the loud-and-proud road show dreamed up by metal godfather Ozzy Osbourne in 1996. The tour is intended to be a vehicle to showcase a semi-reunited Black Sabbath, Ozzfest ended up finishing behind Lilith Fair as the most successful tour package of the year, grossing more than $12 million in 1997. In 1998, according to Amusement Business, it raked in $13.6 million from only 19 dates.
This year, flush with success, Ozzfest hits the road on May 27 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and packs it in on July 24 in Devore, Calif. Black Sabbath, in what is being billed as its final tour, is headlining the festival and is joined by such bands as the eerily dramatic Rob Zombie, the blaring Deftones, eccentric Primus, Boston rockers Godsmack, and Swedish all-girl rock band Drain S.T.H., the only women on the bill.
"It'll just be cool to be along for the ride with Sabbath, on their last tour," says the Deftones' Chino Moreno. "It's historic, man."
"Ozzfest really mixes things up," adds Godsmack's Sully Erna. "It's great exposure for us."
And how do the Swedes feel about being the only women along for the ride? "It's great. All the bands treat us with complete respect," says guitarist Flavia Canel. "It's very fun and very well organized."
But despite the boisterous lineup, Ozzy Osbourne's wife-manager Sharon Osbourne insists that Ozzfest is more a family-friendly caravan than moving mosh-pit. "It's like summer camp backstage," she says. "When it ends, there's tears and hugging. Really, it's like a bunch of kids going to camp. And we bring our own kids along — they have their own bus."
Indeed, to help bolster its image as the metal marathon that's fun for the whole family, Ozzfest includes the circus-like Never Never Land, which features a mechanical bull ride, body piercing, a tattoo artist, and vendors selling everything from bondage gear to comic books. And adding to Ozzfest's appeal, Sharon Osbourne insists that it's really and truly the last chance to see Sabbath play together — former reunions notwithstanding. Helping stoke the flames for Ozzfest '99, the reunited Black Sabbath kicked off its U.S. tour this winter to promote Reunion, the band's first live album in more than 20 years. But Sabbath plans to permanently disband after Ozzfest wraps up so Osbourne can focus on his solo projects, which includes a new album slated for release in 2000.
Ozzfest, on the other hand, plans to keep on chugging along. The festival just signed with major concert promoter SFX to keep it going for the next five years. Tickets to this year's shows range from $35 to $49.50, says Ticketmaster.
"I'm happy we've survived it all," says Sharon Osbourne. "We do what we do and we're low-key with it. With other festivals, they have massive publicity and ours doesn't get mentioned at all. But that's OK by us, because we never set ourselves up for anything." (Credit to Donna Freydkin)
May 28
Ozzfest '99 Stages Sweltering Kick-Off In Florida
The day after the Backstreet Boys landed their brand of teen pop at the top of the charts with an earth-shaking thud, the musical compass swung back in a big way Thursday when the down and dirty rock of Ozzfest roared for the first time this summer.
"With the Backstreet Boys coming in at number one and breaking all kinds of records, we've got to congregate here and save our f**king lives," Rob Zombie declared from the stage of the Coral Sky Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida during his opening-day set.
Sure enough, Zombie's Ozzfest counterparts (including Black Sabbath, Slayer, Deftones, Primus, Godsmack, Fear Factory, System Of A Down, and others) played like people with something to prove. Never mind that the bands had to brave sweltering south Florida weather to do it. On a day when the sun was as brutal as anything coming out of Slayer's amps, both the bands and thousands of fans shrugged off the heat as just another speed bump on the way to a good time. No, neither rain, nor snow, nor temperatures hot enough to melt gravel can keep Ozzy and his heavy-hitting cohorts from making their appointed rounds.
"You gotta get into that extra fire thing. You gotta bring it out in you," System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian said of his approach to playing in such a blistering setting. "You're already drained out in weather like this, so you gotta bring out the fire in you to come out and psyche yourself out even more than you usually do."
"You need to breathe and enjoy your life to rock, man," System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian said of bringing heavy music out of the clubs and into the light of day for the summer.
While a few loyalists in the crowd brazenly defied the elements by wearing black leather, black military pants, and combat boots, many more surrendered, making for a field of shirtless metal fans... both male and female. But while fans many have been stripping down, they weren't exactly resting in the Florida sun.
