Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne reunite and work through marital troubles

X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and her rocker husband Ozzy are apparently working out their marital differences, with Sharon allowing Ozzy to move back into their family mansion in Beverly Hills.

It was recently revealed that the Osbournes weren’t speaking, and that Ozzy was living in a bachelor pad in LA.

The couple’s 30-year relationship hit a crisis when Sharon discovered Ozzy was addicted to prescription medicine again and had begun drinking.

An insider told The Sun: “A month ago they weren’t seeing each other at all. He was in a rented house, she was in a hotel and they lived separate lives.

“Now Sharon is giving Ozzy another chance and has let him move back in. They are working things out.”
Ozzy took to Facebook to admit his substance problems and apologise to his family.

“I was in a very dark place and was an a**hole to the people I love most, my family. I am happy to say that I’m now 44 days sober. Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing.”

He also apologised to Sharon for his ‘insane behaviour’.

Ozzy is back working with Black Sabbath at the moment

Sharon had admitted on her US TV show that the crisis had left her ‘devasted’, but insisted: “We’re not getting divorced.”

Sharon returns as a judge on The X Factor this year in a £1.8million deal.

Meanwhile Ozzy is preparing to release a new record with his now legendary band Black Sabbath, who release 13 this year.

source: gigwise.com

Iommi could play on your track

Queen guitarist Brian May has revealed plans to release an album consisting entirely of riffs written and played by Tony Iommi.

The aim is to allow fans to build their own songs out of the Black Sabbath axeman’s material.

The plan was uncovered via a Kerrang celebrity interview in which Iommi asked May: “When are we going to get to work on that album of riffs together? You know what I’m talking about.”

May replied: “Yes, I do know what he’s talking about and I’m very, very keen. The record was supposed to be a secret – but I guess he’s blown it now.”

He explained that, on a visit to Iommi’s studio, he discovered a huge catalogue of unused material. “I thought it would be great to make a compilation out of them. The idea was to put all these riffs out in some form so people could build their own sings of them. You could make your own music with Tony Iommi on guitar.”

It’s not been confirmed when such an album might appear. Iommi recently completed recording work on Sabbath’s first album with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978, commenting: “It’s different altogether now. We’ve got much more of a thing going than what it was in them days. The new material’s really good – we’ve got some good stuff going.”

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Black Sabbath drummer hints that Rage Against the Machine are recording

Black Sabbath drummer Geezer Butler may have accidentally revealed that Rage Against the Machine are working on a new album.

The band haven't released an album in thirteen years, and frontman Tom Morello recently told Billboard that they had "no plans" to record a fifth album.

However, in an interview with Metal Insider, Butler said that Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk may not be able to tour with Sabbath, as he could have other commitments.

Black Sabbath have currently been recording with both Wilk and Tommy Clufetos. When asked which drummer would be going on the road with them, Butler responded, "We're not sure yet [which drummer we will use].

He continued, "We don't know because I think Brad's got commitments with Rage Against the Machine ... It'll probably be either Tommy or Brad, depending on their commitment."

However, Wilk doesn't have any touring commitments with Rage Against the Machine, as the band don't currently have any scheduled tour dates - leading fans to speculate that they could be recording.



Rage haven't played live since November 2011 and Morello told Rolling Stone that they have no plans to do so again.

He said, "I consider them brothers and brothers-in-arms, and whether or not we ever play music again in any capacity is unknown. There's no plans, no current direction of anything."

source: gigwise.com

Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond bassist dies

Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman has died at the age of 70. He was still performing with the band who received the first-ever platinum disc for sales of their 1969 breakthrough album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. He’d also continued work with side-project Captain Beyond until the death of guitarist Larry ‘Rhino’ Reinhardt earlier this year. Dorman, who had suffered heart problems for many years, was found in his car. Police believed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Tony Iommi has reflected on his first year as a cancer victim. The guitarist announced he was suffering from lymphoma soon after Black Sabbath‘s reunion with Ozzy Osbourne was revealed in 2011. Iommi says: “What a year! Certainly not the one I was expecting. Thanks to you all for your massive help and support. It was very encouraging. I’m still working on the album and managed to play three shows – not bad given the news a year ago. I’m looking forward to next year, seeing what you think of the record and touring as much as we’re able.”

