Metallica and Ozzy do some bassist-swapping
OK, so last month, Metallica announced that bassist Robert Trujillo had left Ozzy Osbourne’s band to replace ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, who left Metallica more than two years ago. Now, in a sort of heavy-metal-wife-swapping maneuver, Ozzy announced on Monday (3/17) that Newsted was his new full-time bassist.
We can’t help but wonder if Newsted will find life in the Osbourne camp--which, presumably, will include his walk-on role as a real-life cast-member of the family’s MTV reality show--to be less chaotic than life in Metallica, a group that he left “due to private and personal reasons, and the physical damage that I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love,” according to a statement that he issued at the time of his departure.
On second thought, he’ll probably fit right in; no one knows more about damaging themselves over the years while playing rock and roll than Ozzy himself.
OK, so last month, Metallica announced that bassist Robert Trujillo had left Ozzy Osbourne’s band to replace ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, who left Metallica more than two years ago. Now, in a sort of heavy-metal-wife-swapping maneuver, Ozzy announced on Monday (3/17) that Newsted was his new full-time bassist.
We can’t help but wonder if Newsted will find life in the Osbourne camp--which, presumably, will include his walk-on role as a real-life cast-member of the family’s MTV reality show--to be less chaotic than life in Metallica, a group that he left “due to private and personal reasons, and the physical damage that I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love,” according to a statement that he issued at the time of his departure.
On second thought, he’ll probably fit right in; no one knows more about damaging themselves over the years while playing rock and roll than Ozzy himself.
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Definitive Willie Nelson hits collection due in April
Columbia/Legacy Records will mark country legend Willie Nelson’s 70th birthday with the April 1st release of “The Essential Willie Nelson,” a two-disc set comprising 41 tracks that span Nelson’s 40-plus year recording history.
In addition, the compilation includes a previously unreleased track on which Nelson teamed up with Steven Tyler and Aerosmith.
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Eric Clapton throws rocking PTA meeting
Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton on Tuesday night (3/18) will perform at his daughter’s school in order to help raise money for music and computer equipment, Reuters reports. The event’s 790 tickets, which cost a relatively inexpensive $35, reportedly sold out in an instant, and were allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to parents whose children attend the school.
You gotta figure it’s more lucrative than a bake sale.
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Gord Downie’s second solo effort on the way
Gord Downie, frontman for Canadian favorites The Tragically Hip, will release his second album on June 3. He’ll back the CD, titled “Battle of the Nudes,” with an extensive tour, according to his publicist.
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Rumblings on the Radiohead front
British music news magazine NME.com has been tittering of late with lots of information about Radiohead’s upcoming album, which will hit stores in June, and about the critically acclaimed band’s promotional and tour plans. In May, the band will preview the album with a series of concerts at small U.K. clubs.
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Mark Knopfler hurt in motorcycle wreck
Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler suffered a broken collar bone and six broken ribs in a London motorcycle accident on Monday, the BBC reports. No immediate word on whether or not his North American tour, due to open in late April, will still go on as planned.
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