"There is going to be so much testosterone flying around these sheds this summer, it's amazing," Primus vocalist/bassist Les Claypool theorized.
"They are hardcore. You gotta give it to them," Deftones frontman Chino Moreno said of the fans, who were front and center when the first band took the stage at 11:30 a.m.
The scene has been much like this every summer since Ozzfest began with a handful of dates in 1996. Then, the tour was just one of many package offerings that emerged in the wake of Lollapalooza. But now, after commercial Darwinism thinned the pack (claiming even Lollapalooza itself), Ozzfest still stands as one of the top-grossing tours of the summer.
"I get to see Black Sabbath for free everyday," Primus' Claypool said of the appeal of Ozzfest after doing time on Lollapalooza, H.O.R.D.E., Gathering of the Tribes, Woodstock, and just about any other festival show you can think of. "We've always been sort of a dude band, and this is a dude-fest, so it works for us. We got offered this and we got offered Lilith, and we opted to take this one," Claypool joked.
"To tour with Black Sabbath in and of itself is an honorŠ to walk on the same stage as them," Godsmack frontman Sully Erna observed. "This is a band that we've listened to since we were kids, and who would ever know that they would tour in 1999, the original lineup, so we've been awestruck since we got hereŠ It's f**king huge, from that wall to that wall, huge."
A few of the bands on the bill hinted that some musical cross-pollination may occur this summer with artists joining other bands on stage, but on Thursday all were content to go it alone and mark their territory for the summer. However, off stage the first signs of bonding were unfolding for these artists, who will spend the next two months together. The teens of Apartment 26 told of playing basketball with System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian, Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares watched intently as fellow Los Angelinos Static-X opened the main stage, and members of Drain STH, Slipknot, hed (pe), Apartment 26, and Static-X huddled together in the crowd to watch Zombie's set. (Credit to MTV)
May 27
Iommi's Solo Project Update
Before jumping back into Sabbath and Ozzfest, Tony has been continuing work on his 'solo' album. 'Solo' in this case being anything but, as he is enlisting the help of singers and other musicians to make a very special record. Who will release the record and who will be on the finished CD is still very secret... but we can tell you that Tony and his management have been in talks with several labels, as well as with a number of well-known artists who have expressed interest in contributing to the project.
Iommi.com has had the great pleasure of hearing some of the rough tracks for the solo project, and we can categorically state that it flat-out kicks ass!!! With co-writer and producer Bob Marlette, Tony has so far been joined by drummers Matt Cameron and Kenny Aronoff, while singers invited to participate include Phil Anselmo, Henry Rollins, Billy Corgan and Billy Idol… oh, and look out for a Brian May solo in there somewhere. There are many more... watch this space, but the line-up won't be announced until the recording has finished. Look for a release date before the end of the year. (Credit to Iommi.com)
May 26
Ozzy on magazine cover
Ozzy is on the cover of this month's "Metal Edge" magazine (August 1999 issue)..there is also a section on OzzFest '99 an its tour dates as well as bands playing...check it out! (Credit to Metal Edge)
August 1999, Metal Edge
May 21
Black Sabbath announce UK shows
Black Sabbath have finally put their UK fans out of their misery and announced two UK shows at London's Earl's Court on the 14th and 15th August. The original line-up of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and Bill Ward finish their run of Ozzfest shows in the USA on July 24th. Billed, as in the States, 'The Last Supper', support for the London shows comes from Machine Head, Type O Negative, Coal Chamber, System Of A Down, Cradle Of Filth, Backyard Babies, Godsmack, Static X, Slipknot, Apartment 26 and Breed 77.
After these, their 'final' appearances, Ozzy himself plans to go into the studio to record a solo album set for release next year.
A video containing live footage culled from the band's tour of the States, also entitled 'The Last Supper' is set for release this summer and also contains interviews and backstage antics.
As we reported in April, Black Sabbath are to split again after their Earl's Court 'swansong'. The band, formed in 1969 in Birmingham, reunited at the end of 1997, releasing their 'Reunion' album in 1998 of the band's reunion gig in their hometown, plus two brand new recordings.
A message to fans on their official web site, www.black-sabbath.com, just prior to the start of Ozzfest '99 read - "The invitations are sealed. The table is set. The event of the millennium is being staged once and for all - the last supper for Black Sabbath." (Credit to Big Mouth)
May 19
Ozzy May Bring Life Story To Big Screen
If you thought Darth Maul was freaky, just wait 'til Ozzy hits the big screen.