Led Zeppelin have reissued their catalogue via iTunes, remastered to make best use of the digital format. It’s a separate move from the band’s planned reissue series, expected in 2013. Meanwhile, Robert Plant has re-emphasised the thought processes behind refusing to take the band’s 2007 reunion any further. He says: “You have to be creative and imaginative and move on. The great essence of Led Zeppelin is the creativity and imagination that developed with each project. I don’t see us being a stadium act, going round and round making everyone feel great playing the hits.” [CBS]

Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has explained how the song Cut Me Some Slack was written with Paul McCartney. The grunge pioneers’ surviving members performed the track several times earlier this month alongside the ex-Beatle. Novoselic says in his blog: “Paul came in with this cigar-box guitar and started playing some mean slide on it. He said it was in D. Grunge instincts took over and I dropped the E on the bass to D. Pat and Dave got into it and the tune took shape. Paul flashed a riff and we picked it up. I busted another one out and everyone picked it up. Things started coming together. A new song was born! And that’s about it. That’s all it is – a new song by some players who have been doing it for a while.”

The last live Deep Purple album featuring Ritchie Blackmore will be re-released on January 29. Live In Paris 1975 features the iconic guitarist alongside David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice performing tracks including Stormbringer, Highway Star, Space Truckin’ and Smoke on the Water.

A 1969 vehicle registration document sent to Jimi Hendrix has sold on eBay for $2250. The enveloped item, addressed in type to Hendrix, was associated with a Corvette he owned at the time and is believed to have written off in an accident and replaced with a similar car. It comes with the standard California Department of Motor Vehicles statement which reads: “If you no longer own this vehicle destroy this card.” [Ultimate Classic Rock]




Classic Rock Presents Jimi Hendrix: People, Hell and Angels Fanpack is currently available for pre-order, containing the complete new Hendrix album due out next year. Find out more.

A group of scientific researchers believe successful musicians are more likely to die young than those who follow other career paths – but the chance of survival is worst among solo artists. The study was led by Mark Bellis, a UK expert of drug abuse and violence prevention. Researchers discovered that out of 1489 big-name artists famous between 1956 and 2006, 137 or 9.2% of them died young, with 39% of those deaths attributed to drink, drugs or violence. More solo artists died than those who worked in a band – In the US the rate was 23% for soloists versus 10% of band members, and in Europe it was 10% versus 5%. [New York Times]

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Dio fans force action over ignored cancer

Ronnie James Dio fans have helped bring attention to the ignored form of cancer that killed the iconic singer.

Cash raised by the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund was instrumental in forcing the US government into action over gastric cancer, says widow Wendy Dio – and the resulting research could benefit hundreds of thousands of people.

The charity was launched soon after the singer’s death in 2010. Since then, Dio fans have contributed $600,000.

Wendy tells Blairing Out: “We gave the hospital Ronnie was at $117,000 and they put it to gastric cancers. Before that there were no government funds for gastric cancer research.


“With our seed money they were able to go to the government and say, ‘We’ve got funding for this.’ The government gave them a grant of $11 million. That was amazing.”

Wendy says she cried when she heard Dio’s bandmate Tony Iommi had also been diagnosed with cancer. She says: “We didn’t talk about it – he lives in England, I live here. But I sent him lots of encouragement, letters and things.”

Meanwhile, Sharon Osbourne has revealed she underwent a double mastectomy after her own cancer scare.

She’d fought colon cancer several years ago, and recently discovered she was carrying a gene which increased her chances of contracting the disease in her breasts. She made the decision to have them removed.

The wife and manager of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy tells Hello: “As soon as I found out I had the gene I thought, ‘The odds are not in my favour.’

“I’ve had cancer before and I didn’t want to live under that cloud. I decided to just take everything off. For me it was a no-brainer. I don’t even think of my breasts in a nostalgic way – I just wanted to be able to live my life without that fear all the time.”

