OZZY OSBOURNE On Writing For Black Rain: "Instead Of Picking Up The Bottle I Just Got Honest..."
April 11, 2007, 17 years ago
Billboard (www.billboard.com) has issued the following report from Christa L. Titus and Jonathan Cohen:
OZZY OSBOURNE's first new studio album since 2001, Black Rain, will arrive May 22nd via Epic. The set was tracked Osbourne's home studio in Los Angeles with his touring band of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Blasko and drummer Mike Bordin. Fans can sample some of the new tunes on Osbourne's website.
The new record is milestone for Osbourne since it's the first in his entire career he recorded sober. "I thought I'd never write again without any stimulation," he admits to Billboard. "But you know what? Instead of picking of the bottle I just got honest and said, "I don't want life to go [to pieces]."
Beyond first single 'I Don't Wanna Stop', Black Rain also includes the songs 'Not Going Away', 'Civilize The Universe', 'Trap Door' and 'Thank God For The Almighty Dollar', a number of which were co-written with Wylde.
Osbourne says, "People say, 'Why do you keep goin' to Zakk?' 'Cause you know what? There ain't no one else like 'em. He comes up with the stuff, plus the fact he's a family member. If he said to me, 'Ozzy, I need you to do this, will you do [it]?' I wouldn't think twice."
Before his headlining his stint on this year's free OZZFest, Osbourne will play international dates beginning May 27th in Moscow. He is also one of the subjects of VH1's "Rock Honors", to be taped May 12th in Las Vegas for a May 24th premiere on the network.