Ozzy Osbourne's management confirms that the heavy music kingpin is currently working with a screenwriter on a script for a biopic about the rocker's notorious life and times. Ozzy's camp notes that the project is still in the very early stages of development, but said that they hope to start shooting the film next year.
Osbourne Management told MTV News that last year's Ozzy edition of VH1's "Behind The Music" sparked a flurry of interest among studios hoping to option the film rights to Ozzy's life story. With studios biting, Ozzy then set about the task of putting the story of his roller-coaster career and his relationship with his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne onto paper.
Of course, Ozzy's work (and his career) are still works in progress. Ozzy and the original lineup of Black Sabbath will mount their farewell tour as part of this year's annual Ozzfest outing. The tour (which also features Slayer, Rob Zombie, Godsmack, Primus, Deftones, Fear Factory, and others) gets rolling on May 27 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Credit to MTV)
May 14
Black Sabbath to appear on compilation album
BLACK SABBATH, KORN, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, and PEARL JAM are among the artists who'll be featured on the Epic Records compilation No Boundaries, which will benefit refugees in Kosovo. The album will include 16 rare, live, and previously unreleased versions of songs by the above artists plus ALANIS MORISETTE, NEIL YOUNG, OASIS, BEN FOLDS FIVE, PETER GABRIEL, THE WALLFLOWERS, INDIGO GIRLS, SARAH McLACHLAN, TORI AMOS, and JAMIROQUAI. Release date: June 15. (Credit to Metal Edge)
May 12
Coal Chamber, Ozzy Osbourne Plan Video Shoot
Coal Chamber will re-team with Ozzy Osbourne next week in Los Angeles to shoot a video for their cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey."
As we reported earlier this year, Ozzy joined Coal Chamber in the studio earlier this year to lends his vocals to the Los Angeles band's metal makeover of the Gabriel nugget.
Now the band plans to shoot a video for the track with director Dean Karr who has lensed clips for Marylin Manson and the Deftones. Ozzy is expected to pop up in the clip, the first from Coal Chamber's upcoming album "Chamber Music." The album hits stores on August 10.
If you'd rather see these folks in the flesh, Coal Chamber kicks off a tour with the Insane Clown Posse and Kool Keith in July, while Ozzy will take his annual Ozzfest rolling on May 27 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Credit to MTV)
May 5
Black Sabbath Plans London Farewell Show
While U.S. fans will get to say goodbye to the original Black Sabbath at this summer's Ozzfest, fans in London will actually get to witness the band's swansong.
After Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward finish their run on Ozzfest on July 24, the legendary foursome will head to London to stage two last shows on August 14 and 15. Coal Chamber will be on hand to open those shows.
Fans hoping for something to cling to besides Sabbath memories will be pleased to note that a live home video of the band's recent Stateside reunion trek will hit stores in June. The one-hour and 45-minute long "Last Supper" catches the band on the road in January and February of this year, and also features behind the scenes footage and interview clips. (Credit to MTV)
May 4
Ozzy Eyes Post-Ozzfest Solo Album
All the press about this summer's Ozzfest has noted that the tour will mark the farewell outing for the recently (and all too briefly) reunited Black Sabbath. You'd think that the tour will end, the band members will go their separate ways, and Ozzy Osbourne will settle quietly into retirement.
Think again.
After the tour wraps in late July, Ozzy will take a month off and then head to the studio to dive back into his solo career. He hopes to have a new album out in the spring of 2000.
In the meantime, Ozzy has a few other items up his sleeve to keep his fans sated. Late June will see the arrival of "Todd McFarlane Presents Ozzy Osbourne #1," a magazine/comic book from the folks who gave the world "Spawn." The book includes a 38-page, full-color Ozzy comic, an Ozzy photo gallery, and McFarlane's interview with the metal kingpin.
Yet another product of the partnership between Ozzy and McFarlane will arrive in July when an Osbourne action figure hits stores (Creidt to MTV)
April 10
Black Sabbath plan a split - again
Black Sabbath are to split again at the end of the year following a series of Ozzfest festivals scheduled for the months of May, June and July in the USA and a possible final gig in the UK at the end of the summer. The original line-up of the band, formed originally in 1969 in Birmingham, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terry 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward reunited at the end of 1997, releasing their 'Reunion' album in 1998 of the band's reunion gig in their hometown, plus two brand new recordings. The series of Ozzfest shows are to be named 'The Last Supper'; a message to fans at www.ozzfest.com reads: "The invitations are sealed. The table is set. The event of the millennium is being staged once and for all. The last supper for Black Sabbath." Last year drummer Bill Ward suffered a heart attack just weeks before their Milton Keynes Bowl Ozzfest appearance.
