I was recently listening to clip of Ozzy Osborne’s new song “Le Me Hear You Scream” and I didn’t hear the trademark Zakk Wilde guitar sound. Will the absense of Zakk hurt Ozzy’s sound, image and sales? Basically, he didn’t fire him but he didn’t ask him back.

According to Road Runner Record’s interview with Ozzy, “It’s not changed that much, apart from the fact that I thought I was beginning to sound like, um … what’s his band called? Zakk’s band. My brain, it just started on the left side. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I started to sound like BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I don’t want anyone to think for one minute that I fired him. I never fired him. He never left. There was nothing to leave. Because all he was doing was his gig and mine. It kind of got to us crashing into each other. But I had to let go, because it’s me rather than him.”

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=141669

Trent Reznor has a new band featuring Mariqueen Maandig and Atticus Ross called How To Destroy Angels. The new band released their debut EP as a free download on June 1st. I finally had a chance to listen it and I have to say I quite like it. Tell us what you think.

Free EP Download
http://howtodestroyangels.com/

Osbourne is a multi-platinum selling, Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with a career that Ozzy has spanned four decades. He is the lead singer of the British heavy-metal band Black Sabbath and a successful solo artist, as well as the creator of Ozzfest, an all-day metal music festival that is now in its 15th year. He starred with his wife and kids in the Emmy-winning MTV reality show The Osbournes from 2002 to 2005, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Watch this interview of Ozzy by Chris Hardwig.

Ozzy Osbourne’s first album in almost three years, Scream will be released on June 22 and features the single “Let Me Hear You Scream.” Ozzy will embark on an 18-month world tour starting later this month. For more information, visit http://www.ozzy.com.

For over forty years Dr. Demento has produced a radio featuring  strange and funny songs but he is now winding it down.  Instead The Dr. will be producing a new radio show online every Saturday. He says, “It’s not the end of an era for the Dr. Demento Show, just a change of medium, like the switch from cassettes to CD’s!” For members the show is free, but everyone else you need to buy each show for $2.

http://drdemento.com/online.html

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnomtbsmb7A

If you are washed-up musician, there is hope for you. Former big name artists like Cher, Meatloaf, Donnie Osmond and David Cassidy made a comeback in the music industry. Cher for example hit with “I Got You Babe” in the 60s, “Gypsies Tramps and Thieves” in the 70s, “Turn Back Time” in the 80s, “It’s In His Kiss” and “Believe” in the 90s. Just when you think an artist is going to fall into obscurity they produce a magical hit. Above is live performance of David Cassidy’s 1990 top 40 hit “Lying to Myself”.

Comeback Songs From Older Artists:

• Lying to Myself – David Cassidy
• Solider of Love – Donnie Osmond
• Believe – Cher
• Meatloaf – I’d Do Anything For Love
• Madonna – Ray of Light
• Elton John – Circle of Life

There is still might be hope for M.C. Hammer and Michael Bolton! I personally wouldn’t mind Arrested Development or the Spin Doctors to make a new pop hit. Are there any pop artists that you are dying to see make a comeback?

Lebron James is the most highly desired NBA free agent this summer. Glen from Q104 wrote this appropriately funny song called the Summer of 23. However, the most interesting thing is that Lebron will be now wearing number 6 next season. Should the song be called the “Summer of 6″? It doesn’t seem to have the same ring to it.

Listen to Summer of 23

If you’re as upset as I am about the hiatus “The Killers” is on then this will make you feel slightly better. In September, Brandon Flowers is releasing his debut solo album titled “Flamingo”. The first single from the album, “Crossfire” was recently released on the internet. What do you think? I’ve been replaying it all day.

Here’s something funny. The lead male vocalist in Lady Antebellum, Charles Kelley, is the younger brother of Josh Kelley (who married Katherine Heigl). Remember him, right? He’s working on a country album now.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sri38B8gRU

Are you a fan of smooth jazz? In the 1990s and early 2000s, smooth jazz flourished; artists like Najee, Richard Elliot, George Winston, Kenny G and Foreplay caused a stir. Blue Note Records’ Eric Darius is bringing back smooth jazz in a big way with an infusion of hip hop.

Eric Darius’ new album “On A Mission” will be released in a couple of weeks. In anticipation, Tunesmate suggests that if you are a fan of smooth jazz to check out his last release “Goin’ All Out.” Above is a track of his last album, a cover of Ne-Yo’s “Because of You”.

http://www.ericdarius.com/homepageDefault.html

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ZEVA5dy-Y

Duffy’s song Mercy obviously is using the riff from “Stand By Me” the classic by Ben E. King. Do you feel using parts of familiar riffs is a ripoff or just part of music synthesis? Are artists that do this without recognizing the original song a ripoff?