OZZY OSBOURNE Draws Inspiration From Iraq War, Wife's Battle With Cancer For New Album

Ozzy Osbourne has told Rolling Stone magazine (web site) that the war in Iraq weighed heavily on his mind during the recording sessions for his first album of new material in six years. "Bombs are falling and tears are falling," Ozzy reportedly sneers across what Rolling Stone describes as "a modern metal anthem," entitled "Countdown's Begun". But Osbourne told the magazine that he didn't set out to write another "War Pigs", the BLACK SABBATH classic inspired by an earlier generation's unpopular war. "I don't want to get political," said Ozzy, who has visited maimed soldiers in military hospitals during recent tours. "I try to mask it so you can think what you like. The things around you affect you but you don't realize it. You look at CNN and a fucking car bomb has gone off."

Among the eleven new tracks Osbourne has recorded is "Not Going Away", which Rolling Stone describes as "a fiery rocker with ominous riffs from guitarist Zakk Wylde," and "Lay Your World On Me", which was inspired by Ozzy's wife and manager's recent battle with cancer.

The follow-up to 2001's "Down to Earth", was recorded with the same band that backed Osbourne on his scattered 2006 Ozzfest dates — Zakk Wylde on guitar, Mike Bordin on drums, and former ROB ZOMBIE bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. The album has no official producer, although longtime Mutt Lange protégé Kevin Churko is serving as the engineer.

"Kevin's working the machines and helping me with the songwriting," Osbourne recently told Revolver magazine. "He really knows what he's doing with the ProTools, which is good because I can't work the fucking thing. I can barely work a light switch!"

The new CD is the first to be recorded in Osbourne's home studio, located in the newly soundproofed guest house behind his Beverly Hills mansion, which he's outfitted with a mixing desk and a ProTools rig. "If you ever have inspiration, you can put down an idea," Osbourne told Rolling Stone of recording at home. "The bad thing is your wife can get ahold of you all the time for whatever she wants you to do."