This years Ozzfest which begins in Palm Beach, Florida on 27th May, features Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Nashville Pussy, Rob Zombie, Slayer, Deftones, Primus, Godsmack, System Of A Down, Fear Factory, Bushmonkey, Buckcherry, Slipknot and Apartment 26, ending on 24th July at San Bernardino in California, taking in 23 other cities on route. It is expected that Ozzy will begin recording a new solo album at the end of the year. (Credit to BigMouth)
April 7
Fear Factory In, Judas Priest Out In Ozzfest Shuffle
In one more bit of last minute line-up juggling, Fear Factory has jumped on this summer's Ozzfest bill, assuming the second stage headlining slot that previously belonged to Judas Priest.
According to a spokesperson for Ozzfest, Priest had to withdraw from the tour to work on its debut album for Atlantic Records. According to the Ozzfest camp, the band's deal with Atlantic required Priest to have a new record ready by September, making an extensive summer tour impossible.
Fear Factory now finds itself acting as the tour's mini-headliners, so to speak, assuming the role filled by Motorhead on last year's Ozzfest outing.
"I don't give a f*** if we headline the bathroom. We're happy to be on Ozzfest," Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares said of the move.
As we reported on Tuesday, the tour has also swapped out Nashville Pussy (originally announced as a second stage act) for Drain STH. Drain STH and Fear Factory now find themselves on a bill that includes Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie, the Deftones, Slayer, Primus, System Of A Down, Godsmack, Static X, hed (pe), Pushmonkey, Slipknot, Puya, Flashpoint, and Apartment 26. (Credit to MTV)
April 7
Ozzy's son following in his footsteps?
While Ozzy Osbourne gears up for this year's Ozzfest, which kicks off on May 27 in West Palm Beach, Fla., his twenty-three-year-old son, Louis Osbourne, is making a name for himself in the electronica world. Ozzy's offspring is currently working the Australian dance circuit, playing with Eric Powell, who runs an indie label in the U.K. (Credit to Heidi Sherman)
April 6
"99 OzzFest Puts Pedal to the Metal Beginning in May
The 1999 OzzFest will bring its heavy metal noise to the masses in May in West Palm Beach, Fla., as the popular festival kicks off a two-month, 28-date tour headlined by reunited metal legends Black Sabbath.
This summer's OzzFest -- which opens May 27 and closes shop July 24 with a show in San Bernardino, Calif. -- will offer the most eclectic bill in the 3-year-old festival's history. Capped with swan-song appearances by Sabbath, the tour's main stage also will showcase rock trio Primus, industrial act Rob Zombie and heavy-metal artists the Deftones, Slayer, Godsmack and System of a Down, according to Michael Guarracino, assistant to OzzFest founder Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne.
"We were just trying to keep it interesting and not repeat the same bands we had last year," Guarracino said.
Completing the hard-rock slate of bands will be such heavy rocking second-stage acts as Fear Factory, Pushmonkey, Drain STH, Static-X, Apt. 26, Hed(pe) and Puya. While Judas Priest was expected to headline the second stage for the whole tour, Guarracino said both that veteran metal band and Grammy-nominated hard-rockers Nashville Pussy recently dropped out of the tour due to previous scheduling commitments. The second stage will now be headlined by Fear Factory with the rest of the second-stage acts rotating into the first slot on the main stage daily.
Sabbath's OzzFest shows are the final dates by the recently re-formed outfit, featuring lead singer Ozzy Osbourne himself, before it disbands again to work on solo projects.
Primus bassist/singer Les Claypool -- whose band is best known for such quirky avant-rock songs as "Shake Hands With Beef" -- said he's likely to be in the wings during Sabbath's performances.
Claypool said he doesn't see anything odd about his decidedly metal-free band's participation in OzzFest. "I could play [Sabbath staple] 'Iron Man'from start to finish when I was 16 years old," Claypool said. "I know more ... Butler [bass]lines than any of those guys."
