Ozzy Osbourne
Post Malone is the latest artist to hold the title of Record Store Day Ambassador, the annual event has announced.
Set to take place on April 12, Record Store Day returns for its 18th year in 2025, celebrating close to two decades of supporting physical media, independent artists, and brick-and-mortar record stores. Now, Malone has been announced as the artist who is being honored with the title of 2025’s Record Store Day’s Ambassador.
“What an honor, I can’t believe I was chosen to be Record Store Day’s Ambassador for 2025,” Malone said in a statement. “Record Store Day is so important and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive. We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road, seeing all the crazy artwork, the whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring. I feel at home.
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“It’s really an unexplainable feeling to hit up a shop and dig through crates, just see what grabs your eye. You can be looking for something super specific and end up finding something totally different. It’s the best. Keep supporting y’all and let’s keep records and these local shops going strong. Happy Record Store Day everybody!”
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Malone joins a list of musical luminaries to hold the title, which has been bestowed annually since 2009. Previous years have seen the likes of Jack White, Run the Jewels, Ozzy Osbourne, Brandi Carlile, Metallica, and St. Vincent assume the role. In 2024, Paramore were the U.S. Ambassadors while Kate Bush took on duties for Record Store Day’s U.K. edition.
Traditionally, the Record Store Day Ambassador also partakes in the event by issuing a limited edition release on the day, though the list of exclusive releases for 2025 has not yet been announced. However, considering the success of his F-1 Trillion album in 2024 – which marked his transition to country music and topped the Billboard 200 – it could be speculated any prospective release will be related to his latest record.
“I’m very excited about Ambassador ‘Posty’”, added Record Store Day co-founder Carrie Colliton in a statement. “Musically, he’s all over the place — just like record stores and their customers, especially some of the newest, youngest people to embrace their local brick-and-mortar spaces.”
Black Sabbath may rock together once more if Ozzy Osbourne has his way.
Officially, the pioneering heavy metal outfit have been inactive since 2017, when they completed their aptly-titled The End Tour. However, the band’s lineup at the time – which featured vocalist Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and session drummer Tommy Clufetos – did not include co-founding drummer Bill Ward.
Ward had initially declined to participate in Black Sabbath’s 2012 reunion tour, ultimately threatening to quit the band unless he was presented with a “signable contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band.” The band’s decision to continue without him was a source of regret for Osbourne, who said earlier this year that the “arc of the legend of Black Sabbath” was “unfinished” as a result.
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“If I wanted to do one more gig with Bill, I’d jump at the chance,” Osbourne said on The Madhouse Chronicles podcast in May. “You know what would be cool? If we just went to a club somewhere unannounced and just got up and did it out,” he added. “We started up in a club.”
Now, Butler has joined in the conversation, noting how Osbourne’s desire for a final Black Sabbath show is still as a prominent as ever.
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“Ozzy was talking to me about, when he does his farewell concert – which he still wants to do,” Butler told Lifeminute. “He’s dying to still get out there and play, and he suggested, at his very final concert, for the four of us to get up onstage and maybe do three or four songs together. And that would be it, finished.”
Butler insisted, however, the show would be a one-off, and that the there would be “definitely no more tours” from Black Sabbath.
Though it would be unclear if Ward would take place in such a potential reunion, it likewise remains to be seen when Osbourne’s final performances would take place.
Currently, Osbourne hasn’t performed live since 2022, having cancelled performances due to his ailing health, though wife Sharon confirmed to The Mirror this year he was “planning on doing two more shows to say goodbye”. No further details have been announced as yet.
In a genre-crossing beef we certainly didn’t have on our 2024 bingo card, Britney Spears has issued a scathing response to the Osbourne family after rocker Ozzy Osbourne criticized her dancing videos on social media.
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The “Toxic” singer took to Instagram on July 17 to express her disdain for the famous rock family, calling them “the most boring family known to mankind” and telling them to “kindly f*** off.”
The dispute began during a recent episode of “The Osbournes” podcast, where the Black Sabbath discussed TikTok dances before turning his attention to Spears.
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“I’m fed up of seeing poor old Britney Spears on YouTube,” he said. “Every f–king day. It’s sad, very, very sad.” His daughter Kelly echoed his sentiments, saying she felt “sorry” for Spears, while matriarch Sharon Osbourne added, “Poor little thing.”
Spears, who has been under intense public scrutiny since the end of her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, defended herself in a lengthy Instagram post.
