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Ozzy on the move

From page 7 of Classic Rock Magazine July 2003

Cover of July 2003 issue.

UK shows, and he and Kelly quit Sony Records.

OZZY OSBOURNE HAS ANNOUNCED two indoor UK dates. The shows at London’s Wembley Arena on September 5 and the NEC in Birmingham two days later will feature his daughter Kelly plus Finnish band HIM and America’s Godsmack. Tickets priced £32.50 are available now via a 24-hour credit card line on 0870 400 0688, or by logging on at www.cclive.co.uk Ozzy explained the decision to play his own dates instead of a full Ozzfest line-up by saying: "When we realised we couldn’t get the best bill possible due to many of the bands having previous commitments, I decided that this would be a great opportunity to bring my full stage show over to rock the UK." Meanwhile, Sharon Osbourne has called her husband’s departure from Epic/Sony Records "an opportunity to start afresh". He’d been with the company since 1983’s ‘Bark At The Moon’ album, having launched his solo career on her father Don Arden’s label Jet.

"No one’s done anything wrong," she said. "After all this time you get used to each other; it’s no longer exciting when a new album is turned in. We want that excitement back."

Ozzy and Sharon were unhappy at January’s departure of Sony boss Tommy Mottola, and their decision to leave was also hastened by the label mutually agreeing to part company with Kelly following disappointing sales of her debut album ‘Shut Up’. Kelly has already completed her second album, for which Sharon is seeking a deal as a package with Ozzy. Kelly will still tour with with Robbie Williams this summer, and is also considering movie offers. Mottola’s decision to leave Sony also seems likely to cause Pearl Jam to quit the label, after having been with Epic since 1991’s debut album ‘Ten’.