SHARON OSBOURNE: 'Someone In OZZY's Position Doesn't Need A Record Company'

Steve Appleford of The Los Angeles Times recently spoke to Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne about the annual event known as Ozzfest. It began 10 years ago as a hard-rock alternative in the era of Lollapalooza and Horde and Lilith Fair. And it has outlasted virtually all competitors, establishing Ozzy and his wife-manager as major players in the concert business, not only as a venue for the singer's solo act and frequent reunions with BLACK SABBATH, but as a stage for top-selling and emerging hard-rock acts.

At first, Ozzy was set to play only on six dates of the tour. Then it was 10, then 14. And now he dismisses any suggestion that he would leave the festival. He seems resigned to remain at the heart of the event indefinitely.

"I wanted to take a year off," says Osbourne, 57. "But it's called the Ozzfest, and it's pretty stupid if the person whose name is on it ain't there."

"You see those young boys getting out that aggression," says Sharon. "It's a fantastic experience.

"Love PEARL JAM. But PEARL JAM now is like the Gap crowd," she says. "The baggy trousers. It's a date. It's nice, lovely music. You know, there is a whole other world out there. But people are snobbish and don't want to mix with it. We love those people. We embrace them. They are as loyal as they can be."

Two more albums, and Ozzy will be done with his contract with Epic Records. "As far as I'm concerned, someone in Ozzy's position doesn't need a record company," Sharon says, also complaining about a general lack of creative understanding from record executives. "It has got nothing to do with the artistic. It's all about money. That's all. They ... don't know what you look like, what you sound like."

Ozzy is slowly working on a new studio album, which he hopes to finish after this year's tour ends in August.

Read more at The Los Angeles Times.