Ozzy’s “I Don’t Wanna Stop” tops Active and Heritage Rock charts

By M&C News Jun 28, 2007, 13:17 GMT

As Ozzy Osbourne storms through Europe on his triumphant world tour, the singer's hard-charging personal manifesto “I Don't Wanna Stop” from his ‘Black Rain’ CD (Epic) remains at the top of the U.S. rock charts.  The song continues its 10-consecutive-week reign atop the Heritage Rock chart and now marks the two-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's first-ever #1 Active Rock track.

“I Don't Wanna Stop” highlights Ozzy’s overseas set list and U.S. fans can look forward to hearing when he takes the stage at this year's Ozzfest.   In a review of his sold-out June 19 Wembley Arena show, The Evening Standard (U.K) said, "To the frenzied fans who packed Wembley last night, Ozzy was...a hero...after nearly 40 years in the business, the Birmingham-born hellraiser is still attracting new fans...As the crowd screamed out the chorus [of 'I Don't Wanna Stop'], it was clear that for them, Ozzy could do no wrong."

Ozzy’s overseas itinerary will conclude with a show at the National Indoor Arena in his Birmingham hometown.  Earlier that day, Osbourne will be the first artist inducted into the Birmingham Walk of Fame at a public event on Broad Street. The Birmingham Walk of Stars is honoring those people who have made a significant contribution in the categories of music, television, film, radio, theatre, sport and literacy.  Each inductee will be honored with a handmade brass paving star creating a walk of stars trail, and the event is being touted throughout the area via huge billboards along the M6 Northbound and throughout the city.

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) - entered the Billboard pop albums chart at #3 with over 150,000 copies sold. ‘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). 

 Ozzy headlines this year's 12th annual Ozzfest, the 24-city earth-pounding tour launching July 12 in Seattle, WA at the White River Amphitheatre. For this year's historic "Freefest" - which will give fans the rock experience of their lives at a price that's hard to beat - the rock legend will be joined by Lamb of God, Static X, Lordi, Hatebreed, Behemoth, Mondo Generator, Nile, Ankla, Circus Diablo, The Showdown, 3 Inches of Blood, Daath, Chthonic and In This Moment.