Christopher Polk, Getty Images In a new interview with Hello! magazine, Ozzy Osbourne ‘s wife, Sharon Osbourne , made the surprising revelation that she recently opted for a double mastectomy after doctors told her she carried a gene that put her at risk for breast cancer. It was a relatively simple decision for Osbourne, who suffered through colon cancer 10 years ago. Describing it as “a no-brainer,” she told the magazine, “I didn’t even think of my breasts in a nostalgic way, I just wanted to be able to live my life without that fear all the time.” Also factoring into her decision: Experiencing the joy of being a first-time grandmother after Jack , Sharon’s son with Ozzy, recently celebrated the birth of his first child with new bride Lisa Stelly. As Sharon put it, “I didn’t want to live the rest of my life with that shadow hanging over me. I want to be around for a long time and be a grandmother to Pearl.” It’s been a year full of health drama for the Osbourne clan — earlier this year, the family publicly struggled with Jack’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis . Here’s hoping they manage to find a long period of relative normalcy after the extreme highs and lows of 2012. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/rob-zombie-vs-ozzy-osbourne-president-of-heavy-metal-election-finals/” title=”Next: Ozzy Competes for President of Heavy Metal” align=”center”]
Mark Metcalfe, Getty Images When Soundgarden got back together, they started by touring and playing the old hits and getting back in the habit of performing their music again. But now, a couple of years later, the group is preparing to move forward in their career with their first full original studio album since 1996, and frontman Chris Cornell says that they’re looking forward and evolving with their next record. Cornell tells Spin , “We don’t feel nostalgia trying to remember who played what parts on a song that we recorded in 1988. It doesn’t feel like looking at baby pictures of me. It’s nice that we have fans that were fans in 1988. That’s great, but that’s not enough for us. And I would’ve never expected that to be enough.” Earlier this year, one of Cornell’s contemporaries, Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan , called out the group for cashing in on a reunion, stating, “When Soundgarden came back and they just played their old songs, great. I was a fan of Soundgarden, but call it for what it is. They’re just out there to have one more round at the till.” Corgan would add that it’s important for bands to make music for the present rather than relying on their past, and Soundgarden are definitely of the same mindset by moving forward with their new record. Though not addressing Corgan’s comments specifically, Cornell says, “If we’re writing and recording new and vital music, it’s taking care of itself. I definitely feel like there’s a place for who we are and what we do. We’re doing what we’ve always done as a band and we’re fortunate enough to have a long enough history that someone could actually suggest that we’re a nostalgia act. Good for us.” If anything, Soundgarden may actually be coming from a creative space where many new bands come from, as the group has been away long enough that all of the label entanglements and outside pressures that weighed on them at the height of their fame have fallen by the wayside. The singer adds, “We’re writing and recording an album ourselves. We do everything, from choosing producers to picking packaging, until it’s done. Then we find a label to put it out on [Universal Republic], and communication’s what it used to be. It’s almost like it was in the beginning of the band.” Soundgarden returns with their ‘ King Animal ‘ album Nov. 13. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/soundgarden-unleash-new-king-animal-track-non-state-actor/” title=”Next: Listen to Soundgarden’s Song ‘Non-State Actor'” align=”center”]
Karl Walther, Getty Images As one of the most anticipated video games in history, ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ is set to make an enormous impact in the world of gaming on Nov. 13. Along with what promises to be a unique gaming experience, the musical score for ‘Black Ops II’ was created by Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor . The first ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ game had broken the record of the largest ever entertainment launch in history within any form of entertainment, breaking the record 24 hours after its release and bringing in a staggering $650 million within five days of its release. That record has now been surpassed by ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.’ With a true artistic desire to be a part of yet another groundbreaking moment in the entertainment world, Reznor jumped at the chance to create the score for ‘Black Ops II.’ “I look at video games as a true art form,” begins Reznor. “The chance to be involved in something like this is exciting to me. I feel its every bit as viable as film work or music or anything else. The games have gotten more intense and more realistic and more engrossing and deeper. Video game culture has expanded into the largest form of entertainment.” “I was watching the Oscars last year and I see Trent Reznor win the Academy Award,” says ‘Black Ops II’ director Dave Anthony. “A year later, I see him walking around Treyarch [game developers], and I think to myself, ‘Am I dreaming? Trent Reznor is creating the score for our video game.’” The entire 40+ song soundtrack will be given its own individual release on Nov. 13. Reznor’s soundtrack, which also features an original score by Jack Wall, will also come with the physical edition of the game. Watch Trent Reznor + Other Game Developers Discuss ‘Black Ops II’