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Acts Booked For Ozzfest 2013

Black Sabbath and Slipknot confirmed to appear.

Black Sabbath and Slipknot are the first two acts to confirm their presence at Ozzfest Japan 2013.

Slipknot will be performing on the 11 May, while Black Sabbath will headline the event's second day, on the 12th.

Black Sabbath have recently announced dates in Australia, with rumours of UK dates to be confirmed in the near future.

However, Sabbath fans can rejoice with the certainty that the band's upcoming album - their first since 1978 - will be released in April 2013. The band are currently in the studio working with Rick Rubin.

source: planetrock.com

Sabbath don’t have guts for problems

Former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin believes the band don’t have the guts to face up to internal disputes.

He’s revealed the first time he knew about Tony Iommi’s criticisms of his near ten-year stint with the metal pioneers was when he was told about comments the guitarist made in his book.

But he remains proud of his time as replacement for Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio – and remembers how his 1987 audition came as a surprise to him.
In his biography Iron Man, Iommi slates Martin for being “unprofessional” and having “no stage presence.”
The singer tells Uber Rock: “They never said anything to me. We could have fixed it. I said to them endlessly that if there was anything they wanted changed, done differently, just to say – and we could fix it.
“They didn’t. They hadn’t got the guts to, obviously.
“Surely if you’ve got a problem, the first person you should say something to is the person in the band? You don’t wait ten years. To write it in a book afterwards seems a bit daft.
“It sounds like a really stupid thing to say as they didn’t say anything to my face. More fool them for not saying anything. We could have fixed it.”
Returned frontman Osbourne recently admitted that none of Black Sabbath had personally spoken to drummer Bill Ward about the contractual issues that led him to refuse a role in their reunion and new album. Martin has said he thinks the disagreement could be a publicity stunt.
Meanwhile, he isn’t bitter about his time with the band – and still remembers how he landed the role.
“My manager at the time was their tour manager during the seventies,” he recalls. “He gave me a call one day and said, ‘Oi, kid, I want you to meet me, we’re going to talk and drive.’
“We drove for a while and ended up at this big house. He rang the doorbell – and Iommi answered the door. I was like, ‘Bloody hell, you could have warned me!’
“But in I went, nervous as hell, played him a few things and next thing I had an audition in London. That was it. I was in.”

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Newsbites: Dio planned retirement call

Ronnie James Dio would have decided whether to retire yesterday had he not died of cancer in 2010, says bandmate Geezer Butler. Speaking on what would have been the singer’s 70th birthday, the bassist said: “Ronnie should have been celebrating and probably would have been if he’d had his health checked regularly. I once asked him if he’s ever thought about retiring. He said he would make that decision on his 70th birthday. That is why today is so poignant. I think I know what his decision would have been.”

The new Thin Lizzy album will not follow Phil Lynott’s last music footsteps, says guitarist Damon Johnson. He reports: “Towards the original end they made Thunder and Lightning. That album was so heavy – it seemed Phil wanted to go down a heavy metal route for a while. That’s not what the new album will be. There are some big, fat classic riffs. We all know it’s going to be under the microscope. We know there will be pundits who criticise it, but pundits aren’t necessarily fans.” Of frontman Ricky Warwick Johnson says: “The guy is a class songwriter, and that’s what Scott Gorham and Brian Downey needed to make another Thin Lizzy record.” [Gibson]

Troubled comedy actor Charlie Sheen made fun of Guns n’Roses frontman Axl Rose when he unveiled guitarist Slash’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday. Sheen said: “It’s quite fitting the Slash is getting a star on the very street Axl will one day be sleeping on. This star is going to be stepped on more than the coke we did in the eighties.” [Rolling Stone]

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith is considering the release of an instrumental album he recorded a few years ago. Smith says: “It’s still in the can, as they say, but that was interesting. A lot of fun to do. I like so many different types of music. I’m probably going to do something with it in the future.” [BraveWords]

Green Day will launch two documentaries to coincide with their upcoming three-part album releases. The first movie covers the making of discs Uno, Dos and Tre, which appear in September, November and January respectively. The second film features the band’s early days. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong says: “It’s not going to be the sitting down, headshot of going, ‘We started out blah blah blah.’ We wanted to get into lifestyles of rock’n'roll, and letting the story tell itself rather than be revisionist.”

