OZZY: OZZFEST WILL RETURN, ZAKK WYLDE WON'T

In his new interview in Rolling Stone, Ozzy Osbourne says that Ozzfest will return this summer after taking last summer off. He didn't mention if it would be a one-weekend "destination" festival as it was two years ago, or a summer tour, which is what it had been for years before that. He also confirms that Zakk Wylde is no longer in his band, and that he has replaced him with someone named Gus G. I wonder if Mike Bordin is still the drummer, since his band Faith No More has reunited. 

Anyway, I just started reading his book I Am Ozzy, which really shows how hard he had it growing up.  It's amazing that he got to where he is today, given the conditions he grew up in.

TONY IOMMI TO RELEASE HIS MEMOIRS

Ozzy Osbourne's book, I Am Ozzy, comes out in a few days on January 25. Now news comes that Black Sabbath guitarist/founder/boss Tony Iommi will be releasing his memoirs, Iron Man, soon, according to Publisher's Weekly.  Tony with Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice, aka Black Sabbath MK 2, aka Heaven & Hell, have some dates booked for this summer, provided that Dio recovers well from his chemo (which, supposedly, he has been).

Ozzy did an interview in Rolling Stone where he expressed ambivalence about working with Sabbath again (not surprising, given that he and Tony are involved in an ugly lawsuit). I wish that they could get it together.  Actually, I don't care if they never perform again: I have been lucky enough to have seen the classic version of the band a few times. But as a huge fan (and writer of the liner notes on the definitely Sabbath box set, The Black Box), I'd just love to see them end this dumb lawsuit.

"I AM OZZY" DUE JANUARY 25

Ozzy Osbourne is putting out his autobiography, I Am Ozzy, on January 25.  I was surprised to hear that: I interviewed Ozzy a couple of times, including for the Black Sabbath Black Box. He would often matter-of-factly state that he doesn't remember a lot of stuff in detail, and 'nuff said on that. Still, this promises to be a really interesting book.  I remember people freaking out over Motley Crue's book The Dirt, but as I don't care about their music, I didn't read it. I may check this one out. I am curious when the documentary film, Wreckage Of My Past, directed by Jack Osbourne (but which is supposed to be very warts-and-all) will come out.