Ozzy Osbourne Working With Billy Idol Guitarists on New Album, Reveals ‘Crack Cocaine’ Song Title
With the final Black Sabbath show ever locked in for Feb. 4 in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne will be looking to continue his career, returning to the solo format. In an interview with SiriusXM's Jose Mangin (audio below), the Prince of Darkness revealed the work on his next solo record has already begun with some interesting collaborations.
"I'm not retiring, I'm gonna carry on," Osbourne began. "I've been writing with Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens [both guitarists for Billy Idol]. [Steve is] not gonna be in my band, he's with Billy Idol. But he's a friend of [Morrison's] and [Morrison] plays with Billy Idol. I said, 'I've got some ideas,' and we worked it out. There's one song that right now is called 'Crack Cocaine'. It's like a bluesy thing."
The singer, who will turn 68 next month, was reluctant to give a timetable for this album's release, adding, "I don't wanna say when [it will be out]. I can't be working the Sabbath thing and my own thing at the same time. I tried that with the Ozzfest; it didn't work."
Back in August of 2015, Epic Records President Sylvia Rhone spoke with Billboard about Osbourne's next solo venture, stating, “It’s going to be a really special album. It’s going to be amazing, it’s something Ozzy has never done before that he’s always wanted to do.” There's no other details as of yet, but perhaps this isn't the last of the outside collaborations that will shape the next Ozzy album.
The sands of time may be running out, however, as Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne has stressed that she would like to see the frontman retire by the time he turns 70. I don’t want Ozzy singing ‘Crazy Train’ at 75. I think it’s best you go out before you hit that 70 and go out on top," she told Rolling Stone.
Ozzy Osbourne on SiriusXM
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