Serj Tankian doesn’t believe some of the anti-consumerist material on new solo album Harakiri was created on his iPad. “If you’re looking for irony you can find it anywhere,” he says. “Utilising an iPad to write a song is no different from using acoustic guitar or piano. As a songwriter you always want to change and progress. While I’m not endorsing the Apple corporation in any way, it is a useful tool. Consumerism is part of our life – there’s blind consumerism and then there’s consumer awareness. They are very different things.” [Noisecreep]

Stone Gossard’s attitude to Pearl Jam‘s live setlists has changed over the years. The guitarist explains: “When we started out I wold have been one of those people that thought, ‘Let’s just play the hits – why play anything other?’ But as you get more songs we work them in. It’s given us so much more room because the fans now expect something different each night. Even if you fuck something up, the fact that you’re trying songs you haven’t played before… it’s good to have that challenge.” [MusicRadar]

Radiohead paid tribute to tragic drum tech Scott Johnson, who died when the band’s stage collapsed in Canada last month. At the end of their concert in Nimes, the first since the accident which is still under investigation, they performed their track Reckoner as a third encore. Frontman Thom Yorke dedicated it to “our friend Scott” and a picture of Johnson was displayed on video screens.

Courtney Love‘s former assistant Jessica LaBrie has filed a lawsuit against the Hole singer in Los Angeles. The PA says Love tried to make her forge legal documents and hire a computer hacker, then withheld wages because she refused to “commit fraudulent, unlawful and unethical acts”. LaBrie says she had to quit after 13 months because she was not receiving her salary. [TMZ]

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Ozzy Osbourne: Black Sabbath Have Written 15 New Songs

Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that Black Sabbath have written 15 new songs, NME reports. Speaking to the magazine, the frontman revealed the band has been working hard since reuniting last year, though he's not sure if all the new songs will appear on an upcoming album. Osbourne also dropped a hint on a possible title, saying, "Next year, 2013, is a good clue of what we'll call the album."

Black Sabbath will close the U.K.'s Download Festival on June 10th, a rare date featuring Osbourne, Geezer Butler and guitarist Tommy Iommi, who is being treated for lymphoma. Original drummer Bill Ward has withdrawn from the reunion shows, citing contractual disagreements. The full video interview with Black Sabbath is available here.

source: rollingstone.com

Black Sabbath's Bill Ward Officially Pulls Out of Reunion Gigs

Bad news for Black Sabbath fans: Bill Ward will not be playing drums at any of the group's three gigs scheduled this year. In a long message posted on his website, Ward explained that he was simply not able to come to terms with his bandmates. The metal pioneers are playing their first show since 2005 this Saturday evening at their hometown of Birmingham, England – and Ward claims that he first learned of the gig through an ad on the Internet.

The original Sabbath lineup announced last November that they would reunite for a tour and their first album since 1978's Never Say Die! Less than two months later, guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma, prompting Sabbath to cancel the vast majority of their summer tour. Weeks later, Bill Ward announced via a Facebook that he would not participate in the group's reunion until he was presented with a "signable contract." The group vowed to carry on without him and had recently announced a headlining gig at Lollapalooza, as well as a warm-up show in Birmingham this Saturday.

In his new letter, Ward says that the group asked him to play drums on three songs during their set at the Download Festival in June, an offer that he refused. On May 9th, Ward says, Sabbath asked him to play this Saturday's gig for free without any guarantee that he'd get to perform at the other shows, which he ultimately turned down.

Here is the complete text of Ward's letter:

Dear Sabbath Fans and Fellow Musicians,

I sincerely regret to inform you that after a final effort to participate in the upcoming Sabbath shows a failure to agree has continued. At this time I have to inform you that I won't be playing with Black Sabbath at the Birmingham gig dated May 19th, 2012, nor will I be playing at Download on June 10th, 2012. Further, I will not be playing at Lollapalooza on August 3, 2012.