Claypool said the slot on OzzFest completes a kind of summer festival trifecta for his group and officially makes them "summer tour whores." Primus played Lollapalooza in 1993 and H.O.R.D.E. (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere) in 1997.
Last year's 18-date OzzFest did impressive business in its second outing, averaging 23,700 attendees per show for a bill that featured Megadeth, Tool, Motorhead and the Melvins, in addition to Ozzy Osbourne.
This year's OzzFest will head to Europe in late July or early August, according to Guarracino. (Credit to Gil Kaufman)
April 6
OzzFest '99 Tour Dates Announced
The following places are the current tour dates for OzzFest '99 (in order of Date, City, State, and Venue)
05/27/99 West Palm Beach FL Coral Sky Amphitheatre
05/29/99 Atlanta GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
05/31/99 Antioch TN First American Music Center
06/02/99 Charlotte NC Blockbuster Pavilion
06/04/99 Bristow VA Nissan Pavilion
06/06/99 Camden NJ Blockbuster - Sony Ctr.
06/08/99 Holmdel NJ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
06/10/99 Holmdel NJ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
06/12/99 Burgettstown PA Star Lake Amphitheatre
06/14/99 Columbus OH Polaris Amphitheater
06/16/99 Mansfield MA Tweeter Center For The Perf. Arts
06/18/99 Mansfield MA Tweeter Center For The Perf. Arts
06/19/99 Hartford CT Meadows Music Theatre
06/25/99 Clarkston MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
06/27/99 Clarkston MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
06/29/99 Noblesville IN Deer Creek Music Center
07/01/99 Somerset WI Float Rite Park Amphitheatre
07/03/99 East Troy WI Alpine Valley Music Th.
07/05/99 Tinley Park IL New World Music Theatre
07/07/99 Maryland Hgts. MO Riverport Amphitheatre
07/09/99 Bonner Springs KS Sandstone Amphitheatre
07/11/99 San Antonio TX Retama Park
07/13/99 Dallas TX Starplex Amphitheatre
07/16/99 Vancouver BC Thunderbird Arena
07/20/99 Mountain View CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
07/22/99 Phoenix AZ Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion
07/24/99 Devore CA G.H. Blockbuster Pavilion
(Credit to Pollsar)
March 19
Coal Chamber, Ozzy Talk About Hooking Up In Studio
Coal Chamber finally hooked up with Ozzy Osbourne in a Los Angeles recording studio late last week to record a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey."
The collaboration, which will appear on Coal Chamber's upcoming "Chamber Music" album, was originally set for earlier in the week, but throat problems forced Ozzy to postpone the studio session for a few days. Ozzy finally went in to the studio on Friday, March 12 to record his contribution to the song.
"It sounds great, by the way," Ozzy added of the new version he recorded with Coal Chamber. "It sounds really good. I was surprised. I like it when I surprise myself, you know."
"It's true," Dez concurred. "He came in and nailed the track. Peter Gabriel writes really strange. It took me a couple of days to really nail his timing, and Ozzy was so pro when he came in. I mean, he came in and like 'boom,' did it. It was amazing." You can check out how well Ozzy nailed it when Coal Chamber's "Chamber Music" is released later this year. (Credit to MTV)
March 15
OzzFest '99 Recruits Sabbath, Primus, Zombie And Deftones: Third edition of popular metal-rock roadshow to feature final gigs by reunited Black Sabbath
With their most successful year to date behind them, OzzFest organizers could easily have gone back to the well for the 1999 edition of the multiartist metal tour.
But if the roster assembled for summer 1999's metal-rock roadshow OzzFest is any indication -- a roster that includes metal pioneers Black Sabbath and experimental rock trio Primus -- the organizers of the fest won't be resting on their laurels.
"We were just trying to keep it interesting and not repeat the same bands we had last year," said Michael Guarracino, assistant to OzzFest founder Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne. This summer's OzzFest -- which kicks off May 28 in Florida and closes July 17 in Los Angeles -- will offer the most eclectic bill in the three-year-old festival's history. Capped with swan-song appearances by the reunited Black Sabbath, the tour's main stage also will showcase Primus, industrial act Rob Zombie and heavy-metal rockers the Deftones, Slayer, Godsmack and System of a Down, according to Guarracino.
