Ozzy May Release Album Feb
Mood:  bright
Topic: Heavy Metal
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne is working on two new albums and the first one could be ready by February.

"I don't want to release an album if it's not a great album," the 1970s heavy metal pioneer said in an interview in New York Friday, declining to give many details about the album.

"I primarily write an album for myself, and if the world likes it, great," he said. "I'm just hoping that I can get a good couple of albums out."

Osbourne was cautious about when the album would be ready, but his wife, Sharon, who is also his manager, said "hopefully" it would released in February.

The self-proclaimed "Prince of Darkness" said he was working on the two albums with guitarist Zakk Wylde, whose band Black Label Society is one of the main acts in Osbourne's annual hard-rock traveling festival, Ozzfest.

"I can't say anything about the songs," Osbourne said at an event in New York to launch a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt to raise money for his wife's cancer charity.

Osbourne, a recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, said he was enjoying playing on the smaller second stage at Ozzfest this year because it allowed him to get closer to the audience.

"I look at the audience sometimes and I go 'Do they ever grow up and get older?"' he said, expressing some surprise at his enduring popularity with a whole new generation of fans.

"They come, they like it, and they bring their friends. It's weird," he said, adding: "I'm not complaining."

The long-haired singer from Birmingham, England, enjoyed a huge popular revival in recent years as the paterfamilias of a chaotic family in the TV reality series "The Osbournes" on MTV, which chronicled the ups and downs of his family life, including his wife's battle with colon cancer.

Two of the couple's teenage children featured on the show came under intense media scrutiny and both have had much publicized battles with alcohol abuse.

But Sharon Osbourne said "The Osbournes" was still the best reality series ever made. "Ozzy single-handedly opened the door for all of these people who are doing reality TV now," she said. "We were the first, we're the best."

"It affected the children but look at what happened to my children now -- they're two great, healthy, strong, independent people. They're living a successful life," she said.

"So ultimately it turned out great for them. There was good and bad, but let me tell you, there was more good."

Courtesy of www.reuters.com

Ozzy Works With Hard Rock Cafe
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Ozzy Osbourne has designed a t-shirt for the worldwide Hard Rock Cafe.
Topic: Heavy Metal
Ozzy Osbourne has conquered it all. This rock 'n' roll rebel pioneered the heavy metal revolution, became a reality TV star (of the Emmy-winning "The Osbournes") and has even been invited to the White House - turning a passion for music into a rock empire. Now, the "Godfather of Heavy Metal" is taking on Hard Rock International to become the hardest rocker yet in the company's Signature Series. Hard Rock today unveiled its latest Signature Series T-shirt, designed by the "Ironman" himself, Ozzy Osbourne. Proceeds from the new Ozzy Osbourne T-shirt benefit the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, established by Ozzy's wife Sharon following her own battle with colon cancer. Ozzy Osbourne, the 22nd rocker to become part of Hard Rock's Signature Series T-shirt program, joins music icons and legends, such as Elton John, Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen, helping to raise millions of dollars for a number of charitable causes worldwide.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060727/NYTH152 )

The Signature Series T-shirt Edition XXII features a hand-painted stick figure, symbolizing Ozzy's larger-than-life stage persona. The design, created by Ozzy Osbourne, is set on a black T-shirt for men and is also available in an ivory ladies "junior baby-doll" T-shirt. Hard Rock International is offering Ozzy fans the chance to own the limited-edition T-shirt, which is now available online at http://www.hardrock.com and will be officially launched in the Rock Shops at Hard Rock Cafes, Hotels and Casinos in the U.S., Europe and Canada this summer.

"Most people know Ozzy as the outrageous, envelope-pushing rocker, but underneath the wild exterior lies a heart of gold," said Sharon Osbourne. "We contribute to several causes and Ozzy is extremely supportive of the mission of this Colon Cancer Program. And we are thrilled to partner with Hard Rock for this life-saving effort."

