Latest news with #Gunsn'Roses
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne, Godfather of Heavy Metal, Dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the pioneering heavy metal singer who rose to prominence in the early '70s with Black Sabbath before establishing a successful solo career and playing himself on reality TV, died Tuesday. He was 76. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' Osbourne's family confirmed in statement. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.'His death comes just 17 days after he played his final show in Birmingham, England on July 5, reuniting with Black Sabbath and joined by a star-studded roster including Metallica, Guns n' Roses and Steven Tyler, among others. More from The Hollywood Reporter Rose Leiman Goldemberg, Who Wrote 'The Burning Bed,' Starring Farrah Fawcett, Dies at 97 'Squid Game' Stars Byung Hun Lee and Yim Siwan to Make KCON L.A. 2025 Appearances Critic's Notebook: Ozzy Osbourne Created the Template for Reality TV Celebrity Reinvention, From Flavor Flav to Donald Trump Osbourne is known as one of the most influential artists of his generation, an instrumental force in establishing metal music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, then for a second time as a solo artist last year. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide in total and was inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame as both a solo artist and for his work in the band. Born Dec. 3, 1948, in Aston, West Midlands, U.K., Osbourne was the son of a toolmaker father and factory worker mom, with three older sisters and two younger brothers. He had the nickname 'Ozzy' since primary school. As he became a global star, he'd dawn another nickname, 'The Prince of Darkness.' Drawn to the stage in school, he became a huge fan of The Beatles at 14, crediting 'She Loves You' with inspiring him to want to be a musician. He left school at 15 to work construction, as a plumber, car factory horn-tuner and an apprentice tool-maker. He committed a series of petty crimes growing up and spent six weeks in prison after being found guilty of robbing a clothing shop and not paying the fine. In 1967, Geezer Butler formed the group Rare Breed and recruited Osbourne as vocalist before breaking up after two shows. The two reunited in Polka Tulk Blues, along with Mythology guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, renaming themselves Earth, then Black Sabbath in August 1969 after a 1963 Italian-French horror film starring Boris Karloff. The group's approach was dark and gloomy, with Butler's nocturnal vision of a dark figure at the end of his bed inspiring the band's title track. Built around Iommi's thundering guitar, Butler's spooky lyrics, Ward's doomy drum beats and Osbourne's eerie caterwaul, the band's self-titled debut and second album, Paranoid, were both successes. Around this time, Osbourne met his future wife, Sharon Arden, leading to hiring her father, Don Arden, as their manager. Master of Reality was released in July 1971 and is widely regarded as providing the foundation of stoner rock and sludge metal. The album went on to sell more than 2 million copies and was the band's only Top 10 U.S. album until 13 in 2013. Osbourne was plagued by drug and alcohol abuse, including a failed marriage to Thelma Riley, which produced a daughter, Jessica, and son, Louis. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath followed in November 1973 and was dubbed by Rolling Stone 'an extraordinarily gripping affair … nothing less than a complete success.' Sabotage came out in July 1975, with Technical Ecstasy released in September 1976, as the positive reviews were replaced by criticism that the band was 'unravelling at an alarming rate,' noted. Osbourne left the band in 1979 to launch a solo project, Blizzard of Ozz, but he rejoined Sabbath after three months to write and record 'Never Say Die.' The subsequent tour did little to inspire, with his last appearance in that Sabbath era taking place Dec. 11, 1978, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When they re-entered the studio, Osbourne's vocals were continually tweaked by Iommi, and he was eventually fired from Black Sabbath in April 1979, replaced by Rainbow's Ronnie James Dio. Signed to Don Arden's Jet Records, Osbourne began to be looked after by Arden's daughter Sharon in Los Angeles, where the two were married on July 4, 1982. The new incarnation of Blizzard of Ozz included Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake, Rainbow bassist/lyricist Bob Daisley and keyboardist Don Airey and Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads. Their self-titled debut turned into a multiplatinum success. Osbourne's second album, Diary of a Madman, established Rhoads as a full-fledged star in his own right, with singles like 'Over the Mountain' and 'Flying High Again.' Eventually, drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Rudy Sarzo replaced Kerslake and Daisley. Rhoads died in