OZZY: About This Last Show
Ozzy Osbourne sat for another interview about him and Black Sabbath doing their final performances this Saturday at the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England.
He said, "It's my final encore; it's my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me." As for staging the show in his hometown of Birmingham, he said, "I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning." Asked what he wants his fans to take away from the show, he said, "I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me." And asked about the all-star group of performers taking the stage on Saturday, he said, "It means everything, I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed."
Among the special guests are Metallica, Guns n' Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax and Mastodon. And Tom Morello, the show's musical director, will lead an all-star band that will feature Duff McKagan and Slash of GNR,
Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Sammy Hagar, Steven Tyler, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, David Draiman
of Disturbed, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing, members of Soundgarden, and Tobias Forge of Ghost.
And finally, asked if he see this as a goodbye or the beginning of something else, he said, "It's a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out." Saturday's show will be livestreamed. For details go to BacktotheBeginning.com.
BLACK SABBATH: Capitalizing on Their Finale
With Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath making headlines with their final show this Saturday, Back to the Beginning, in their hometown of Birmingham, England, they and others are taking advantage of the spotlight. Their first manager, Jim Simpson, has put together an album of their early demos they recorded in 1969 when they were known as Earth. Simpson
says at that time they were a "blues-driven powerhouse... These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly. “Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.” Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, which has not been sanctioned by Sabbath, will be released on July 25th.
Sabbath drummer Bill Ward also has some new music on the way and revealed in a Long Beach, California interview that he has two albums in the works. "I've just let everything go. I basically don't give a [damn], and I think it shows up in the record. I don't have anything to swagger about. I wanted to play something that plays in my heart and then comes out of my soul. I wanted to play some things that keep me awake at night. And I've tried to grow more as a pianist and grow more as a drummer and grow more as a bass player... I'm playing probably a little more jazz than maybe I would've done on previous albums. I'm swearing a lot. I'm using a lot of profanity on these new records. But the profanity seems to work really well. It's just, like, yeah, this is what I'm saying about whatever's in my life."
Ozzy and his buddy Billy Morrison, guitarist in Billy Idol's band, have released a stripped-down version of "Gods of Rock N Roll" across all streaming platforms, with a special vinyl limited-edition double A-side that features both versions of the song coming this Friday. They originally released the song earlier this year. And Ozzy is using the spotlight to announce a new line of cosmetic and makeup products, which will be available through the Jolie Beauty
website starting July 9th. This is Ozzy's second stab at cosmetics, having launched the "Ozzy Osbourne Collection" in October 2022.
And finally, guitarist Tony Iommi has partnered with Laney to release a limited-edition signature amplifier, the TI100 Reissue – a replica of his original TI100 from 2012. It will set you back $5,000. Details at Laney.co.uk.
JUDAS PRIEST: A Sabbath Tribute
Judas Priest was high on Sharon Osbourne's list to get for Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert on Saturday in Birmingham, England. But they can't make it because they're playing in Hanover, Germany that day as part of the Scorpions 60th anniversary concert.
To make up for missing the show, Priest have released a cover of "War Pigs" along with a performance video. The clip includes guitarist Glenn Tipton, who no longer tours with the band because of Parkinson's disease, which also afflicts Ozzy Osbourne. Priest wrote about the cover, "We are honored to show our love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath with our homage to 'War Pigs.' A song we play at every show around the world that fans sing along to -- reinforcing their love as well for the legendary Prince of Darkness!" Sabbath recorded "War Pigs" for their second album, 1970's Paranoid.
BRET MICHAELS: Another Health Scare
Bret Michaels had a health scare Sunday during his show in Washington, Pennsylvania.
He says, "There was a packed pre-show meet & greet and, although I knew my blood sugar was low, I was excited to meet everyone and not let anyone down. Unfortunately, the highs and lows of living with diabetes since I've been six years old occasionally just kick my butt. I went on stage and even added a song or two to the set to prove to myself and the fans that I could do it. At the end, my blood sugar walking off the stage was a real-life 39. "I vow in the near future, I'm going to take that time needed, and please forgive me if I have to move some of the shows around until I get this under control. The schedule this summer is completely insane... Again, my apologies, I love the shows, the fans and the music!"
Ironically, last September, after announcing Poison would not tour this year, he explained why they'd postponed to 2026. "I have stated previously that in 2025 I'm planning to perform limited shows to focus primarily on health, starting with my diabetes, which needs a tune-up, not to mention a little R&R as everyone knows my tireless work ethic and passion for performing music, as well as some much-needed personal family time... I'm like a classic muscle car -- still fast and still fun to drive, just need a little more maintenance. LOL."
