Look out, Vegas…Ozzy Osbourne’s on the way and it’s gonna be much, much more than a regular concert. Said Ozzy’s wife/manager Sharon Osbourne to UK newspaper The Sun, “I’m working right now on a Vegas production for Ozzy. It’ll be in time for Halloween and be called ‘Hell Gate’.”
A source was quoted as saying, “Ozzy has never done a stand-alone show in Vegas and there has been huge interest in what he has to offer. Vegas is an amazing spot, which has been a huge hit with the rock crowd. Ozzy would be a top draw and really do something unique.” Ozzy teased the event last fall, giving out no details other than it was “coming in October 2015.”
And on a sort-of-a-related subject…Ozzy’s former guitarist, Zakk Wylde, was featured on a recent episode of the syndicated Loveline radio show and revealed some racy (or…err…not so much) news about his former boss.
Said Zakk, “And he [Ozzy] just goes, ‘Zakk, you know, I don’t drink anymore, I don’t do drugs anymore. I don’t even smoke; I never thought I’d give that up.’ Then he goes, ‘I don’t even drink coffee anymore; I’m drinking tea. My schlong doesn’t work.’ And I go, ‘Man, that’s messed up.’ And he goes, ‘Zakk, why am I alive?!'”
A Slayer insanity “defense?” A man who was accused (and admitted to) killing and dismembering his own father in April of last year has been found not competent to stand trial in Kennebec County Superior Court. A forensic expert from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services testified that Leroy Smith III suffers from some form of severe psychiatric disorder, which could include schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia or a delusional disorder. Smith believes the primary role of his attorneys is to put him in touch with heavy metal rock bands so he can tell them he is God.
In addressing the judge, the accused man ranted, “With my case, they’re telling me that my story is delusional grandiose of proceedings that happened, and they’re not investigating it. The fact of the matter [is that] in 2011 I had a gun pointed to my head and was sworn to keep secret of what I am. And they refused investigating any persons that are responsible. The whole entire music group Slayer was there. I was told then that what they did was too overboard. I sent them a message on Facebook and that Jeff Hanneman, the guitarist, takes his own life. He took his own life May 5 of 2013.” His attorney later said, “To be able to establish any sort of attorney-client relationship is impossible. He thinks our role is to subpoena society and to subpoena certain heavy metal bands to come to explain why they won’t let him play with them.”
Here’s your first look at bassist Duff McKagan’s [Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, Loaded] upcoming advice book, How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions), on May 12. The book was inspired by his five-year stint as a columnist at Seattle Weekly, where he wrote a funny, tongue-in-cheek advice piece called “How To Be A Man.”
Norwegian headbangers TNT and American singer Tony Harnell (pictured, forefront) have parted ways…again. In a statement on his Facebook page (full text here), Tony said, “Sadly, it’s not possible for me to continue with the band. I won’t bore you with all the details…It’s nothing mind blowing and it’s certainly nothing new and it’s also best to respect the privacy of the band and keep our issues between us. At least that’s my goal. What I can tell you all is that I tried very hard once again to make it work for the long haul…My heart is broken, again, but I have no regrets about the past year and I’m really happy I could have such a wonderful final tour with the band for you guys.”
Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler recently gave an upbeat video update to his fans after undergoing emergency brain surgery for an aneurysm last month.
In his place for the band’s upcoming UK tour will be Sven Dirkschneider, the son of Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider.