Completing the hard-rock slate of bands will be such heavy rocking second-stage acts as Judas Priest, Pushmonkey, Nashville Pussy, Puya and Buckcherry. While Judas Priest are set to headline the second stage for the whole tour, Guarracino said the rest of the side-stage acts will rotate into the first slot on the main stage daily.
Also booked for the second stage are Flashpoint and Apartment 26 -- both unsigned bands -- as well as Slipknot, which includes the son of Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler.
Sabbath's OzzFest shows are the final dates by the recently re-formed outfit before it disbands again to work on solo projects.
Primus bassist/singer Les Claypool -- whose band is best known for such quirky avant-rock songs as "Shake Hands With Beef" -- said he's likely to be in the wings during Sabbath's performances.
Claypool said he doesn't see anything odd about his decidedly metal-free band's participation in OzzFest. "I could play [Sabbath staple] 'Iron Man' from start to finish when I was 16 years old," Claypool said. "I know more ... Butler [bass] lines than any of those guys.
"We played with Sabbath on some dates in Europe last summer and it was pretty phenomenal," Claypool added. "I watched one show where I stood up on this freight container with an unobstructed view, smoked a little pot and boogied around up there watching them."
Claypool said the slot on OzzFest completes a kind of summer festival trifecta for his group, officially making them "summer tour whores." Primus played Lollapalooza in 1993 and H.O.R.D.E. (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere) in 1997.
Last year's 18-date OzzFest did impressive business in its second outing, averaging 23,700 attendees per show for a bill that featured Megadeth, Tool, Motorhead and the Melvins, in addition to metal rock pioneer Osbourne himself.
Guarracino said this year's tour will likely play 25 dates in the U.S. before heading to Europe in late July or early August. "It's a target audience of people who want to see this kind of music, which is why it doesn't stray much from its focus," he said. "We're just giving people who are into heavier music their outlet to see it." (Credit to Gil Kaufman)
March 15
BACK TO OZZ
This year's OZZfest lineup promises something for the purists and po-mo metalheads alike. The tour will feature Rob Zombie, Deftones, Slayer, and Black Sabbath on what Ozzy Osbourne is calling the band's farewell tour. Also confirmed for the OZZfest main stage are Primus, Godsmack and System Of A Down.
The second stage acts include Judas Priest, Nashville Pussy, Puya, Pushmonkey, (Hed)pe, Buck Cherry, Slipknot and unsigned bands Flashpoint and Apartment 26, which features Geezer Butler's son.
An official itinerary is expected shortly but right now, it looks like the tour will kick off May 28th in Florida and wrap up July 17th in Los Angeles. *NOTE: This is not the same news as March 9, there is another band noted in this news*(Credit to Pollstar)
March 13
Ozzy Mentioned in Magazine's Top Ten Guitar Intro's
In the March 1999 edition of "Guitar One" Magazine, there is an article for the top tep guitar intro's of all time...Crazy Train was one of them...there was no paticular order, so Crazy Train didn't have a number, but none-the-less...something you should check out. Short paragraph about Ozzy & Randy Rhoads and the beginning notes for Crazy Train (Credit to OzzMan91@Gateway.net)
March 9
Zombie, Deftones, Black Sabbath Swansong Set For Ozzfest; Judas Priest, System Of A Down, Primus, Nashville Pussy Also On Board
This summer's version of the annual Ozzfest excursion will bring sets from Rob Zombie, the Deftones, and Slayer as well as the farewell tour from Black Sabbath.
Zombie, Slayer, and the Deftones as well as Primus, Godsmack and System Of A Down are also confirmed for the tour's main stage. Second stage acts will include Judas Priest, Nashville Pussy, Puya, Pushmonkey and the unsigned bands Flashpoint and Apartment 26 (which features Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler's son).
The tour kicks off on May 28 at a Florida venue still to be determined and wraps July 17 in Los Angeles. (Credit to MTV)
March 9
Really Randoms on OzzFest
The line-up to this year's OzzFest is almost finalized, and by almost we mean days or perhaps hours away from completion.First of all, Rage Against the Machine and Foo Fighters will not be on the tour, barring a last-second offer that would convince Bill Gates to pick up a Stratocaster. The festival's headliner will be Black Sabbath, followed by Rob Zombie (confirmed today), and the Deftones (likely to confirm tomorrow). Other bands still in contention to play on the tour include Godsmack and Fear Factory, with Ministry and Kid Rock having turned down offers to play OzzFest last week. (Credit to Jaan Uhelszki)
March 8
Ozzy Illness Postpones Coal Chamber Collaboration
Coal Chamber will have to wait a little bit longer to live out its metal dream.
