Sharon Osbourne Hints at Ozzfest Revival

Ozzfest, which has been dormant since 2018, might be revived, according to Sharon Osbourne. She hinted at a potential resurgence on a recent episode of The Osbournes Podcast.

In the episode, Ozzy Osbourne queried his wife Sharon about the festival’s future. He asked, “Not just one [at] the fucking Forum, but a whole Ozzfest?” Sharon responded affirmatively, “Yeah, sure,” she said. “Of course.”

Kelly Osbourne then raised a concern, “But it always comes down to: Are the bands and managers going to be realistic though?”

Sharon acknowledged the benefit of spin-offs and alternative festivals for fans, agreeing with Kelly’s point. She questioned, “Why is it when it comes to us that everybody thinks that we are trillionaires and so that every manager who wants their band on our festival wants one of the fucking trillions they think we’ve got to put on the festival?”

The family reminisced about the early versions of Ozzfest, which featured bands like Pantera, Sepultura, and Soulfly. They emphasized the importance of promoting emerging artists. “It’s always great to have the baby stage,” Sharon stated. “That’s what it’s all about: breaking new bands. That’s why we did it.”

Jack observed that many of the new metal festivals are “basically just Ozzfest.” Sharon concurred, “It’s the same bands just going around and around and around and around,” she said. “But that’s what’s so good, because we started something, people have taken it, and it’s still great for the genre." The latest Ozzfest took place in 2018 at the Forum in Los Angeles, featuring artists like Rob Zombie, Jonathan Davis, Marilyn Manson, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Recently, Ozzy confessed that he might never be able to perform live again due to his ongoing health issues, including a recent spinal surgery that revealed a tumor. In July, he withdrew from his headline slot at the forthcoming Power Trip festival, where he was set to share the stage with Metallica, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses. He managed to perform live twice in 2022, once in Birmingham, England, and once in Los Angeles, but each performance was brief and he had a stand for support if needed. “I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” he told Rolling Stone UK in November. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’”

He added, “I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the fucking point in that? I’m not going up there in a fucking wheelchair. I’ve seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he’s got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn’t do that.”

Check out the Episode:

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Spotted Working on “New Album”

Polly Sampson, the wife of David Gilmour, has been posting pictures on social media showing her husband working on a “new album” in his studio.

The guitarist from Pink Floyd has been dedicating time to work in his recording studio located in Brighton. His wife, who is also a writer and lyricist, has been documenting his recent studio visits and sharing them on her personal Instagram account.

The shared photos show Gilmour collaborating with various artists such as Brian Eno’s brother, pianist Roger Eno, and Guy Pratt, who has collaborated with both Pink Floyd and Gilmour multiple times. Other artists featured in the photos include drummer Adam Betts, who has worked with Pulp and dance acts like Pete Tong, Goldie, and Squarepusher, bassist Tom Herbert, who has performed with Mercury Prize-nominated bands The Invisible and Polar Bear, and producer Charlie Andrew, known for his work with Alt-J, James, Wolf Alice, and London Grammar.

While the exact purpose of Gilmour’s studio sessions remains unclear, the Pink Floyd fansite Neptune Pink Floyd reported that Sampson informed Romanian entertainment website Zile si Nopti that Gilmour is creating an album of original songs. This “new album” would be Gilmour’s first LP since the release of ‘Rattle That Lock’ in 2015. Since then, he has released the standalone single ‘Yes, I Have Ghosts’ in 2020 and revived Pink Floyd with Nick Mason for the charity song ‘Hey, Hey, Rise Up!’ featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk from the Ukrainian band BoomBox.

Gilmour’s most recent live performance took place in 2016 during his six-night stint at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The Last Beatles Song Has Been Released And It’s Pretty F*cking Good

The Beatles have surprised and delighted their fans with the release of Now and Then, a song that features the voice of John Lennon, who died in 1980. The song was created from a demo tape that Lennon recorded in the late 1970s, and was given to the remaining Beatles by Yoko Ono in 1994. The song was unfinished and had technical difficulties, so it was shelved until recently, when artificial intelligence was used to isolate Lennon’s voice from the piano sound. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr then added new vocals, bass, drums, and strings, while keeping George Harrison’s guitar parts from 1995. The result is a bittersweet and poignant finale for the Fab Four’s recording career.

Now and Then is a slow and melancholic ballad, with Lennon singing about his nostalgia for the past and his longing for the future. The lyrics are simple and heartfelt, such as “Now and then I miss you / Now and then I wonder what I’m gonna do / Now and then I think about you / Now and then I know it’s true”. The song has a haunting quality, as Lennon’s voice sounds distant and fragile, while McCartney and Starr harmonize with him in a tender and respectful way. The song also features a slide guitar solo that pays tribute to Harrison, who died in 2001.

