Sharon Osbourne Confirms Split With Ozzy After 33 Years of Marriage
Sharon Osbourne confirmed her separation from her husband of 33 years, the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, during the May 10 episode of her show “The Talk.”
Sharon did not directly address rumors suggesting that she caught Ozzy having an affair with their hairdresser. But Osbourne and her co-hosts made sure to point out the large glass of lemonade she carried onto the stage, a not-so-subtle reference to Beyonce‘s new album of the same name, which features a storyline based on marital infidelity. The 63-year-old confirmed reports that she had kicked Ozzy out of the house after he allegedly cheated on her, but added that he had now returned and she had since moved out.
Ozzy Osbourne broke his silence after the news that the Black Sabbath singer and his wife are splitting. “I have been sober for three and a quarter years,” Ozzy shared with E! News exclusively. “I have not touched drugs or alcohol in that time. Any reports that I am not sober are completely inaccurate.”
When asked what the future holds for the couple, who married in July of 1982 but have endured many public spats over the years, Sharon said, “I honestly at this point today have no idea what I’m doing with the rest of my life. I just need time to think about myself, and what do I want for the rest of my life. [I’m] getting to the last chapter of my life. I really want to think carefully about where I want to go … because I’m 63 years of age, and I can’t keep living like this.”
She did profess her continued love for Ozzy – “He’s given me unbelievable light, he’s given me three gorgeous children. You know I love him” – and also confirmed that the couple have been communicating. “We’re talking,” she said. “I spoke to him last night. I’m not with him, but I speak to him.”
Ozzy Osbourne & Corey Taylor Announce “Ozzfest Meets Knotfest”
Ozzy Osbourne has joined together with Slipknot‘s Corey Taylor to combine their respective festivals into one huge weekend metal concert this fall. Black Sabbath will headline on Saturday, while Slipknot headlines on Sunday.
Called Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, the festival will be held Sept. 24 and 25 at the San Manuel Amphitheater and festival grounds in San Bernardino, California. Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s manager and recently estranged wife, made the announcement today at the Palladium in Hollywood. She brought Geezer Butler onstage, as well.
Ozzfest Meets Knotfest’s lineup also includes Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. The main stage on both days will be paired with a second stage named in honor of the late Lemmy Kilmister.
Ozzfest began in 1996, and continued as an annual traveling U.S. festival through 2007. Knotfest, curated by Slipknot, was founded in 2012. The inaugural version was a two-night event, while the second was presented at Makuhari Messe in Tokyo – the same venue that played host to Ozzfest last year. The 2014-15 editions of Knotfest were also held in San Bernardino. Tickets go on sale May 20.
Axl Rose makes AC/DC Debut in Lisbon
Axl Rose made his live debut with AC/DC on Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal.
Stepping in to assist the band following a crisis caused by Brian Johnson’s deteriorating hearing, Rose was on board for the opening date of AC/DC’s European spring tour.
The 22-song set saw Rose seated at center stage with his left foot in a brace after breaking his foot during his band’s club gig at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on April 1. Rose was in a much smaller rig than that of the Dave Grohl-loaner throne that he used last month for Guns N’ Roses first reunion shows of 2016. Opening with the title track to Rock Or Bust, the Lisbon show featured most of the standard setlist from the Australian band while including two official tour debuts from 1978’s Powerage: Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation – played for the first time since 2003 – and the encore “Riff Raff,” which was last performed in 1996.
Check out the full live show video, here.
Gene Simmons on Prince’s Death: “How Pathetic That He Killed Himself”
Despite praising Prince as possibly the greatest musician of all time, in an interview with Newsweek, Gene Simmons blamed Prince for killing himself with drugs and alcohol.
Prescription painkillers are being investigated as leading to Prince’s death and the powerful painkiller Percocet was reportedly present in the 57-year-old’s body when he was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park compound on April 21.
“His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?” he said. “I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don’t kid yourself, that’s what he did. Slowly, I’ll grant you… but that’s what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.”
Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley apologized for Simmons’ comments, calling them “cold clueless statements” and “Without all the facts, better to say nothing.” This prompted a tweet storm by Simmon’s wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons, and an eventual apology by Gene himself.