March 5
Godsmack To Bring The Noise For Ozzfest '99
The post-industrial metallists of Godsmack are presently enjoying a hit single with "Whatever," which has cracked Billboard's Mainstream Rock Top 10, and now the Boston-based band has become the first act confirmed for this year's Ozzfest.
A line-up and itinerary for the 1999 edition of Ozzy Osbourne's heavy metal music festival is still forthcoming, but Godsmack says that it has signed on to be a perform on the tour from June 3 to July 17. (Credit to MTV)
March 4
Ozzy Osbourne/Coal Chamber Cover Peter Gabriel
In what is sure to be one of the most interesting collaborations of the year, Los Angeles-based neo-metalists Coal Chamber are scheduled to enter the studio next week with metal messiah Ozzy Osbourne for a rendition of Peter Gabriel's early '80s classic "Shock the Monkey."
The collaboration with Osbourne is sure to be a treat for Coal Chamber, as Black Sabbath is a major influence on the band's sound. Other guests on the album include Orgy's Jay Gordon, who sings backup on a track, Aimee Echo from Hero, and Cher's son Elijah Blue from Deadsy. Deadsy's debut Sire album is tentatively due in June. (Credit to Kevin Raub)
March 3
Fear Factory Eyes Spring Break And System Of A Down Preps For Ozzfest As Both Bands Reschedule Postponed Tour
It'll take more than a bit of theft and arson to keep Fear Factory and System Of A Down off the road.
After a truck containing much of their gear was stolen and set ablaze in January knocking their tour off track. The bands have rescheduled a number of those cancelled dates, and mapped out some new ones as well. The bands have managed to reschedule dates that were blown out in Philadelphia (where the incident occurred), Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Denver, Cleveland, and Lawrence, Kansas. The bands have yet to announce new dates for Montreal, Toronto, and Washington, D.C., which were also on the derailed itinerary.
The coming weeks will also find Fear Factory adding a stop to MTV's Spring Break to its itinerary. This year's Spring Break programming will roll out the weekend of March 19-21.
Meanwhile, System Of A Down has been keeping busy as well as of late, as the band's website (at www.systemofadown.com) notes that the band will return to the annual metal shindig known as the Ozzfest this summer. Frontman Serj Tankian also recently went into the studio with the guys from Limp Bizkit to help out on a track for Limp's upcoming album. (Credit to MTV)
March 1
Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Twisted Sister, The Cult Inspire Fashionable Colors
In the wake of the successful release of "Perversion," a nail-enamel inspired by Gravity Kill's most recent album, cosmetic company Urban Decay has just permanently added a line of make-up products based on several rock and heavy metal bands.
A spokesperson for Urban Decay says the colors, which were only intended to be released in a limited-edition capacity, are now so popular with the company that it has decided to add the "rock tones" to Urban Decay's permanent line of make-up products.
In addition to music, Urban Decay has also had recent success by pairing colors with films, and has issued shades inspired by such movies as "The Big Lebowski," "A Life Less Ordinary" and "The Wedding Singer." (Credit to MTV)
February 23
Ozzy's Throat Forces Black Sabbath To Shuffle Tour Plans
If you can't stop rock and roll, you can at least slow it down a bit.
Black Sabbath was forced to postpone the final four dates of its reunion tour this week when doctors ordered frontman Ozzy Osbourne to rest his throat. Because of the move, fans in Denver, Salt Lake City, Peoria, and Ames, Iowa will have to wait a bit longer to catch the band.
Ozzy and his fellow Sabs (Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) are hoping to reschedule the shows near the end of May.
A spokesperson for Sabbath said that Ozzy's throat is not expected to be a factor in the band's upcoming tour plans.