The song is not a Beatles classic, nor does it have the same energy and innovation as their earlier works. But it is still a beautiful and touching song that celebrates the bond between the four bandmates, who changed the history of music and culture. It is also a gift to their loyal fans, who have waited for decades to hear their final song. Now and Then is a fitting farewell to the Beatles, who have left us with an amazing legacy of songs that will live on forever.

Check out the new tune:

Celebrating Chuck Berry's Birthday and Carl Sagan's Timeless Tribute, Heard Across the Universe

Chuck Berry, the legendary rock and roll pioneer, celebrated his 60th birthday on October 18, 1986. Among the many tributes and congratulations he received, one stood out for its cosmic significance. It was a letter from Carl Sagan, the renowned astronomer and science communicator, who informed Berry that his music had been sent to the stars.

Sagan was the chairman of a committee that selected the contents of the Voyager Golden Records, two identical phonograph records that were attached to NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts, launched in 1977. The records contain sounds and images that represent the diversity of life and culture on Earth, intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form who may find them. The records are expected to last for at least a billion years, as they travel through interstellar space.

Among the 27 musical selections from different cultures and eras, one song was chosen to represent rock and roll: “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry. Sagan wrote in his letter: “When they tell you your music will live forever, you can usually be sure they’re exaggerating. But Johnny B. Goode is on the Voyager interstellar records attached to NASA’s Voyager spacecraft - now two billion miles from Earth and bound for the stars.

Sagan also expressed his admiration for Berry’s music, which he described as “the music of the human species”.

Berry was touched by Sagan’s letter, and replied: “I was so surprised and honored when I received your letter informing me of what you had done to make my song ‘Johnny B. Goode’ a part of history forever.

Berry’s music has influenced generations of musicians and fans, and has been recognized as one of the greatest achievements of American culture. But perhaps his greatest legacy is that his music has transcended the boundaries of time and space, and has reached out to the unknown wonders of the universe.

Tom Morello Calls for Condemnation of Violence Against Children, Regardless of Identity, After Jamie Lee Curtis Deletes Palestinian Photo

Tom Morello, the guitarist of Rage Against The Machine, has spoken out against the harm inflicted on children in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. He made his statement after actress Jamie Lee Curtis deleted a photo of Palestinian children fleeing from Gaza that she mistakenly thought was from Israel.

Curtis posted the photo on Instagram with the caption “Terror in the skies” and an Israeli flag emoji, expressing her support for Israel after Hamas launched rockets at the country over the weekend. However, the photo was actually taken by a Gaza-based photojournalist, Samar Abu Elouf, who documented the plight of Palestinian families seeking refuge in UNRWA schools inside Gaza City.

The actress faced backlash for her post and deleted it shortly after. Journalist Muhammad Shehada tweeted: “Cognitive Dissonance: Jamie Lee Curtis was deeply moved by this picture ONLY when she thought they were Israeli. As soon as she learned they were Gazan, she lost all feelings for them & deleted the picture. Suddenly, ‘terror from the sky’ became acceptable to her & her likes!”

Morello shared Shehada’s tweet and wrote: “I’d like to make the radical proposal that the harming of children, no matter who they are & no matter who does it, is always wrong and should be condemned.” He also added: “Similarly, WAR CRIMES committed by any person, any organization or any government (yours, mine, friend or foe) must be denounced and the responsible parties held accountable.”

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated in recent days, with both sides launching attacks that have killed and injured thousands of people. According to BBC News, more than 1,200 people have died and 2,900 others have been wounded in Israel since Saturday (October 7), while at least 1,055 people have been killed and another 5,184 have been wounded in Palestine. Sixty percent of the injured in Gaza are children and women.

On Monday (October 9), Israeli music festival goers were killed following a Palestinian rocket attack on Southern Israel. The attack came after Israel bombed several buildings in Gaza, including a high-rise that housed media outlets such as Al Jazeera and The Associated Press.

The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, both Israel and Hamas have rejected the calls and vowed to continue their fight. The United Nations has warned of a humanitarian crisis and a potential war crime in Gaza, where more than two million people live under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.

The 1975’s Matty Healy Defends On-Stage Protest Against Anti-LGBTQ Laws in Malaysia

Matty Healy, the frontman of The 1975, recently defended the band's on-stage protest against Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws, which led to their ban from the country. The incident occurred during their performance at the Good Vibes festival in Kuala Lumpur in July. Healy criticized Malaysia's laws against same-sex relationships and kissed bassist Ross McDonald, a part of their routine act. This led to their set being cut short and the cancellation of the festival by the Malaysian government.