an airplane accident in March 1982 while performing low passes over the band's tour bus, also killing the pilot (the band's tour bus driver, Andrew Aycock) and costume/makeup designer Rachel Youngblood. When the tour resumed, Bernie Torme replaced Rhoads and in turn was replaced by Night Ranger's Brad Gillis, culminating in the 1982 live album, Speak of the Devil. In 1983, new guitarist Jake E. Lee, who had played with Ratt and Rough Cutt, joined for Bark at the Moon, with the title track proving a fan favorite and helping the album go gold, eventually selling more than 3 million copies in the U.S. The Ultimate Sin followed in 1986, another double-platinum success. Jake E. Lee was out of the band in 1987 as Osbourne continued to struggle with addiction, making a cameo appearance in The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. He discovered yet another star guitarist in Zakk Wylde for the album, No Rest for the Wicked, with a subsequent tour that saw Ozzy reunited with bassist Geezer Butler. In 1988, Osbourne performed a duet with Lita Ford on 'Close My Eyes Forever,' which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Osbourne maintained his commercial success into the '90s with albums like 1991's No More Tears, which established him as a presence on MTV with songs like 'Mama, I'm Coming Home.' He received a Grammy Award for best metal performance for 'I Don't Want to Change The World,' a track from 1993's Live & Loud, which went four times platinum and was Top 10 on that year's Billboard Rock chart. Osbourne released Ozzmosis in 1995 and returned to the road on 'The Retirement Sucks Tour.' The album went to No. 4 on the Billboard 200, going double platinum, with tracks like 'Perry Mason,' 'Ghost Behind My Eyes,' 'Thunder Underground' and the power ballad 'See You on the Other Side' and a lineup that included Wylde, Butler, Steve Vai and drummer Deen Castronovo, with Yes' Rick Wakeman and producer Michael Beinhorn on keyboards. During this period, Ozzy and Sharon launched Ozzfest in October 1996 in Phoenix, a festival that spotlighted classic and newer heavy metal bands and went on to gross more than $100 million. It also spawned the 2005 MTV competition reality show Battle for Ozzfest, which followed the success of The Osbournes, the reality TV show that took viewers behind the scenes into the everyday life of Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack, turning them all into household names during its 2002-05 run. Ozzy's 2001 solo album, Down to Earth, also went platinum and featured the Billboard Top 10 Mainstream Rock hit 'Dreamer.' In January 2003, the entire Osbourne family hosted the 30th annual American Music Awards. In December 2003, Ozzy was seriously injured after an accident with his all-terrain vehicle broke his collarbone, eight ribs and a neck vertebra. While recovering, he scored his first U.K. No. 1 single, a duet of the Black Sabbath ballad 'Changes' with daughter Kelly. 'Black Rain' was released in May 2007, followed by 'Scream' in April 2010 and the 2014 CD/DVD compilation, Memoirs of a Madman, which celebrated his solo career. He published his autobiography, I Am Ozzy, in 2009, which debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times best-seller list. A documentary about Ozzy's life and career, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011 and was released on DVD, produced by his son Jack. In 2011, at the West Hollywood club Whisky a Go Go, a Black Sabbath reunion was announced with the original lineup, though Rage Against the Machine's Brad Wilk stepped in for Bill Ward on drums after a contract dispute. The band played at the 02 Academy in their hometown of Birmingham in May 2012 and in June 2013, they released 13, produced by Rick Rubin, which debuted at No. 1 on both the U.K. and Billboard 200 album charts. Osbourne and Sabbath had one last legendary show this month, the Back to the Beginning Concert in Birmingham. There, the Prince of Darkness sat on a throne one final time, singing on hits like 'Crazy Train,' 'Iron Man' and 'Mama, I'm Coming Home.' Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, their daughters Aimee and Kelly, and son Jack as well as a biological son, Louis John, an adopted son Elliot Kingsley and daughter Jessica Starshine, from his first marriage to Riley. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A surprise from ‘demon of screamin' Steven Tyler, plus James Taylor's Tanglewood guests
