From KNAC.com:

Ozzy Hits Studio - Puts Ozzfest on Hold


Ozzy Osbourne is currently in the studio in Los Angeles, California, co-producing his 10th studio album with Kevin Churko.

The new CD is the rock and roll legend’s follow-up to 2007’s Black Rain which debuted in the Top Ten on the album charts in 11 countries and spawned Ozzy's first ever #1 active rock radio track, "I Don’t Wanna Stop" (which also sat atop the Heritage Rock chart for more than 20 weeks).

The two-time Grammy Award winner has decided that he will not be touring until he has a new album in-stores (currently projected to be Thanksgiving 2009). Thus, Ozzy has decided to put his namesake festival OZZFest on hold this year.

Damn. I was at least hoping for an Ozzfest this year, so I could spend a whole day checking out cool bands in the hot sun. Didn't care about seeing Ozzy, but the rest of the fest would have been pretty sweet. Now that Ozzy Has-Been is hobbling back into the studio to record another dubious album (like anyone really cared about 'Black Rain', in spite of the blurb above), we might as well spend another Ozzy-less summer, unless we had the gas money to head for Texas last year for the ONLY Ozzzzzzzzfest date.

Thanks, Ozzy. Thanks for making it clear that we should go for tons of other killer metal fests this summer. Heck, we should save up some bucks and go to Germany for Wacken. :rock: Anything's possible, except for Ozzy being consistent and making it up to fans who missed Ozzfest last year. :mad: He SAID there would be an Ozzfest this year. Liar.

I can't believe Ozzy is still making music. Good for him. :D

Ozzy should just keep on touring every year, singing the same old songs over and over rather than making new music.

Ozzy should just keep on touring every year, singing the same old songs over and over rather than making new music.
Exactly! Has anyone ever noticed that 'No More Tears' from 1991 was his last good album, right before he "retired", and when he came off retirement, his albums lacked a certain spark? His past several studio albums are rather mediocre. And his voice is over-produced, it amost sounds as if he's gargling with pudding!

He can't hit the high notes anymore. When I saw him with Black Sabbath at Ozzfest 2005, his voice cracked when he sang the high notes toward the end of "Dirty Women", and he threw down his mic and stormed off stage. Fortunately, Tony Iommi (my guitar idol!!) and the rest of the band played beautifully and turned the rest of the song into an excellent extended jam, like on the album. Fortunately, Ozzy returned and finished the rest of the show.

Looking forward to the new Heaven and Hell album this year with Tony, Geezer, Vinnie, and RONNIE JAMES DIO!!! And hopefully a full tour!!! :rock:

Exactly! Has anyone ever noticed that 'No More Tears' from 1991 was his last good album, right before he "retired", and when he came off retirement, his albums lacked a certain spark? His past several studio albums are rather mediocre. And his voice is over-produced, it amost sounds as if he's gargling with pudding!

He can't hit the high notes anymore. When I saw him with Black Sabbath at Ozzfest 2005, his voice cracked when he sang the high notes toward the end of "Dirty Women", and he threw down his mic and stormed off stage. Fortunately, Tony Iommi (my guitar idol!!) and the rest of the band played beautifully and turned the rest of the song into an excellent extended jam, like on the album. Fortunately, Ozzy returned and finished the rest of the show.

Looking forward to the new Heaven and Hell album this year with Tony, Geezer, Vinnie, and RONNIE JAMES DIO!!! And hopefully a full tour!!! :rock:

I was being sarcastic in my original post, but I know what you mean.

I haven't bought a new Ozzy CD since the mid-nineties. I will pick up the new Sabbath (Heaven And Hell) album the day it comes out. I'm glad the reunion went beyond being just a tour. Dio's voice has dropped a bit, but it's still solid.