After examining information supplied by PETA showing that chimpanzees and other great apes used in advertising are removed from their mothers as infants and routinely abused in behind-the-scenes training sessions, telecommunications giant Samsung has withdrawn a television commercial that showed OZZY OSBOURNE watching a chimpanzee "rock star" on a smartphone.

Great apes used in advertisements are typically taken from their mothers not long after birth and forced to live in substandard conditions. Trainers have been caught routinely beating, kicking, punching, and electro-shocking the young animals to force them into submission and to ensure that they will "perform" tricks. These tricks, which are confusing and often uncomfortable to them, require the animals to suppress all their natural behaviors.

"PETA applauds Samsung's decision to distance itself from cruelty to apes who are used and abused in entertainment," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

Samsung joins a growing roster of businesses that have pulled the plug on existing ads using great apes or that have pledged not to include the animals in any future advertising. These include Arnold Worldwide, Harris Teeter, Subaru, Honda, Keds, PUMA, Yahoo!, SEGA, Levi Strauss & Co., the Ad Council, and Gap Inc.

As previously reported, Ozzy will be opening and closing the second annual Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF), set for September 10th, 11th and 12th. The three-day festival will kick off when Ozzy is honored at a tribute event Thursday, September 10th at the House of Blues and then Ozzy will perform the festival’s final set Saturday, September 12th. That’s when, for the first time ever, The Sunset Strip (between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Blvd.) will be closed to host two concert stages.

Ozzy’s appearance will mark his first full performance on The Sunset Strip in almost 40 years and his first ever as a solo artist. Back in 1970, BLACK SABBATH performed a five-night stand (November 11th - 15th) at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go as part of their first US tour.

Ozzy Osbourne spoke with the Los Angeles Times about those early days on the Strip. "It was like a different world. I remember seeing hippies on every corner, just trying to catch the vibes. For us English guys, it was like landing in some beautiful paradise. It was the start of my love for L.A."

Osbourne is currently finishing a new album in his home studio. "It's still heavy but it's not all dark. At this stage, I can experiment." He isn't sure what he'll play Saturday night but he insists there won't be any Sabbath.