She also came to the defense of actress Kate Beckinsale, who has faced similar criticism for her social media content.
“I adore Kate Beckinsale, especially because she’s from London!” Spears wrote. “I realized how incredibly cruel people were talking about her IG, saying she needs more age-appropriate content… it’s pretty badass how she responded.”
Addressing her own situation, Spears continued, “Not as bad as some of my comments saying it’s sad that I’m as old as I am and I’m dancing every single day on my IG! Number 1) I hardly ever dance… and number 2) I’m not poor at all! I have more ligature in my left toe than any grown man or woman on earth!”
The “…Baby One More Time” hitmaker has become known for frequently posting dance videos on her Instagram, often in revealing outfits. The posts have elicited mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, with some expressing concern and others celebrating her newfound freedom of expression.
Spears went on to note the importance of supporting one another in the post. “I know what it’s like to be judged, but I think it’s important to HELP EACH OTHER and invite each other to places that help our souls grow!”
Her post concluded with a sharp message to the Osbournes: “I’m gonna do a photoshoot with Kate and tell the Osbourne family who is the most boring family known to mankind to kindly f— off!”
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It is the year 2024, and even Ozzy Osbourne has had enough of Kanye West. In an all caps screed the OG rocker shared on social media, he chastised Ye for the unauthorized use of his classic cut “War Pigs,” with Black Sabbath, and wants no parts of the antisemite.
Apparently, Ye did ask for permission to sample the track on his forthcoming—already delayed multiple times—collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign called Vultures. However, Osbourne told the Chicago multihyphenate, “Nah,” and then got wind that Ye used it anyway during a listening session for said project in Chi-Town this past Thursday (Feb. 8) night.
Osbourne got wind of it and makes it clear Ye is in his no fly zone. “@kanyewest ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTCTION [sic] OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF “WAR PIG” [sic] FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!”
To be clear, John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, the same guy who infamously bit the head off a live bat (he’s claimed he thought it was rubber) during a show and has been accused of Satanism, is taking the moral high ground when it comes to Ye. If you say that was on your bingo card, we’re calling you a liar.
This is only the latest sample Ye has yet to clear for Vultures since the Backstreet Boys reportedly didn’t give the official go for an “Everbody” sample but it seems like that’s actually cool since it was re-sung.
Also, it wasn’t lost on the Internets that Ozzy co-splayed Kanye West for Halloween 2023.
What a time. Peep social media reactions to Ozzy Osbourne being an antisemitic Ye critic in the comments.
At the upcoming 65th annual Grammy Awards, legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne is nominated in four categories for his Patient Number 9 album, including its title track, which features the late Jeff Beck.
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In a recent interview with Billboard, Osbourne discussed his good fortune with collaborations, having worked with most of his heroes. However, he has yet to work with his biggest inspiration: Paul McCartney. A devoted Beatles fan, Osbourne has indeed reached out to McCartney in the past. “I did ask him one time,” he says, “but he came up with the excuse of, ‘Well, I couldn’t beat the bass player that was already on there.’ I went, ‘Maybe you’re right.’”
Patient Number 9 is indeed a star-studded affair. Beck, Mike McCready, Eric Clapton and former Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi, plus many more, all contributed instrumentals. The co-writers are just as impressive, with Osbourne tapping Chad Smith, Ali Tamposi and the late Taylor Hawkins, among others.
“He died literally a week or two after he worked on my album,” Osbourne recalled of the Foo Fighters drummer. He shared with a laugh how Hawkins would repeatedly tell him, “Dave Grohl is my boss.” Says Osbourne, “I didn’t know if he was joking or what.”
He also discussed working with Post Malone and Miss Piggy, who according to the rocker said he “stunk.”
He also touched on what having a hit reality TV show did for his career (and to his family) and most importantly, addressed how his fans have been there for him every step of the way. “That’s the thing I really miss about not doing gigs,” he says. “I’m a hands-on guy. I like talking to my fans, I miss them terribly.”
On Wednesday (Feb. 1), Osbourne posted a note to fans on social media, saying, “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans…” In it, he announced that his touring days have come to an end and that his scheduled European/UK tour dates have been canceled. “Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really f—s me up, more than you will ever know.”
“My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city or country to country,” he continued in the note, which echoes a hope he shared during his Billboard interview.
“My goal is to get back onstage as soon as possible.”
Watch the full interview in the video above.
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