Inspired by the care that she received, Sharon Osbourne joined forces with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to provide support for those afflicted with colon cancer. Established in 2004, the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program funds sponsored care and financial assistance to those in need, specialized care and treatments for colon cancer patients at Cedars-Sinai and elevated awareness and education for patients, families and communities.

"We could not be more honored to partner with one of rock's most influential artists to help raise money and awareness for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program," said Hamish Dodds, president and chief executive officer, Hard Rock International. "We are truly proud to be able to show our support for a great organization that aims to improve and even save lives."

Since it was established in 1971, Hard Rock has been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities around the world. In 1990, Hard Rock International developed the concept of partnering with world-renowned musicians and bands, who create and donate imaginative designs to be reproduced onto T-shirts to benefit the artist's charity of choice. To date, 22 music superstars have participated in the Signature Series program, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Michael Stipe and Bruce Springsteen, raising millions for a wide variety of organizations, such as Crossroads Centre Antigua, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and World Hunger Year.

This year, Hard Rock is also offering the new Ozzy Osbourne Signature Series T-shirt, as well as the popular Bruce Springsteen and Eric Clapton Signature Series T-shirts, in men's and women's styles.

To learn more about the diagnostic services and medical treatments available to colon cancer sufferers, go to http://www.csmc.edu.

For further details regarding the Signature Series program, please visit http://www.hardrock.com.

Courtesy of www.prnewswire.com

Eddie VH Teams Up With Adult Movie
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: Eddie Van Halen works with an adult movie.
Topic: Heavy Metal
CHATSWORTH, Calif. - In a major crossover move, rock superstar Eddie Van Halen has joined forces with adult director Michael Ninn to write and perform two songs for the upcoming Ninn Worx feature, Sacred Sin.

Although several big-name rappers have contributed material to XXX movies, Van Halen is probably the first major rock star to lend his name to an adult project.

Van Halen told AVN.com he's not bothered by possible criticism. "I'm working with a friend -- very simple. I like his work," he said. "Michael Ninn is like a Spielberg to me: the imagery, the way he makes things look, just... sensual.

"We hooked up, I ended up doing the music, and it's some whompin-ass shit. I think it's the best work he's ever done, and me too. And more to come."

"Eddie is from Amsterdam, born and raised, and his interpretation of sex and music are all in one, so it wasn't a big step for him," Ninn told AVN.com in an exclusive interview.

He and Van Halen, he said, have been friends for "a couple of lifetimes, it seems like. It started out as him ringing me up to work on some music together. One thing just led to another, and it ended up, I had this movie in mind. We would sit at the piano -- he has two grand pianos in the house -- and play and talk all night long."

The project came to life as a result of "the things we talked about: life in general, imagery and the power of imagery. Sometimes as he'd play I'd walk around the estate and the story kind of came to me while I was there."

The Van Halen songs in Sacred Sin are "Rise" and "Catherine," a remix of the theme from Ninn's 2005 movie of the same name.

"One of the things that Eddie really, really liked," Ninn said, "was the theme from Catherine. He did a remix, it still carries the melody, but it's got a Kashmir-Led Zeppelin kind of feel to it now. A very, very powerful piece of music."

He said Van Halen was "absolutely elated with the track," and the rocker himself confirmed, "If 'Catherine' doesn't move you, you're brain-dead."

The second song, "Rise," was a tune he had been working on already. "I heard it and just fell in love with it," Ninn said. Van Halen also contributed some "transitional piano pieces that are sprinkled throughout the movie." The rest of the music is the work of frequent Ninn collaborator Loren Alexander.

Ninn Worx will release Sacred Sin on September 13, distributed by Red Light District. The two-disc set will contain music videos for both Van Halen songs. "They're pretty powerful," Ninn said, calling his friend "an incredible performer who really comes to life when the cameras are on. He's a showman."

Ninn is also cutting a non-explicit version of the movie, to be called Rise, for the general market. Release date is unsure, he said, because it has yet to be submitted to the MPAA board for a rating.