It is with a very sad heart that I bring you this news. I am sincerely passionate in my desire to play with the band, and I'm very, very sorry that it's fallen to this. This statement is even more painstaking to write, as I was particularly excited to play alongside Tony Iommi after the recent treatments he underwent. I wanted that to become a reality.

To express my thoughts about you, the Sabbath fans, I'm going to speak to you all through an experience my brother James had recently. My brother Jimmy lives in the U.K. When speaking with him a couple of days ago, he told me that an acquaintance had stopped him on the street and confronted him, "is your brother playing Birmingham? What's going on? I waited in line with my son and paid x amount for the concert tickets."

The man's son is a young drummer. He's going to see Sabbath, and he wants to see Bill Ward play drums. Upon hearing this news, I felt horrible. I couldn't help feeling some resentment towards the failure to reach an agreement, the failure to remember where we came from, the failure to be as brothers, as we once were. To be clear, I'm not blaming the other guys or finding any faults with them. I would think it can't be easy for them either, but this situation is just really sad. It's sad that it's come to this. "This" will surely leave a mark and be unwelcome to the memory. Hopefully "this" will heal and pass in time.

My heart sank when Jimmy told me about this young boy. I know this boy is going to be disappointed, and I don't know how to amend it, other than to put my arms around the boy and tell him I love him. Sabbath fans have a voice and a face, to me you're human, you have families and despair. You have ferocity and emotions and graciousness, and at this moment as far as I'm concerned you are also that young boy in England. I don't know how to amend my part in these failings other than to put my arms around you and say I love you and let you know I'm very, very sorry.

Throughout this process, which began over a year ago, I have had to stand up for myself time and time again. I have had to stand up for myself and in doing so realize my actions indirectly, although unintentionally, are upsetting and hurting a lot of you. I know in my heart I couldn't have done these concerts by agreeing the terms suggested. I made a solemn vow after the last European and Ozzfest concerts that I would never again enter into what was, in my opinion, a totally unsatisfactory contract. I have to stand for something, and as painful as it is, I'm doing it.

Earlier in April 2012, I'd been asked to participate "minimally" in the Download festival. I believe I'd been offered no more than three songs to play while another drummer presumably played the rest of the show with Black Sabbath. I was not willing to participate in that offer. I was not prepared to watch another drummer play a Sabbath set, while I was to play only three songs.

I found out about the Birmingham gig on Monday, April 30 through the Internet ad. I was taken aback somewhat by the date, and the fact it was Birmingham. Knowing the "signable" contract negotiations were at best in shreds, I was upset by the idea that the band was going to play Birmingham and play it assumedly without me. I had no prior knowledge of the date and location, and I felt totally excluded. We contacted the representative for Black Sabbath to see if something could be worked out. In the meantime my drum crew and I, along with our US endorsers, finished all the necessary planning for a swift departure to the UK. There wasn't a whole lot to complete; we'd all been on standby more or less since mid-January 2012. The remaining work in the UK was confirmed done by our European and UK endorsers and we were good to go by Friday, May 4 2012. There were two stress points: firstly, getting an agreement in place, and secondly, getting to England in a timely manner. Jetlag time was taken into account as well as drum practice, a drum practice room in the heart of Birmingham, accommodation, and travel arrangements were all in place to meet with any band rehearsals that may have transpired before the Birmingham show. So far everything that had been arranged was on my dime, but we didn't move ahead without a realistic confirmation.

Communications between the representative and my lawyer continued through the weekend of May 5 finalizing on Wednesday, May 9. The offer we received on May 9 was, "come to the UK, play for free and see how the first show goes." I was tempted. Playing for free would not have been a problem for me, but "seeing how the first show goes" left an element of risk which could have affected Download. My ideal thought was to play in full the Birmingham show, in full Download, and in full Lollapalooza.

I had notified the representative that May 10 was my cutoff day in order to have good lead-in time for England. On the night of May 9 I asked for a brief letter to be sent to the representative asking to find out if we were at an end. On the morning of Thursday, May 10, I received a reply in the affirmative. After consulting with my advisors and crew a decision was made to let go and stop.