An estimated 40,000 metalheads were on hand to watch the original lineup of Black Sabbath — singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist (and lyricist) Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward, and guitarist Tony Iommi — do their thing, as only they can do it, one final time. (Osbourne, 76, is in failing health.) The band performed four songs: ' Advertisement A seeming cast of thousands took the stage throughout the day, including Axl Rose and Slash of Guns n' Roses, the entirety of Metallica; Tool singer Maynard James Keenan and drummer Danny Carey; Smashing Pumpkins frontman Bill Corgan; Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker; Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid; Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt; Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and Sammy Hagar. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Tyler performed three songs, beginning with 'Train Kept A-Rollin',' which featured Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones on guitar. He then led the band through Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way' before closing the set with the Led Zeppelin classic 'Whole Lotta Love.' Tyler's voice held up for three songs, but it's hard to imagine he could sustain such a howl for a full show. Related : Advertisement Closer to home, meanwhile, the creative team that's working on a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts, who's writing the musical — to be titled 'Fire and Rain' — attended the show with his wife, the 'White Lotus' actress Carrie Coon, and also Tony Award-winning director David Cromer, who's set to direct the JT musical. (It was Letts's 60th birthday.) From left: "White Lotus" actress Carrie Coon, playwright Tracy Letts ("August: Osage County"), Kim and James Taylor and Broadway director David Cromer ("Goodnight and Good Luck") Kathleen Drohan The musical is bound for Broadway, but it's not clear when. The 77-year-old Taylor, who lives in the Berkshires, wrote ' Related : Mark Shanahan can be reached at
Time Out
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Guns n Roses at London's Wembley Stadium 2025: timings, set list, last-minute tickets and everything you need to know
This year's stadium gig season in London is now in full swing. Following the likes of Sam Fender, Dua Lipa and Beyoncé in playing the capital's biggest venues are legendary American rockers Guns n 'Roses, who're stopping by Wembley this week. Axl Rose, Slash and the band are bringing their 'Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things' tour to northwest London on Thursday (June 26). The tour began in South Korea in May and will see the band play dates in Europe and South America before it wraps up in Mexico in November. Heading down to see immortal rock hits like 'Sweet Child o' Mine', 'Paradise City' and 'November Rain' performed live at Wembley this week? Here's everything you need to know about Guns n' Roses' London show, from timings to remaining ticket availability. When are Guns n' Roses playing London's Wembley Stadium? Axl Rose, Slash and co are in northwest London on Thursday June 26 2025. What time will Guns n' Roses come on stage? The band haven't announced exactly when they'll come on stage. However, judging from previous tour stops we'd expect them to kick things off between 7.30pm and 8pm. Doors open at 4pm, though those with 'ultimate', 'premium early entry' or 'early entry' packages must sign in between 1pm and 3.30pm. Are there any tickets left? At time of writing, tickets are still available for GNR at Wembley, with both general sale and resale options. How much do tickets cost? You can currently get general sale from £78.65, and resale from £63 – find tickets on Ticketmaster here. What's the full setlist? For an idea of what GNR will play at Wembley, this was the setlist at Villa Park earlier in the week (according to Welcome to the Jungle Bad Obsession Brownstone Live and Let Die (Wings cover) Chinese Democracy Pretty Tied Up Out ta Get Me Slither (Velvet Revolver cover) Absurd Estranged You Could Be Mine Coma Hard Skool Reckless Life Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover) Double Talkin' Jive Civil War I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges cover) Catcher in the Rye Slash Guitar Solo Sweet Child o' Mine It's So Easy Perhaps November Rain Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover) Patience Rocket Queen Better Down on the Farm (UK Subs cover) Nightrain Paradise City Who will be supporting Guns n' Roses in London? Support comes from US rockers Rival Sons, who'll take to the stage at 5.30pm. Weather forecast According to the Met Office, while it will likely be a bit rainy in the day on Thursday, that rain will have subsided by the evening. Temperatures will range from 18C to 23C, with wind gusts of up to 32mph in the afternoon. Are there any banned items? Each person can only bring in one bag, and it must be smaller than A4 size. These items are banned: Wallet chains and jean chains Weapons of any sort Recording equipment (sound or video) Professional or semi-professional (4K/8K) cameras Bottles, cans or glass containers Fireworks Alcohol Laser pens and pointers Go Pro cameras, selfie sticks, iPads and tablets Drones Banners, posters and signs bigger A3 in size Metal bottles Find a full list of prohibited items at Wembley here. Those with standing tickets are not permitted to bring a bottle of any kind, though all other ticketholders can bring in empty plastic, crushable bottles under 500ml.