The picture introduces new Ninn Worx contract girl Heather Vuur, in her first adult movie. "She's an incredible actress on top of being stunningly beautiful," Ninn said. "Anyone that can pull off my psychobabble and make it believable is one hell of an actress. Her energy for this picture was just amazing."

The movie was completely shot on High Definition video and is frankly aimed at the couples market. Ninn called it "180 degrees from Catherine," in which the sex scenes, because of the nature of stars Audrey Hollander and Otto Bauer, "were all over the top -- carnival X."

In Sacred Sin, he said, "I wanted the sex to be for couples, nothing too crazy, a picture that couples could get off on."

He said the budget "might push $200,000. We're around $150,000 right now and we're not finished with post work. I'm not sure. I try to stay out of that and just get the best picture I can make."

Van Halen, he said, has "seen a lot of the movie and has seen this is real. He seems to be relatively happy with what we're trying to achieve."

To find out more about Sacred Sin, visit www.ninnworx.com/sacredsin.

Courtesy of www.avn.com

Bruce Dickinson Rescues UK Soilders
Mood:  bright
Topic: Heavy Metal
According to Metalhammer.co.uk Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, who is a qualified pilot, helped to airlifte 200 British citizens back to the UK from Cyprus. This was part of a major operation to rescue British citizens caught up in war torn Beirut.

Following the announcement of the forthcoming early September release of their new studio album A Matter Of Life And Death, Iron Maiden announced the news that The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breega will be released as a very special single on 14th August.

Says Steve Harris, "This is a very intense album in many ways and we really wanted to go with a lead track that demonstrated that in the best way, rather than going for a shorter track on the album just to please the chart rules. Benjamin Breega is a great example of the feel of the album in its really heavy riff and lyrically it's a very dark, atmospheric and powerful song which really epitomizes what the album is all about for us. So it made a natural choice for us."

Zakk Wylde & BLS: New Album
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Blavck Label Society Prepares to Release New Album This Fall.
Topic: Heavy Metal

New York, NY – (July 14, 2006) -- Legendary Grammy winning guitarist Zakk Wylde and his band Black Label Society (BLS) are preparing to release their new studio album Shot To Hell on September 12th. Produced by Zakk and executive produced by Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers) this latest offering is his 8th album since becoming Ozzy Osbourne’s lead guitarist and co-songwriter 20 years ago. Shot to Hell is the first BLS release for Roadrunner Records and follows the band’s success of selling nearly 2 million albums in the U.S. to date. Currently headlining the second stage at Ozzfest, BLS will announce a US headlining tour shortly.

 The buzz is already starting to build dramatically as the September 12th release date approaches. In June, Zakk appeared on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine and he’s on the cover of the September 2006 issues of Guitar World and Metal Edge Magazines. Radio is hotly anticipating the July 24th add date of the first single off Shot to Hell, which is “Concrete Jungle.”

Shot To Hell is the follow up to Mafia, which debuted in March 2005 at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart and # 15 on the Top Internet Releases. Zakk is Guitar World Magazine’s 3 time reigning MVP who in their year end readers poll was named #1 most valuable player, #1 best metal guitarist and #1 best shredder. In addition he was the recipient of Metal Hammer Magazine’s 2005 “Riff Lord” Golden God Award. 

Capitalizing on the buzz and Zakk’s diverse fan-base, (including Hard Rockers, Bikers, a CNN anchor, professional Athletes, ESPN Analysts, Teachers, Stock Brokers, Housewives and Kids) companies are calling upon him to help give a face to their products. Recently, this father of three who married his high school sweetheart has garnered new endorsement deals from Gibson and Epiphone Guitars, Marshall Amps, Dunlop strings and pedals and more. Many of these companies have created special Zakk Wylde models such as the Marshall Amp Zakk Stack. Additionally, Zakk and the gift emporium Spencer’s partnered up to offer one lucky fan tickets to an Ozzfest show and a personal guitar lesson with the legend himself.