I can't prioritize the Sabbath fans making one show more important than the other. I can't do that. All of you are important. It's all the gigs or none at all. I can't come to Birmingham and "see what happens" knowing there is a risk of not being able to play Download or Lollapalooza. Again, for me, it's all or nothing. I had to say "no" to Birmingham on the principle of wanting to play all the shows. Saying no to Birmingham is very difficult for me. My family grew up in Birmingham. Black Sabbath grew up in Birmingham. It's still my hometown and I resent having to arrive at such a difficult choice.

Although the statement was made that, "the door is always open" for me, as explained above, walking through that door is not always as easy as it sounds. There are many complicated issues and unseen and unspoken agendas on hand. I can assure you, my criteria for a "signable" contract is based in mindful principles, respectability, and acknowledgement of my history within the band.

I hold no malice or resentment towards the other band members. I love them; I'm tolerant of them; I'm frustrated with them, as they may be with me. My fight has never been with them. I'll love them forever. In my opinion, nobody wins this time; the band doesn't win; the fans for an original lineup don't win. Nobody wins, nobody. Even the ones who thought they did. I didn't want to make this decision, but I have to be honest and transparent. This is the statement I didn't want to write; it's the last thing I wanted to do. But, I have written it, and now it can go into the universe.

Since Spring of 2011, I've waited patiently and hopefully for a signable contract, you know the rest. I stand for the boy in the U.K., for the coming drum student, for all the drummers, who write their parts out and get stiffed on the publishing, I stand with the Sabbath fans chanting "Bill Ward" and asking "why?" and I stand with Tony and Geezer and Ozzy.

On a final note, even though I'm at an end with the upcoming announced concerts, I will remain with an open mind and a position of willingness to negotiate "signable" terms with Sabbath's representatives in the future.

Stay strong.

Stay safe.

With all my heart and strength, I love you,

Bill Ward

source: rollingstone.com

Lollapalooza 2012 Lineup: Black Sabbath, Chili Peppers, Jack White

Black Sabbath will headline this year's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, marking their only North American gig of 2012. The band was reportedly tapped to headline Coachella at one point, but had to pull out when Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Even Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell was doubtful that Sabbath would be able to join the fest, which will take place on August 3rd-5th. "Every festival in the world wanted Black Sabbath to perform, but at the time of the announcement they had to back off and cancel all their shows," Farrell tells Rolling Stone from São Paulo, Brasil, where the Jane's Addicition frontman was on hand to debut the South American country's first-ever installment of Lollapalooza last weekend. "It broke my heart, but I just kind of kept a little fire building, a little kindling going to see if possibly we could get Black Sabbath. I didn't have much faith."




With Iommi having recently completed his chemotherapy, Sabbath manager (and frontman Ozzy Osbourne's wife) Sharon Osbourne reached out to Lollapalooza organizers to accept their offer. "They mean so much to me, and they mean so much to music in general, that I kind of feel like I'm dreaming to know that Black Sabbath is actually gonna perform at Lollapalooza," says Farrell.

Joining Sabbath on the Lolla lineup is a cavalcade of color-named bands, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White and the Black Keys. Rounding out the bill are the reunited At the Drive-In, Florence and the Machine, Miike Snow, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Delta Spirit, Metric, Gaslight Anthem, Sigur Rós, the Shins, Kaskade, Bassnectar, J. Cole, Childish Gambino, and another big reunion in the Afghan Whigs. As of now, the Whigs' Lolla gig is their first U.S. reunion show; the band is slated for an already-announced apperance at All Tomorrow's Parties in New Jersey this September. (All other announced gigs are in Europe.)

Last year, dance stormed the Lolla main stage when Deadmau5 headlined opposite Foo Fighters for what became a very rainy Sunday night finale. While there hopefully won't be a repeat of the torrential downpour, dance will again hit the main stage in 2012, as both Justice and Avicii are slated to headline the fest. "I knew that I was playing it; I didn't think I was gonna headline, and then I found out I was headlining," Avicii tells Rolling Stone. "It's a lot of pressure, but I'm really psyched about it and I think it's gonna go down really well."