Just over 10 years ago, Michaels had a few health scares, including an appendectomy and brain hemorrhage. Michaels will perform in Airway Heights, Washington on Saturday.
FOREIGNER: More 4
Foreigner's fourth album, the aptly titled 4, which also signified the band going from six to four members with the departure of Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, will be reissued in a deluxe format on September 12th. The album that gave us the hits "Urgent," "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "Juke Box Hero" has been remastered and will be available in numerous configurations, including vinyl and Blu-ray. And there will be plenty of extras including five previously unreleased songs, 14 early and alternate versions of various songs, 15 instrumentals, and 15 live performances recorded around the world in 1981 and '82.
Originally released on July 2nd, 1981, 4 spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard 200, more than any artist in the history of Atlantic Records, including AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. It went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide and has been certified six-times platinum in the U.S. Looking back on the album, band founder and guitarist Mick Jones says, “Recording our fourth album took the better part of two years. It was something that just had to be right and I truly believe that [co-producer] Mutt Lange, [singer] Lou [Gramm], [bassist] Rick [Wills], [drummer] Dennis [Elliott], and I accomplished something very special. This package, and particularly the stunning Atmos mixes present a spectacular culmination of one of the most exciting periods of my life.”
And with this news comes more dates into December, which will include original lead singer Lou Gramm. Foreigner are on tour this weekend with shows in Windsor, Canada tonight (Friday) and Saturday.
DAVID BOWIE: Museum Book to Be Republished
The book that was published as part of the massive David Bowie exhibition is finally getting a general release. David Bowie Is will be published in paperback on September 11th. The original book was sold only at the 12 museums around the world that housed the exhibition from 2013 to 2018. This new version includes two new chapters -- "David Bowie Is Exhibited," which covers the 12 shows, and "David Bowie Is Archived," which focuses on the new David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse in London that has an archive of more than 90,000 Bowie objects.
ALICE COOPER: Detroit Shaped
Earlier this week, the announcement came that Alice Cooper has been elected for induction into the Radio Hall of Fame for his two syndicated shows -- Nights With Alice Cooper, and his new one, Alice's Attic. Commenting on the honor he says, "Growing up in Detroit, the radio was always on — it shaped some of my most vivid memories from hearing The Beatles for the first time to the thrill of hearing my own songs on air. After years of listening to legendary deejays spin my music, I eventually joined them by launching my own syndicated show over 20 years ago. It's been a blast ever since — sharing stories, spinning rock 'n' roll and now being honored by the Radio Hall of Fame is truly the icing on the cake." Cooper will join 10 other honorees at the induction ceremony on October 30th in Chicago. Cooper is on tour in Europe and will be on the bill along with Judas Priest at the Scorpions' 60th anniversary concert Saturday in Hannover, Germany.
OASIS: Another Reissue Ahead of First Reunion Show
Oasis announced a new reissue just two days before their reunion tour kicks off in Cardiff, Wales. The 30th anniversary edition of (What's the Story) Morning Glory will be out October 3rd, and it adds five unplugged tracks to the original album. These stripped-down versions were recently created by Noel Gallagher from the album's master tapes. Check out "Acquiesce" on YouTube. This is the second reissue of Morning Glory -- the first came in 2014, and that featured all the album's B-sides and a disc of live recordings. Oasis has been rehearsing for the tour in Cardiff this week ahead of Friday's tour-opening show, and are expected to do a full run-through at Principality Stadium on Thursday.
Supertramp Announces Series Of Album Reissues
With the 50th anniversary of their breakthrough album "Crime of the Century" just passed, Supertramp has announced a reissue campaign for their earliest albums. The first two to be reissued will be "Crime" and "Crisis? What Crisis?" "Crime" came out in October 1974, with "Crisis" released 13 months later, in November 1975. Both albums have been half-speed mastered and will be available August 29.
Severe Weather Interrupts Dylan/Nelson "Outlaw" Tour
Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson hope to resume their "Outlaw Music Festival Tour" on the Fourth of July. This past Sunday's show at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri came to a sudden stop due to heavy rain and wind.A post on the tour's Instagram account said "much of the equipment and artists' instruments were damaged and waterlogged." As a result, yesterday's show in El Reno, Oklahoma was canceled. The post said "The tour looks forward to resuming in Austin on July 4th."