“Mötley Crüe: The End” to Screen in Theaters One Night Only in June
Mötley Crüe played their last official gig on New Year’s Eve 2015, but fans will be able to revisit the final show next month as their concert movie, “Mötley Crüe: The End” will screen in selected US theaters for one night only on June 14.
Following the big-screen premiere, the film will be made available on pay-per-view in all cable, satellite + digital formats, with a DVD set to be released later.
The 140-minute film (watch a teaser above) includes footage from the Crüe’s farewell show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles along with “exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the last week of the tour.”
AC/DC’s Brian Johnson Meeting With Hearing Inventor
The inventor of in-ear monitors, Asius Technologies founder Stephen Ambrose, says he will meet with AC/DC singer Brian Johnson next week to review his latest upgrade to the technology that may help the rocker return to the live stage one day.
Ambrose recently posted a video message with an offer to assist Johnson over the hearing issues that removed him from the band’s 2016 tour in March.
“This is an open message to Brian Johnson of AC/DC: please don’t stop performing – help is on the way,” said Ambrose in the video. “Brian, I introduced Guns N’ Roses to in-ear monitors in 1990 and I’m a big fan of Axl Rose’s voice, But let’s be clear: I’m with Roger Daltrey on this – I really can’t imagine anyone but you singing “Back In Black”, or any other part of the show for that matter.
Now, Ambrose says he has spoken with Johnson and they are to connect in person.
Added Ambrose, “I’m going to do my utmost to see if our new hearing breakthroughs can help him, and if I am at all successful, I’m sure Brian will let everyone know. I am truly humbled and honored to meet this man, and I wish to sincerely thank everyone who helped. Fingers crossed; please pray for our success next week.”
On Tour
Twisted Sister Announce Final Tri-State Farewell Weekend Show
Twisted Sister will perform their final Tri-State Area farewell performance over the weekend of September 30th – October 2nd at First Energy Park in Lakewood, NJ.
Special Guests currently confirmed include Overkill, Ace Frehley, Monster Magnet, Fuel, Tom Keifer’s Cinderella, Dokken, Texas Hippie Coalition, Doro, Four By Fate, Killcode, Jester, and American Angel.
Says the band: “So many more bands to be announced that your head will spin! Plan on spending a 3-day weekend with us! Details on which days each band will be playing will be announced soon!
Alice in Chains Announces U.S. Tour Dates
Alice in Chains will embark on a U.S. tour in early July. So far the following dates have been announced:
July 06 – Schnitzer Hall – Portland, OR
July 08 – Paramount – Seattle, WA
July 09 – INB Performing Arts Center – Spokane, WA
July 11 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
July 12 – Paramount Theater – Denver, CO
July 15 – Rock Fest – Cadott, WI
July 16 – Rock USA – Oshkosh, WI
July 17 – Freedom Hill – Detroit, MI
July 19 – Packard Music Hall – Warren, OH
July 20 – Sands Events Center – Bethlehem, PA
July 22 – Turning Stone Casino – Verona, NY
July 23 – Mark G. Etess at Taj Mahal – Atlantic City, NJ
July 25 – Beacon Theater – New York, NY
Sep.17 – Rock Allegiance – Chester, PA
Slayer To Tour North America With Anthrax, Death Angel
Slayer will join forces with special guests Anthrax and Death Angel this fall for a seven-week North American tour. The dates start in Cleveland on September 9.
Said Slayer’s Kerry King: “It’s always super fun for us to tour with Anthrax. Frank [Bello] is one of my best friends in the biz!! Put that together with Death Angel, and fans will probably see the best package this year. See you there!”
“We are very excited to tour again with our fellow Kings Slayer on a thrash/metal extravaganza,” said Anthrax’s Charlie Benante. “Two of the Big Four — now that’s a night of metal for all the Kings and Queens!”
Metalheads Say The Damnedest Things
“I think Prince died so I could live. I think we both have the same disease. Today I’m sober and alive. Will I be dead tomorrow? I don’t know.
It was like me coming here [Nashville] was the start-over. My own personal musical Bethlehem.
I knew I wanted to do a solo record. It’s like that Foreigner song Feels Like The First Time. I had never written with folks like the ones down here – to walk into a room, drink some coffee and eight hours later you have a song.”
~ Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler on his relocation to Nashville and recent songwriting sessions there