Ozzfest 2009 Canceled as Ozzy Osbourne Works On New Album

Ozzy Osbourne has put his annual Ozzfest on hold for 2009, opting instead to spend more time working on his follow-up to 2007's Black Rain, what will be the legend's 10th studio album. Ozzfest has had some tumultuous treks in recent years: The traveling festival became a free event that relied on sponsorship in 2007, while 2008 saw Ozzfest being reduced to a one-day event in Texas where "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was honored with a heavy superjam.

It's hard to imagine that the recession didn't have something to do with the cancellation of Ozzfest, especially considering touring is where artists make most of their money and Ozzy openly complained after Black Rain came out that fans weren't buying his CD. Plus, Ozzy and family have that awful new Osbournes variety show Osbournes: Reloaded due out on Fox soon, so perhaps that too complicated matters in terms of planning a tour or anchored festival. This year marks the first time since 1996 that there will be no Ozzfest, but a statement said Osbourne hopes to bring the fest back in 2010.

As for that still-untitled new album, the Blizzard of Ozz is working with producer Kevin Churko and hopes to release it by Thanksgiving 2009.

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Song Stories

“Weird”

Hanson | 1997

Accomplished tunesmith Desmond Child co-wrote "Weird" with the three brothers that make up Hanson. Credited for dozens of cuts, including songs by Kiss, Cher, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, Child told Rolling Stone that "Weird" holds a special place in his heart, "because it's about being different--and I grew up poor, I grew up being Latin, I grew up being gay, and now I'm fat!" The song was included on Hanson's 1997 album Middle of Nowhere, which sold more than ten million units.

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