Never one to rest on his reputation or past accomplishments, Zakk is keeping himself very busy touring the world with BLS. He is, once again doing double duty on Ozzfest, a tour for which he has played more shows than anyone, including the tours namesake Ozzy Osbourne. Last year, Zakk’s original compositions for ESPN helped promote the popular X-Games and this year his piano based songs will promote other sporting events either for or on ESPN. Zakk is a sports fanatic whose son can even claim notable MLB All-Star, Mike Piazza as his Godfather.

In 1986, at the age of 19, Zakk was plucked from a gas station in NJ to be the new guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. He quickly asserted not only his guitar skills but also his songwriting prowess, having co-written some of Ozzy’s best-selling albums including, No Rest For The Wicked, No More Tears and Ozzmosis.  Additionally, he has released one album with the short-lived project Pride & Glory, one solo album and five albums with Black Label Society. BLS has released the DVD Boozed, Broozed & Broken-Boned- Live with the Detroit Chapter, which is certified Platinum. Zakk is also a budding actor who appeared in the 2001 movie Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg as well as voicing the Zakk Wylde character in the Cartoon Networks hit series Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

For more information visit www.ZakkWylde.com .

Ozzy's New Album
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Ozzy teams up with Zakk Wylde to make a new album full of anthems and ballads.
Topic: Heavy Metal
Ozzy Osbourne is getting ready to enter another chapter in his diary of a madman -- with longtime sidekick Zakk Wylde alongside. "There's a bunch of kick-ass stuff on there," Wylde tells Billboard.com of the material earmarked for Osbourne's 15th solo album. "It is just ass-kicking, heavy stuff, and we've got the ballads, some piano stuff and some acoustic stuff."

Wylde's Black Label Society is headlining the tour's second stage, and the guitarist is also playing with Osbourne on the select dates the former Black Sabbath frontman is doing on the tour.

He says "It would've been great if we got [Osbourne's album] done before the Ozzfest, but it's like trying to cram three pounds of crap into a two-pound leaking bag, if you know what I mean. There's not enough hours in the day to get everything done."

"But right now it's coming out slamming. I think once the Ozzfest is done, Ozz can start writing at home in the studio and start knocking vocals out." The as-yet-untitled album is Osbourne's first featuring all original material since 2001's "Down to Earth."

Wylde, meanwhile, will release Black Label Society's sixth album, "Shot to Hell," on Sept. 19. Wylde, who co-produced the set with Michael Beinhorn, cracks that the title refers to "what happens to our kidneys, livers and pancreas, being out on the road with Black Label."

Courtesy of www.billboard.com

All the Axl news you can take.
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Heavy Metal

First, June 30th:

GUNS N' ROSES frontman AXL ROSE has blasted Swedish police for blackmailing him into co-operating with their demands.

The singer was being held in a Swedish jail after being arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning (26JUN06) for allegedly biting a security guard during a drunken brawl.

After agreeing to pay a fine of 40,000 kronor (US$5,500/UK3,000), he was released from jail. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 kronor (US$1,360/UK756) in damages to the security guard.

But tour manager MERCK MERCURIADIS says the star only admitted to the "violent conduct" because he was physically mistreated as well as threatened with up to three weeks behind bars if he didn't. Rose would have missed the tour had he not complied.

Mercuriadis says, "We are in the middle of a tour.

"The Swedish authorities were very aware of this, yet continually threatened us over a 12-hour period with between five days and three weeks incarceration without bail if Axl did not 'co-operate'.

"They were fully aware that there were millions of dollars at stake, not to mention the hopes of tens of thousands of fans who had paid for tickets to see Guns N' Roses." "The point is, the police report should not be taken at face value, and if one were to be explicit, this experience is tantamount to being held for ransom.

"If the context were any different, Axl would probably have preferred to spend the time in jail in order to ensure that all the facts were a matter of public record."

Courtesy of pr-inside.com

Second, Axl does what he does best on July 22nd, causing a riot.