Farrell says that booking Sabbath, who have been around for more than four decades, and 22-year-old Avicii to headline Lollapalooza is indicative of how all-encompassing the festival that was once the standard bearer for the alternative nation has become.

"What you have is three to four generations – maybe five generations of people, counting Kidsapalooza –that are all going to a place in peace, to experience music and learn to like and understand and love each other," Farrell says. "And this is one place where I can say the generation gap doesn't exist."

source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lollapalooza-2012-lineup-black-sabbath-chili-peppers-jack-white-20120411

Black Sabbath Pledge To Carry on Without Drummer Bill Ward

Black Sabbath have responded to drummer Bill Ward's open letter pledging to leave the band unless he is presented with a "signable contract." In a statement on Facebook, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler indicated they they will carry on with their new album and reunion tour without him. "We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans," they wrote. "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open...We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll...See you at Download!!!"

Tony Iommi was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, causing the band to move their recording sessions from Los Angeles to England, where the guitarist is receiving treatment. They reportedly backed out of a planned headlining slot at Coachella and their European summer tour seemed to be in jeopardy, though the above statement makes it clear they plan on performing at the Download Festival on June 10th.

Black Sabbath toured without Bill Ward when the original line-up reformed in 1997, but he joined up with the group the following year. In 2004 a contract dispute nearly caused him to not participate on that summer's Ozzfest tour, but he eventually wound up signing on. "After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract," Ward wrote in his recent letter. "I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning."

He also addresses the possibility that the group might replace him. "If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans," he wrote. "I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact."

It's unclear who the group plans to bring in to play drums on their new projects, though in the past Faith No More's Mike Bordin and Vinny Appice have played in Black Sabbath when Ward was unavailable.

source: rollingstone.com

Black Sabbath drummer says may pull out of reunion

LONDON - Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has said he will not participate in the British heavy metal band's reunion recordings and tour unless he is offered a "signable" contract.

The statement on his website casts further doubt on the much-hyped return of the veteran rockers, who announced last November that the original line-up were getting back together to write and record their first album in more than 30 years.

They also unveiled plans for a world tour in 2012.

But last month, guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma and, to accommodate his treatment, the band moved from the United States to Birmingham in Britain to continue writing and recording.

The founding members of the heavy metal pioneers were Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Iommi, Geezer Butler on bass guitar and Ward.

"At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour," Ward said on his website.

"However, I am unable to continue unless a 'signable' contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band."

He said he worked with the other Black Sabbath members "in good faith" last year and agreed to appear alongside them at the November press conference in Los Angeles.

"Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another 'unsignable' contract was handed to me."

He said he was keen to play on the new album and tour, and was already packed and ready to leave the United States for Britain to join the band.

Ward described feeling "lousy and lonely", but added that he stood to lose his "rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician" if he signed the contract offered to him.

"If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted."

He also said his motives were not "greed-driven" and that he was not holding out for a big pay day "like some kind of blackmail deal."

Black Sabbath have sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide, and, like other veteran acts with a large fan base, a reunion tour and recording could prove highly lucrative.

The quartet released their last studio album of all original material in 1978 with "Never Say Die".

Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, leading to changing line-ups for several years. The original foursome reunited for a 1998 release and played sporadically together in the early 2000s. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Black Sabbath Guitarist Tony Iommi Diagnosed With Lymphoma

Tony Iommi, guitarist for pioneering British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, the band announced Monday.

In a statement to Fox411.com, a rep for Iommi, 63, said the guitarist was in the early stages of the disease and working with his doctors to establish a treatment plan.

He "remains upbeat" and is "determined to make a full and successful recovery," the statement said. "His bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time.

The news comes just weeks after the original members of Black Sabbath -- Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward -- announced they were reuniting for a new album and tour. The original lineup last recorded an album in 1978.

The band has been writing and recording the album in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin, but will go to the UK to continue working with Iommi, the statement said. The album is still scheduled for release in the fall, but the status of the reunion tour was not immediately known.

source: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/09/black-sabbath-guitarist-tony-iommi-diagnosed-with-lymphoma/