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Bear McCreary talks Slash, squeezeboxes, and ‘The Singularity'
But when he was writing his rock concept album, 'The Singularity,' in 2023, he said, he knew he'd want to perform his own music live. 'I looked in the mirror and thought – am I going to be Keyboard Guy at my own rock show?' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In the end, he had been studying guitar for less than a year when he played onstage beside his teenage musical idol, Guns n' Roses guitarist 'To this day, I would struggle to play 'Let it Be' on an acoustic guitar, but I can play my own rock riffs!' he said gleefully. 'I'm just always trying to learn new things.' As McCreary prepared to embark on the American leg of his 'Themes and Variations' tour with a seven-piece band, he spoke with the Globe about the musical friendships he's nurtured, reconnecting with his Armenian roots, and teaching himself the accordion at age 19. Advertisement Q. On the Themes and Variations tour, what repertoire are you prioritizing to play live? A. Each of these people has played with me for years. Lead singer and acoustic guitar Brendan McCreary is my brother. I've been making music with him my entire life. Paul Cartwright, my violinist, played on the first episode of 'Battlestar Galactica'; he's played on every episode of 'Outlander' and 'Rings of Power;' he's integral to my sound. I'm bringing Gene Hoglan, who was the drummer on 'The Singularity.' Everybody has that kind of personal connection to me. So the repertoire is a mixture of some songs from 'The Singularity' with themes from my scoring career, reconfigured a little to translate to this rock ensemble. Many of my scores make that leap easily. Like, when we play the theme from 'The Walking Dead,' you're gonna hear Paul on violin playing that main title piece just like on the original recording, but then as it evolves we get to bring the band in and supercharge it. Being able to bring these melodies into an environment where you get to see those of us that actually created it on stage; there's something really special about that for me. It's epic and emotional, and potentially loud. Bring some earplugs. It's a rock show. Q. You mentioned you're part Armenian; did you know the Boston area has a huge Armenian community? A. As does Glendale, out here. When I first moved to southern California, I was walking around seeing women that looked like my grandmother, and I was surprised because I didn't know much about my Armenian heritage growing up in Bellingham, Washington. My great-grandmother, who escaped the genocide and came through Ellis Island with her babe in arms, had a very common experience to some Armenians. They really wanted to create new roots, so they didn't raise their children speaking Armenian. They wanted to be American. Advertisement It was through Armenian musician circles [in L.A.] that I met Serj Tankian [from hard rock band System of a Down], and my brother and I have become very close with him. I haven't yet returned to Armenia, but that's on the horizon. I've been working on a theater piece about my family's journey for the last 20 years, and it will be something I get to one of these days because it's a harrowing, incredible story. When social movements take hold that try to oppress people, one great way to [further those movements] is to make sure that movies and games and shows don't feature oppressed people. So I'm always on the lookout. I like being part of stories that I think are important. Q. What are you working on that tells those kinds of 'important stories?' A. This is going to sound silly, but when I started working on 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' and there was a Black elf and a Black dwarf, I was like, 'People will see there's a diversity of people in Middle Earth.' I think that's cool. I also don't think it's a big deal – like, we're talking about fantasy! But I knew there'd be treatises online about why [having Black characters] is impossible. Advertisement To which I'm like – that's a silly thing to get mad about, but I was proud of everybody on the show, and those actors are phenomenal. The show's doing well, and I have felt I'm able to do my part when they come on screen. They're heroes; I'm going to give them a hero's fanfare. I am making it contextually clear who this character is to the audience. Q. What made you decide to learn the accordion? A. I took piano lessons when I was a kid; in high school, I loved getting my friends together and playing in bands. I hated being stuck behind the keyboard. I hated it! But I didn't play guitar. So the accordion…you can see where I'm going with this. I can move around! It's funny, because I got the accordion when I was 19, and I was down in the basement of my dorm in college practicing and learning it. People would come downstairs because they were annoyed, because it was echoing through the cement halls, but they'd be standing there. My hair wasn't as long as it was now, but I'd be thrashing my head around, and when I was done they'd say – often – 'you look like Slash!' And of course, I loved Slash's playing. I played accordion like I wanted to be Slash, which is funny because now I work with him. Q. Have you told him that story? A. You know what, I haven't. I should admit it. Maybe he'll read it in this article. Interview has been condensed and edited. BEAR MCCREARY May 23, 8 p.m. Somerville Theatre. Advertisement A.Z. Madonna can be reached at
FACT
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Limp Bizkit set to rock Abu Dhabi this summer
The band is finally bringing its neck-breaking anthems to the capital. Abu Dhabi is stepping up its game this year. With a lineup of concerts that already includes Guns n' Roses, Enrique Iglesias, Toto, and Jennifer Lopez, the capital is all set to rock like never before. And now, adding even more fire to this list is Limp Bizkit. Taking place on Tuesday, 12 August, Limp Bizkit will take over Etihad Arena on Yas Island for what's sure to be a head-banging concert. Expect a show packed with nostalgic anthems that are guaranteed to strain your neck muscles. For those unversed, Limp Bizkit was formed in the mid-90s and exploded onto the music scene with its signature blend of rap and rock. Hailing from Florida, America, the band is fronted by Fred Durst and quickly gained massive popularity with tracks like Break Stuff, Rollin', My Way, and the popular cover of Faith by George Michael. Their album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water sold over a million copies in its first week alone, cementing their place in the Music Hall of Fame. Throughout their career, they've snagged multiple awards and toured the world, wowing fans for years, and now they're making their way to the UAE. Limp Bizkit was originally slated to perform in Dubai back in 2008, but the show never materialized — leaving fans disappointed and craving a chance to see them live. Fast forward to 2025, and the wait is finally over. The band is making a return, and this time, Etihad Arena will be the spot for all the action. So if you're a fan, stretch your neck, crack your back and keep your chiropractor appointments booked. Presale tickets for Limp Bizkit go live on Thursday, 24 April at 12pm, whereas general sales kick off on Friday, 25 April at 12pm. But you'll want to be quick because this one's going to be a sell-out. GO: Visit for more information.