AXL ROSE sparked a riot at a concert after refusing to appear on stage until he had been given a full roast dinner.

The GUNS N' ROSES singer kept the crowd at Newcastle's Metro Arena waiting on Thursday night (19JUL06) for over an hour in the sweltering heat as he tucked in to his meal.

His behaviour didn't go down too well with the thousand strong audience, who started jeering and throwing objects at the empty stage.

Concert goer SASKIA GREEN says, "It was really hot and the crowd was booing because he was taking forever. A security guard said it the delay was caused by Axl demanding a lamb dinner before he went on - very rock 'n' roll." COLIN REVEL, manager of the Metro Arena, confirmed the bizarre request for the British delicacy and said, "Only a roast dinner would do."

Courtesy of www.pr-inside.com

Damnocracy Demos Online
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Demos from Vh1's Supergroup now online thanks to vocalist Sebastian Bach.
Topic: Heavy Metal
It is more than a little frustrating to watch the show & see little to no footage of the band actually playing music. When I say on the show "well we jammed for 6 or 7 hours today" but they show none of it, it drives me nuts! The whole infamous "fight scene" with Evan & myself actually occured after dinner, late at night, & by the time we got into the mayhem it was 2 or 3 in the morning. When you have a full jam room in the house it is fun to get loose have a few drinks & jam. But all that occured after a full day of playing music stone cold sober... which is not on the show!

So here are 3 demos that I did on my laptop... extremely low quality & zero production ... if we ever cut these tunes, they would probably sound nothing like these demos .... but I figured that if they can show me completely rotted out of my skull on the show, I can share with you these crude but rocking demos that we did while in Vegas. These songs are not done at all. I don't know if they ever will be. I am not a producer or an engineer. Hopefully we can cut these songs for real someday! I will be posting remixes & more DAMNOCRACY music here so stay tuned.

Only 2 episodes left ! Sunday nights at 10 on vh1!!!!!!
Sebastian

Courtesy of www.myspace.com/damnocracy

Judas Priest, Phantom Of The Opera?
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Judas Priest Create A Metal Concept Album To Be Released in 2007
Topic: Heavy Metal
Some people believe he had foreseen the rise of Hitler, the Kennedy assassinations and the terror strikes of 9/11, but it's safe to say that 16th-century French prophet Nostradamus never saw this one coming: Nearly 450 years after his death, heavy-metal icons Judas Priest are writing a concept album about the legendary soothsayer.

The bandmembers, who have been working on their ambitious undertaking for more than three months, have already written 90-plus minutes of music. After they massage the tracks into final form, add solos and write lyrics, the band will choose a co-producer and begin recording. Priest hope to finish the project by the end of the year in time to release it in the first quarter of 2007.

Like a Puccini opera, the piece will flow seamlessly, with no breaks between tracks, but frontman Rob Halford said clearly identifiable songs will address approximately 20 key moments in the life of the man born Michel de Nostredame. Touch-points will likely include the writing of his famous 1,000 quatrains, the death of his first wife and children from plague, his second marriage, his brief imprisonment and his death.

"Nostradamus is all about metal, isn't he?" Halford said. "He was an alchemist as well as a seer -- a person of extraordinary talent. He had an amazing life that was full of trial and tribulation and joy and sorrow. He's a very human character and a world-famous individual. You can take his name and translate it into any language and everybody knows about him, and that's important because we're dealing with a worldwide audience."

In addition to digging new lyrical ground for Judas Priest, the album will contain musical elements that might surprise their fans. "It's going to have a lot of depth," the singer explained. "There'll be a lot of symphonic elements. We might orchestrate it, without it being overblown. There may be a massive choir at parts and keyboards will be featured more prominently, whereas they've always been in the background before."

At the same time, Halford insisted the group won't abandon its heavy roots. For every atmospheric keyboard or choral arrangement, there'll be a headbanging passage to rattle the roof. "Essentially, Priest will always present ourselves as a metal band, so it will still be the band you know and love," Halford said. "There are some monster metal riffs that could span the Grand Canyon, and we still always find it a kick to come up with something that just burns out your speakers."

