OZZY OSBOURNE: More Toronto Press Conference Footage Available

The Canadian media was invited to Toronto, Ontario's Casa Loma yesterday (Wednesday, May 19) for a brief, three-song preview of Ozzy Osbourne's new album, "Scream", album and a question-and-answer session with Ozzy and his wife/manager, Sharon.

Video footage of the interview that took place during the event can be viewed below.

On the title of the new album, "Scream", which was originally called "Soul Sucka":

Ozzy: "Everyone hated [the original title]. I had these rap guys saying there was no way I was gonna take their word and my fans hated the idea so I just dropped it."

On "Scream"'s cover image, which features a winged Ozzy holding a flag and pointing into the distance:

Sharon: "The idea for 'Soul Sucka' was to have Ozzy holding [something], cradling it like a baby but once we changed the title, we had to use something different.

"It really was a matter of [covers eyes, spins hand and points down at table] 'That one.' There. It's done. Whatever. I have no idea what the hell he's doing or looking at, all right?"

On his approach when making "Scream":

Ozzy: "I don't listen to new music, so I don't know what's going on. I don't really want to change from my roots to be like one of these new metal bands."

"I can hear my SABBATH roots. I can hear my solo roots. And I can also hear this new thing. It's such a surprise every time I open it."

On the departure of longtime collaborator/guitarist Zakk Wylde and introduction of Gus G. (FIREWIND, DREAM EVIL, ARCH ENEMY:

Ozzy: "[Zakk's] just so busy, he's got his own thing going with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. There's no anger there, though. I'm the godfather to his kids, man. Sometimes you just have to move forward but we're still friends.

"I want to make one thing clear: Zakk Wylde and I are not at war. We haven't fallen out. He's got his own band, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, and it was time for me to get a permanent replacement. Zakk is more than music with me. He's part of my family and I'm part of his."

"[Gus is] a great player. He's one of those guys, he plays the songs as they're written and he plays them with ease. I'm not comparing him to Zakk and I'm not comparing him to all the other guitar players [I've worked with], but I've got high hopes for him."

On going back on tour:

Ozzy: "I kind of took it easy for the last couple years. I have a love/hate relationship with touring. When I'm on the road I want to be at home and when I'm at home I want to be on the road. I'm ready to get back into it now."

On his infamous days of touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE:

Ozzy: "I was talking to [MÖTLEY CRÜE] bassist Nikki [Sixx], the other day and he said, 'Do you remember when we toured together in the '80s?' Well... no. I don't know if I snorted a line of ants up or not. I was out of my head and that was a long time ago."

On reports that his life story will eventually become the subject of a motion picture, which has yet to find a star:

Ozzy: "Actually, I don't really want to get an American. Americans don't do a very good English accent."

Sharon: "We had a meeting with Johnny [Depp] about playing Ozzy six years ago and the next day Ozzy was in intensive care, so that didn't go anywhere. When you see famous people playing other famous people, you still think of them as who they are. I think it should be somebody totally unknown."

On whether he has plans to retire any time soon:

Ozzy: "By all accounts I should have been dead a long time ago. Fortunately enough for me, I've survived. I can't take too much for granted any more. Who wants to retire on life?"