Post the incident, The 1975 faced legal repercussions. Future Sound Asia, the festival organizer, demanded £2 million in damages. Malaysian artists who couldn't perform due to the cancellation filed a class-action lawsuit. Healy was criticized by Malaysian LGBTQ activists and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes for his protest method.

Healy defended his actions during a show in Dallas. He argued that their act wasn't meant to provoke but was a part of their regular stage show. He stated that removing any part of their show would have been an endorsement of Malaysia's bigoted views on LGBTQ people.

Healy highlighted the repressive nature of Malaysia's laws on homosexuality and focused on the liberal outrage against their consistent pro-LGBTQ stage show. He found it puzzling that liberals saw their performance as an insensitive display against Malaysian cultural customs and a performative gesture of allyship. Some even criticized it as a form of colonialism, accusing The 1975 of imposing Western beliefs on the Eastern world.

Healy rejected these arguments, emphasizing that they were invited to perform in Malaysia and had no power to enforce their will on anyone there. He also mentioned various illiberal laws in many U.S. states regarding LGBTQ people and bodily autonomy, arguing that critics would find it appalling if The 1975 were to acquiesce to such laws.

Find the full speech HERE:

https://twitter.com/the1975_thteam/status/1711593407339286829

How British MP Keir Starmer Tried to Prosecute Pete Townshend of The Who Over Child Porn Case

Pete Townshend, the legendary rock star and founder of The Who, faced a legal challenge from the current Labour leader Keir Starmer over his involvement in a child pornography case in 2003. Starmer, who was then a human rights lawyer, represented a group of civil liberties campaigners who wanted Townshend to be prosecuted for accessing a child porn website. Townshend admitted that he had used his credit card to enter the site, but claimed that he was doing research for his autobiography, which dealt with his own childhood abuse. He said that he was trying to expose the evil trade of child exploitation and that he had never downloaded any images. He also said that he had contacted the police and the NSPCC to inform them of his actions.

However, Starmer and his clients argued that Townshend had committed an offence under the Protection of Children Act 1978, which makes it illegal to view or possess indecent images of children. They said that Townshend had no reasonable excuse for accessing the site and that he had contributed to the demand for child porn. They also said that Townshend’s celebrity status should not grant him immunity from the law.

The case was eventually dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, who said that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Townshend had any criminal intent. Townshend was cleared of the charges, but had to register as a sex offender for five years and pay a £5,000 fine. He also agreed to undergo a police caution and a rehabilitation programme. He later said that he regretted his mistake and that he was deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused.

Townshend, who is now 78 years old, recently released his first solo single in nearly 30 years, called “Can’t Outrun The Truth”. The song was written and produced by his partner Rachel Fuller, who is also a musician and composer. The song is a charity single for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a UK organisation that supports young people with cancer. The song features a sleeve artwork by Damien Hirst, the famous British artist known for his controversial works involving animals and skulls. The song is available on streaming platforms and as a limited edition vinyl.

Townshend is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative musicians of all time. He is best known for his work with The Who, one of the most successful and influential rock bands in history. He is also a solo artist, author, composer, and activist. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received several awards and honours for his contributions to music and society.

Man Says “I’m Here!” After Smashing Car Into Police Station With Guns N’ Roses Blaring

Some people like to live on the edge, but one man in New Jersey took it too far when he crashed his car into a police station while blasting the song “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses.

John Hargreaves, a 47-year-old resident of New Jersey, was arrested on September 20, 2023, after he allegedly drove his gold Toyota SUV into the front entrance of the Independence Township Police Department. He then got out of his car, raised his arms in the air, and shouted “I’m here!”.

According to witnesses, Hargreaves was playing the classic rock song by Guns N’ Roses on his car stereo, and seemed to be enjoying himself as he smashed into the building. The song’s lyrics include the lines “Welcome to the jungle / We’ve got fun and games / We got everything you want / Honey, we know the names”.

However, the police officers who were inside the station did not share his enthusiasm. They quickly apprehended him and took him into custody. No one was injured in the incident, but the police station suffered significant damage.

Hargreaves is facing a slew of charges, including terrorism, battery, criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a weapon, harassment, and causing widespread injury or damage. He could face a life sentence in prison if convicted.

This was not the first time that Hargreaves caused trouble with his car. Before crashing into the police station, he also drove his car into the garage door of a home in an attempt to intimidate the owner. The motive for his actions is still unclear.

Hargreaves’ bizarre behavior has baffled many people, who wonder what drove him to such extremes. Some have speculated that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or that he had a mental breakdown. Others have suggested that he was simply a huge fan of Guns N’ Roses, and wanted to pay tribute to them in a dramatic way.

Whatever the reason, Hargreaves has certainly made a lasting impression on the people of Independence Township. He has also given a new meaning to the phrase “rock and roll”.