In the meantime, here's a look at the dates that will be rescheduled:
2/21 - Denver, CO @ McNichols Arena
2/23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
2/25 - Peoria, IL @ Civic Center Arena
2/26 - Ames, IA @ Hilton Coliseum
January 31
"Crazy Train" on Car Commercial
During Super Bowl XXXIII between the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, there was a car commercial in the 3rd quarter...why are you telling me this you ask? Because it was Crazy Train that was in the backround playing. It was for a Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Just something I thought you might like to know. (Credit to OzzMan91@Gateway.net)
January 24
Ozzy on Magazine Cover
I spotted Ozzy on the cover of "High Times" for the issue of March '99. There are pics with Tony Iommi as well as Ozzy holding (and munching on) some sweetleaf. Ozzy discusses his overindulgence in the rock 'n roll lifestlye earlier in his career. Here is the cover of the magazine.(Credit to OzzMan91@Gateway.net)
March 1999 issue of High Times
"It's good to be able to give something back to the community, whether it's the rock community at large or specific small communities in different states, like me giving the proceeds from a game show I just did to the Boys Club in my hometown," Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine told MTV News the day before hitting New York's Roseland Ballroom for the benefit. "And the other thing, to be able to play for Concrete, they've been supportive of us for a very long time and it's good to be able to give something back to them as an act of good will."
8/4 - Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain
8/6 - Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek
8/8 - Greenville, SC @ Bi Lo Center
8/10 - Virginia Beach, VA @ VA Beach Amphitheater
8/12 - Hershey, PA @ Hershey Stadium
8/14 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
8/16 - Cincinnati, OH @ River Bend
8/18 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
8/20 - Cleveland, OH @ Blossom
8/22 - Montreal, Quebec @ The Forum
8/24 - Wantaugh, NY @ Jones Beach
2. George Strait Country Music Festival - $32.4 million
3. Dave Matthews Band - $31.2 million
4. Shania Twain - $30 million
5. ‘N Sync - $22.4 million
6. Rod Stewart - $20.3 million
7. Billy Joel - $15.4 million
8. Elton John - $14.5 million
9. Black Sabbath - $13.8 million
10. Hard Knock Life Tour - $13.7 million
When the tour rolled into Charlotte, North Carolina on June 2 for the fourth date of the tour, the band's headlining set was briefly interrupted when a fan rushed the stage and locked Ozzy in a bear hug. The unauthorized hug left Ozzy with bruised ribs and a recommendation from his doctor to rest for a few days.
As we reported earlier this week, Ozzy will take a well-deserved month-long rest after the Sabbath farewell shows, and will then head to the studio to work on his next solo record.
"We've been wanting to do it for about five years, but on the first album I don't think we were ready to do it," Coal Chamber frontman Dez Fafara said of the Gabriel cover while in the studio with Ozzy. "As soon as we were like 'OK we're gonna do this track,' we kept hearing Peter Gabriel and it sounded like Ozzy or Ozzy sounded like Peter in it. And we said, 'Man, let's ask him,' and as soon as we found out that he was into it because he like Peter Gabriel, we were like, 'Oh my God, it's all coming together.'"
Ozzy explained, "Every night in my dressing room for the last God knows how many years, I've blasted at mega-sound the 'So' album. Peter Gabriel's 'So' album is one of the finest recordings ever made. It's a phenomenal album.
According to Sharon Osbourne, the wife and manager of Sabbath frontman and Ozzfest namesake Ozzy Osbourne, the recently reunited metal godfathers in Sabbath will headline this year's show. Osbourne also noted that the tour will mark Sabbath's swansong as the group plans to disband permanently after Ozzfest to focus on solo projects.
The band was scheduled to meet up with heavy metal godfather Ozzy Osbourne in a Los Angeles recording studio on Tuesday to record a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey." However, early this week Osbourne was forced to postpone the session when he fell ill. Osbourne is simply under the weather, and is expected to reschedule the session in the near future. Once Ozzy, whose wife Sharon manages Coal Chamber, eventually joins Coal Chamber on the track, the song will turn up on Coal Chamber's upcoming album "Chamber Music." (Credit to MTV)
The song will appear on Chamber Music, the working title of Coal Chamber's follow-up to their 1997 self-titled debut (Roadrunner). For the past few months, the band has been in Hollywood working with producer Josh Abraham (Orgy) on the new album, which is currently slated for release on June 29, though it may be pushed back.
This time around, Fear Factory and System Of A Down will be joined by Hed (pe) and SpineShank for part of the tour.
Issued under the banner of the "Heavy Metal Tour 98/99" line of products, Urban Decay created six colors named for Ozzy Osbourne (just referred to as "Ozzy"), AC/DC, Twisted Sister, Iron Maiden, the Cult and Kiss -- colors which were then used in the creation of various nail enamel, lip gloss and eye shadow.
