Music News

Ozzy’s ‘Black Rain’ scores No. 3 debut and No. 1 rock single

By Patrick Luce May 31, 2007, 0:00 GMT

The release of ‘Black Rain’ (Epic Records) finds two-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ozzy Osbourne as vital, creative and evocative as ever. And fans all over the world, including the U.S., agree. The rock icon's first album of new material in six years - hailed as a "genuinely blinding comeback'' in a four- K review in Kerrang! (5/19/07) and "the best set of songs he's conjured since 1991's "No More Tears" according to a rave Mojo review (June) - enters the Billboard pop albums chart at #3 with over 150,000 copies sold this week.

‘Black Rain’ also debuted at #6 on the digital albums chart with nearly 10,000 copies sold. Internationally, the album--which Ozzy co-produced with Kevin Churko - has debuted in the Top Ten on the album charts in 10 other countries: #2 (Norway), #2 (Finland), #2 (Sweden), #5 (Canada), #5 (Czech Republic), #6 (Japan), #6 (Denmark), #7 (Austria), # 8 (UK), # 9 (Germany) and #10 (New Zealand). In America, Ozzy is enjoying his biggest rock hit ever with the album's smash lead single "I Don't Wanna Stop," hailed by Associated Press (5/17/07) as "...an ode to his illustrious career set to an infectious beat, adorned with molten guitar riffs and pounding bass." He's performed the song on such television shows as WWE's "Smackdown" (May 18), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live - where Osbourne was a guest for two nights in a row, May 20 and 21, on the show's outdoor stage - and on VH1's “Rock Honors” (May 24), where Osbourne was an honoree. The single has been at #1 for six weeks in a row on the rock chart and is currently #3 at active rock radio. "I Don't Wanna Stop" will also soon be heard as the marquee track on EA Sports' Madden NFL '08. Additional recent TV appearances include profiles on “Access Hollywood” and the “Fox News Channel with Greta Van Susteren,” with press features in Blender, Details Nylon For Guys, The Wall Street Journal and Hit Parader (cover), among other outlets. On the touring front, Ozzy opened his world tour two triumphant shows in Russia: Moscow (May 27 at Olimpiyskiy Arena) and St. Petersburg (May 29 at New Ice Arena), his first performances in the country since 1989. Ozzy will continue touring overseas through July 6 before descending on America for this year's precedent-setting Ozzfest where all the tickets are free for fans.