Search Results for: black sabbath

One man largely symbolizes the divergent fortunes of sister stations MTV and VH1. Can you believe it’s Ozzy Osbourne? MTV has him, and the reality sitcom starring the frazzled heavy-metal legend and his family has become the kind of water-cooler hit that cable executives only dream of. “The Osbournes” has helped MTV build the biggest audience in its history. VH1 doesn’t have him. It doesn’t have much of anything else that people are talking about, and that’s reflected in sinking ratings and management uncertainty over the future. The two Viacom-owned companies are racing in opposite directions. “Things seem to be… Read more »

What would you say if someone told you Linda Perry, the unforgettable voice behind 4 Non Blondes’ 1992 hit “What’s Up?,” has become one of the hottest producers in pop music? Perhaps, in her words, “Hey, what’s goin’ on?” It’s a behind-the-boards comeback, that’s what, and all the one-hit wonders are doing it. Find it hard to believe Perry co-wrote and produced several songs on Pink’s Missundaztood, including the title track? Or that she’s behind upcoming projects from Christina Aguilera (see “Christina Aguilera: Not Your Puppet”), Solange Knowles and Courtney Love? Consider that Deep Blue Something’s Todd and Toby Pipes,… Read more »

“Sort of like a Satan sandwich.” – That’s how singer Ozzy Osbourne, whose life will be brought to the living rooms of MTV fans, described living between neighbors Meatloaf and Pat Boone. But Boone, perhaps surprisingly, wins Osbourne’s “best-neighbor” award. “I was a bit nerdy toward the very name ‘Pat Boone,’” Osbourne told reporters. “But when I got to know him I was so pleasantly surprised. He was such a nice man.” Despite Osbourne’s hard-rocking pedigree, his family is feuding with his current neighbors, who Osbourne says bother them with late-night noise. “This guy thinks he’s some sort of folk… Read more »

The boxes are stacked outside the Beverly Hills home, ready to be carried in. Each is neatly labeled: “pots and pans,” “linens,” “devil heads,” “dead things.” Plainly, Ozzie and Harriet aren’t moving in. This Ozzy is Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal rock star, and his family. Their arrival in the neighborhood heralds a hilarious new MTV series, “The Osbournes,” that premieres 10:30 p.m. EST Tuesday. MTV describes it as television’s first “reality sitcom,” a format that suggested itself naturally because nothing they could invent around the Osbournes would be as funny as their actual lives. Just the idea of the… Read more »

When a “supergroup” finds success, it often leads to rumblings about whether the bandmembers are going to leave their bread-and-butter outfits to focus on their new baby. Especially when the musicians start griping. For example, during recent interviews about their side project Down, Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown have been questioning the longevity of Pantera and confirming that the band is on shore leave. “With the last record, we were kind of like, ‘That’s the best we can f–in’ get it. What are we gonna do now?’ ” Brown said, relaxing in a deluxe hotel suite in… Read more »

If Fu Manchu were hoping to find a few friendly faces when unveiling new material Tuesday night at the Troubadour, the stoner rock outfit was undoubtedly stoked by the warm welcome it found. By the time the band hit the stage at 11 p.m. to kick off its U.S. tour, the club was packed and the crowd was by all indications “into it,” if otherwise meditatively subdued in their devotion. Those in attendance, including former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, were clearly devotees of the Fu, nodding their heads along to the band’s low-end celebrations of surfing, skating, B-movies… Read more »

Sure, touring and making videos with Rob Zombie is cool, and that upcoming reality show about Ozzy and his kin, “The Osbournes,” is sure to be a rib-tickling delight for the entire family. But anyone who wants to experience Ozzy Osbourne at his finest or who’s unfamiliar with his pre-Ozzfest days might want to check out the digitally remastered reissues of four of his most influential discs, which are being released March 26 with previously unavailable tracks. Blizzard of Ozz will include “You Lookin’ at Me Lookin’ at You” and a live recording of “You Said It All,” Diary of… Read more »

Green Day will bring its pop-punk sounds to ESPN’s Winter X Games VI, taking place in Aspen, Colorado next month. The trio will perform January 19, day three of the renowned four-day extreme sports festival. Excerpts from the concert will appear on EXPN 2Day, ESPN’s monthly television series hosted by Tony Hawk and Sal Masekela. Meanwhile, Green Day’s new DVD/VHS video collection International Supervideos! is now in stores. The release is a companion the band’s best-of CD, International Superhits!, which arrived in stores in November. In other ESPN news, the network’s ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards will return to… Read more »

Although the Ozzy Osbourne/ Rob Zombie Merry Mayhem tour has encountered its share of setbacks-including the postponement of 10 shows after Osbourne broke his leg in a bathroom mishap and the recent cancellation of the last two shows due to routing problems-Osbourne continues to be pleased with the proceedings. Fans, he says, are particularly happy that he’s gotten back together with Zakk Wylde, who was his guitarist in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Osbourne said that bringing Wylde back into the band was a reaction to the fans’ expressed wishes. “I listen to my fan base,” he says. “I… Read more »

Hundreds of Ozzy Osbourne fans lined up to pose with the heavy-metal pioneer Tuesday night in Hollywood at the first of five in-store appearances around the country to promote his new album, Down to Earth. “I am doing this for them,” Osbourne said, pointing to screaming fans as he strolled down the red carpet outside Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard. “They’re loyal. It’s like a family.” Nearly 1,000 fans showed up for the event, according to Osbourne’s publicist. During the three hours he was there, most made it into the store to pose with Ozzy and get his autograph on… Read more »