Halford discovered Nostradamus as a teenager and immediately became interested in his vague predictions and the way his followers interpreted them to pinpoint specific historical events. But it was the band's manager, Bill Curbishley, who predicted a concept record about Nostradamus could be a magical move.

Curbishley, who had previously worked with the Who on their rock opera Tommy, brought his idea to Priest in Estonia at the end of their 2005 tour. He viewed the extravaganza as a way to follow up the tremendous buzz of their comeback album Angel of Retribution, the first Priest record in 14 years to feature Halford.

"He was sitting there going, 'Well, what do the guys do next?' and this is what he came up with," said Halford. "The challenge of going into the studio to do a follow-up on a great studio album is immense anyway, and Priest are constantly trying to achieve and go one step further, so when Bill brought this up, we were all like, 'Let's go. Let's do it.' "

The yet-untitled LP will be Judas Priest's first concept effort and the first release they'll perform in its entirety on tour. Halford is convinced the material and narrative are sufficiently compelling to keep fans from missing the cavalcade of hits they've grown used to.

"The songs are going to be great," he said. "If you know anything about Priest, you know that we've made the characters come to life in songs like 'Painkiller,' 'The Sentinel' and 'The Sinner,' and now we're just taking that storytelling side of Priest that people love and cherish and putting all into a single project so it all comes to life in one dimension."

While they haven't yet worked out the details, Judas Priest plan to deliver their Nostradamus saga in a theatrical environment complete with intricate stage sets, special effects and possibly live actors. "We'll use the great things you see in Vegas and that are going in theater and put that into Priest along with pyro and everything else," Halford said.

"It will be like a heavy-metal 'Phantom of the Opera' -- a nonstop flow of great music, and I'll be doing more costume changes than Cher."

Courtesy of www.vh1.com

Axl Gets In Trouble Again
Mood:  hungry
Topic: Heavy Metal
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Axl Rose spent most of the day in a Stockholm jail cell after allegedly biting a security guard in the leg at his hotel, police said.

The Guns N' Roses frontman was arrested early Tuesday after attacking and threatening the guard and causing damage to the Berns Hotel, where the alleged scuffle took place, police spokeswoman Towe Hagg said.

Rose was released from jail that evening, after he admitted to the charges and agreed to pay a fine of $5,500, Hagg said.

The 44-year-old rocker was also ordered to pay $1,360 in damages to the security guard, she said.

Catarina Oscarsson, a spokeswoman for concert organizer Ema Telstar, said the band wasn't traveling with a publicist and would not comment on the arrest.

Hagg told The Associated Press that Rose was drunk during the confrontation and was not questioned by police until after he had sobered up.

"He was deemed too intoxicated to be questioned right away," she said.

It was unclear what caused the fight, but Swedish tabloids said the guard tried to intervene when Rose started arguing with a woman in the hotel lobby.

Police officer Fredrik Nylen was quoted by the daily Aftonbladet Web site as saying Rose acted aggressively toward police and had to be handcuffed and restrained in the hotel.

"He kept a high profile, so to speak," Nylen, one of the police officers who helped arrest Rose, was quoted as saying.

Guns N' Roses played a concert in Stockholm's Globe Arena on Monday night, and had been partying at a well-known nightclub before the scuffle, Aftonbladet said.

The band was scheduled to perform in Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday night.

In May, Rose and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger capped an evening out at a new club called The Plumm in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood with midnight fisticuffs.

The scuffle reportedly started after Rose moved the drink of Hilfiger's girlfriend. According to Rose, Hilfiger, 55, smacked him in the arm and told him to put the drink back.

Rose was at the club to play a surprise set for "Rent" actress Rosario Dawson for her 27th birthday party.

He did perform, and dedicated the song "You're Crazy" to "my good friend Tommy Hilfiger."

From sleazeroxx.com