Rick Diamond, Getty Images 3 Doors Down have enjoyed a lot of great times on the road, and as they approach the release of their upcoming ‘ Greatest Hits ‘ album, the band is reflecting on their past in a series of video vignettes. Loudwire is proud to bring you the vignette with the band members reflecting on the ‘Duck and Run’ video that shows their life on the road perhaps better than any clip they’ve released. Singer Brad Arnold , guitarist Chris Henderson, and bassist Todd Harrell gathered to offer the insights on the clip, which Harrell says was probably one of his favorites videos they ever shot. Henderson and Arnold joke around as well about getting used to having a camera crew around at all times and how normal it became after a while. The vignette can be seen below. ‘Duck and Run,’ which just continued the breakout success of the band’s debut disc ‘The Better Life,’ is one of many favorites on the ‘Greatest Hits’ disc. The compilation, due Nov. 19, also features standouts like ‘When I’m Gone,’ ‘Kryptonite,’ ‘It’s Not My Time,’ and ‘Here Without You,’ along with the new single ‘ One Light .’ Fans can currently pre-order the album here . 3 Doors Down are getting ready to hit the road, and will kick off a co-headlining U.S. tour with Daughtry on Nov. 17 at their ninth annual ‘ The Better Life ‘ foundation benefit in Tunica, Miss. Watch 3 Doors Down’s ‘Story Behind the ‘Duck and Run’ Video’ Vignette [button href=”http://loudwire.com/3-doors-down-story-behind-when-im-gone-video/” title=”Next: 3 Doors Down Talk ‘When I’m Gone’ Video” align=”center”]
Jim Dyson, Getty Images If you’re a Soundgarden fan and anywhere near the vicinity of New York, Toronto or Los Angeles, start making arrangements to get yourself to one of the band’s three newly announced intimate club dates this month. In addition, if you pre-order the ‘ King Animal ‘ album before Nov. 7 you will be granted password access to the Ticketmaster pre-sale on Nov. 8. Soundgarden will play Nov. 13 at New York’s Irving Plaza, followed by a show at Toronto’s The Phoenix on Nov. 16 and concluding with a Nov. 27 date at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre. Tickets for the pre-sale will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and there’s no guarantee that the password will get you a ticket to the show. The public on-sale date for all of the shows will be Nov. 9 at 10AM local time. In other ‘King Animal’ promotion news, the group just signed on to play the ‘Late Show With David Letterman’ concert webcast series ‘Live on Letterman.’ Following their performance on the late night talk show Nov. 12, the group will stick around for a mini-concert that will be webcast at CBS.com and VEVO. Soundgarden have also booked an appearance on ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for Nov. 26. The ‘King Animal’ album is due in stores Nov. 13, and features the current single ‘ Been Away Too Long ,’ as well as the newly released track ‘ Non-State Actor .’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-soundgarden-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Soundgarden Songs” align=”center”]
Tim Whitby, Getty Images Black Sabbath have announced that their as-yet-untitled new album will be released in April 2013. In addition, the band has unveiled dates for their first tour of Australia since 1974. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler have been working on their first new studio album together since 1978′s ‘Never Say Die.’ Rick Rubin is producing, Ozzy is currently recording vocals, and Butler is writing all the lyrics. Iommi has already finished his guitar tracks. One song title has been confirmed – ‘God Is Dead.’ If their set lists at 2012′s Download and Lollapalooza are any indication, Australian fans can expect to hear classic Sabbath songs like ‘Paranoid,’ ‘War Pigs,’ ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Snowblind’ and many more. And since the album will be out by then, a whole batch of new songs will probably be played live as well. The press release doesn’t say who will be playing drums on the Australian tour or on the album, as original Bill Ward has parted ways with the band over contract disputes. Ozzy’s drummer Tommy Clufetos has been playing with Sabbath, and it would make sense he would continue in that role. Tickets for the Australian shows will go on sale Thursday Nov, 8. My Live Nation members will have an exclusive pre-sale starting Friday, Nov. 2. Black Sabbath 2013 Australian Tour Dates 4/25/13 — Entertainment Centre, Brisbane 4/27/13 — Allphones Arena, Sydney 5/1/13 — Rod Laver, Melbourne 5/4/13 — Perth Arena, Perth [button href=”http://loudwire.com/black-sabbath-horror-movies-that-inspired-band-names/” title=”Next: ‘Black Sabbath’ – Horror Movies That Inspired Band Names” align=”center”]
Tim Mosenfelder / Ethan Miller / Kevin Winter, Getty Images Happy Halloween everyone! It’s a day for fun as all of the future rockers of the world get a lesson in stage costuming by dressing up as ghouls and goblins for the spookiest of days. It wasn’t that long that some of our favorite rockers were youngsters enjoying dressing up (and some still do) and going door-to-door trick or treating for some Halloween treats. With Halloween now here, a number of top rockers headed online to share their thoughts on the day, offering well-wishes, costume ideas, and even an interesting idea for a drumhead. Members of Disturbed , Chevelle , Anthrax , Motley Crue , and more have chimed in via Twitter. Check out their tweets below: I WANT TO WISH A VERY HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL. SCARE SOMEONE TODAY. — DAVID DRAIMAN (@DAVIDMDRAIMAN) October 31, 2012 Happy Halloween, here’s a spooky drumhead. Levitation twitter.com/ChevelleInc/st… — Chevelle (@ChevelleInc) October 31, 2012 Happy Halloween Everybody! Trick or Treat ‘Til You Can’t! fb.me/2uHXzfxkS — Anthrax (Band) (@Anthrax) October 31, 2012 Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubbleEye of newt, and toe of frog,Wool of bat, and (cont) tl.gd/jrfcot — TOMMY LEE (@MrTommyLand) October 31, 2012 Happy Halloween! VOTE ZOMBIE! loudwire.com/lemmy-kilmiste… — Rob Zombie (@RWZombie) October 31, 2012 Happy halloween from Nonpoint to all of Nonpoint Nation!!!!! — Nonpoint (@nonpoint) October 31, 2012 Happy Halloween everyone! we got our costumes ready, Any guesses? — adelitasway (@adelitasway) October 31, 2012 Happy Halloween Everyone from MDD !!!!What are you gonna Be this year kiddies.???? fb.me/1Kydcba2x — My Darkest Days (@MyDarkestDays) October 31, 2012 Happy Samhain! What’s on your play list for today? Maybe a little Manticore and Other Horrors? — Cradle of Filth (@OfficialCoF) October 31, 2012 From those of us at Loudwire, we want to wish you a fun and enjoyable Halloween, and let us know what you’re going as this year in the comments section below. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/anthrax-scott-ian-gets-his-head-split-in-two-by-a-chainsaw/” title=”Next: Scott Ian’s Head Split Open by a Chainsaw” align=”center”]