The Greatest Hits

Monday, December 4, 2023

Ozzy Osbourne Hopes To Play Final Show But Says He's 'Not Going Up There In A F-ing Wheelchair'

Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, who announced his retirement from touring earlier this year, revealed in a recent interview with Rolling Stone UK that he still hopes to perform live again, even as he takes it "one day at a time" due to his ongoing health struggles.

"It's really knocked me about," Osbourne said about a tumor discovered in one of his vertebrae during a fourth spinal surgery. "The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled. I thought I'd be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f-ing rod in my spine. They found a tumor in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It's pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f-ed up."

"I'm taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will," he added. "I'm not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What's the f-ing point in that? I'm not going up there in a f-ing wheelchair. I've seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he's got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn't do that."

Ozzy said that a final performance would give him a chance to say goodbye and express his gratitude to fans.

"For whatever reason, that's my goal to work to. To do those shows. If it's at Ozzfest or somewhere, or even a f-ing gig at the Roundhouse," he says. "If I can't continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, 'Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.' That's what I'm working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I'll die a happy man."

(Photo: Harmony Gerber; CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia)

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Rolling Stones To Release Live Edition Of 'Hackney Diamonds'

Rock legends the Rolling Stones have announced a live edition of their most recent album, Hackney Diamonds.

Hackney Diamonds (Live Edition), which is set to drop on January 19, will feature all seven tracks performed at the recent launch event at Racket in New York City.

The 2CD format release includes debut performances of four tracks from their recent album, including, "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" featuring Lady Gaga, as well as song like "Shattered," "Tumbling Dice," and "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

In addition to the live edition, the band has dropped a lyric video for "Bite My Head Off," showcasing footage from Racket and exclusive studio clips featuring Paul McCartney from the album recording sessions.

Hackney Diamonds dropped on October 20th. The 12-track album was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Metropolis Studios in London, Sanctuary Studios in the Bahamas, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York.

Hackney Diamonds marks the Stones' first collaboration with New York-born producer and musician Andrew Watt.

The album is the band's first studio set of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang.

Rolling Stones also recently announced "The Stones Tour 2024 Hackney Diamonds!" which will will kick off in Houston, Texas, on April 28, and wrap up in Santa Clara, California, on July 17.

(Photo: Raphael Pour-Hashemi; CC BY 2. 0 via Wikimedia)

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Daryl Hall, Jon Batiste To Headline Inaugural Montreux Jazz Festival Miami

Daryl Hall and Jon Batiste have been announced as headliners for the first Montreux Jazz Festival Miami.

The Montreux Jazz Festival, the second-largest annual jazz festival in the world, has been held in Montreux, Switzerland, since 1967.

For the first time, the festival will be held at a U.S. city, taking place March 1-2 at The Hangar in Coconut Grove, Florida.

More details about the rest of the lineup will be announced in January. Tickets are on sale now.

"The Montreux Jazz Festival is a truly magical experience for artists and music lovers of all kinds," Batiste says. "I'm honored to play a part in bringing this experience across the ocean to Miami and challenging the borders of musical genres. It's going to be an unforgettable three days."

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