Goldmine correspondent Carol Anne Szel recentyl spoke with metal legend OZZY OSBOURNE about his new album, Scream. An excerpt from the article is available below.

With a band made up of drummer Tommy Clufetos, bassist Blasko, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, and new guitarist, Gus G., Ozzy talks about the change that came with the departure of Zakk Wylde. “It’s not changed that much, apart from the fact that I thought I was beginning to sound like, um … what’s his band called? Zakk’s band. My brain, it just started on the left side. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I started to sound like Black Label Society.”

Ozzy insists that Wylde wasn’t fired. “I don’t want anyone to think for one minute that I fired him. I never fired him. He never left. There was nothing to leave. Because all he was doing was his gig and mine. It kind of got to us crashing into each other. But I had to let go, because it’s me rather than him.”

Osbourne hopes fans give guitarist Gus G. a fair shake. “Just give Gus a chance, ’cause there was a time when Zakk was a new guy. Jake E. Lee was a new guy. Randy Rhoads was a new guy. Give him a chance; just check him out. Don’t expect Zakk, because he ain’t Zakk.”

Gus plays the songs like they were written as they were. “That’s not to say Zakk’s bad. Zakk’s phenomenal; I love him. I’m still very good, very friendly. His band’s doing great. We even went —he and his wife, me and Sharon — out to dinner with him a couple of nights ago.”

With the release set for June 22, Ozzy is headed out on the road to support “Scream,” and, of course, on the summer-long OzzFest tour. “We’re on the road for the next year and a half,” he says. “I mean, with touring, I have a love-hate relationship. I love it when it’s going great, and I don’t like it when I’m not singing as good. I’m not going to do, like, a straight 18 months. I’m going to do like five or six weeks on, a few weeks off. So we’re going to have gaps.”

Life on the road, Ozzy says, is actually pretty boring. “The most exciting part of the day is when we do the gig. When I have these days off … I mean, there’s only so much CNN you can watch. I don’t go out. There’s nothing out there that I want, you know?”

So just what can fans expect from the tour? “I’m trying to do some different songs, but I’m going to sit down with my band and go through the list. I mean, I have such a body of work to choose from, between Sabbath and my own. I mean, it’s amazing how much. I’ve been doing this thing for 42 years now. I’m amazing,” he laughs.

“I don’t smoke anymore. I don’t do drugs anymore. I don’t drink anymore.” he proudly tells me. As for his family, Ozzy insists, “My kids do what they want, you know, as long as it’s not illegal or stupid. But, mind you, we’re all guilty of doing stupid things sometimes.” But, he adds, “My family is really cool. But that can change in a f**kin’ five-second blast.”

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As previously reported, in advance of his new album, Scream - out June 22nd via Epic Records - OZZY OSBOURNE will once again take over the Sunset Strip with two record release events Sunday, June 20th.

That afternoon, the rock icon will host an in-store signing at Amoeba Music on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Later that night, some lucky fans will join Ozzy for a private record release playback and rare club performance down Sunset Blvd. at the House Of Blues.

Ozzy will sign copies of his new Scream CD at Amoeba from 5 -8 PM and the first 600 fans in line who purchase a copy will also receive a free ticket to that night’s 10 PM House of Blues performance. Please note: the in-store signing is limited to the first 800 fans and there are no line-ups prior to 3 PM.

Scream was produced by Ozzy and Kevin Churko, both of whom did the same honors for Ozzy's 2007 worldwide million-selling album, Black Rain. The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recorded most of the album - his first in three years and 10th studio album overall - at his Los Angeles home studio, The Bunker, and co-wrote all the songs, primarily with Churko.

Notably, the album marks the first appearance of Ozzy’s new guitar player, Gus G. Ozzy’s band also features bassist Blasko, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman.

The album has been launched with the red-hot single 'Let Me Hear You Scream', now #8 on Billboard’s “Rock Songs” chart for the country’s top alternative, mainstream rock and Triple A tracks. Look out for the soon-to-debut video for the fist-pumping anthemic song that was lensed by famed director Jonas Akerlund.

Ozzy will embark on an 18-month world tour (dates TBA) in support of Scream, first headlining, with MÖTLEY CRÜE, this summer’s highly anticipated return of OZZFest that kicks off August 14th in Devore, CA. As part of Live Nation’s “No Service Fee June,” all tickets for the six-city OZZFest tour will feature ticket discounts from $20 for a single ticket to up to $35, when purchasing a four-pack. This is part of a month-long massive Live Nation price promotion which will eliminate service fees on nearly 8 million tickets, more than 700 shows and 110 artists.

Classic Rock Revisited has issued a new audio interview with Ozzy. The interview can be heard in two parts below:

Part One

Part 2

Scream, Ozzy's first album in almost three years and tenth studio album overall, is currently streaming in it's entirety at Ozzy's MySpace page.

Scream will be released on June 11th in mainland Europe, June 14th in the UK, June 22nd in North America and June 23rd in Japan via Epic Records.

Scream tracklisting is as follows:

'Let Me Hear You Scream'

'Diggin Me Down'

'Let It Die'

'Soul Sucker'

'Fearless'

'I Want It All'

'Time'

'Crucify'

'I Love You All'

'One More Time' (iTunes pre-order track)

'Jump The Moon' (Japanese bonus track)

In North America, Scream will be available as a standard CD and limited edition CD/t-shirt bundle.