Crazy Train: The Prince of Darkness admits to returning back to the Dark Side

Ozzy Osbourne announced on his Facebook page today that for the past year and a half he was back to his old ways, cavorting with evil spirits (read: drugs and alcohol) but admits that he has seen the light and vows to kick them out of his system for good.

Here is Ozzy Osbourne's letter to his family, friends, and fans alike:

"For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an asshole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober.

Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I’m just trying to be a better person.

I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my band mates for my insane behavior during this period………and my fans.

God Bless,

Ozzy"

Walk This Way

'Oh, shoot. It's the Rolling Stones!' 

-Darryl McDaniels (Run-DMC) upon seeing Aerosmith for the first time to record their collaborative version of 'Walk This Way' (NGC's series The 80s: The Decade That Made Us

 -- 'Lift-Off')

Never Surrender

Last Song Syndrome: Corey Hart's Sunglasses at Night, a song I never heard for more than 2 decades. Damn, Detroit FM radio; now I got these lines stuck in my head- 

 "Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh-no! 

Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh-no!"

Although I hate the said song, I used to like his other power ballad and hit, Never Surrender, which won him the 1985 Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in Canada.

Cheesy and all, I still love the 80s!

This Old Guitar

my old acoustic guitar, 

the sole witness 

during those rare 

times where i can 

wear 

my heart on 

my sleeve.

The Story of an American Band

 Going err soaring high watching "History of The Eagles" on Showtime. One of my favorite bands while growing up. Their albums were and still are a staple in my car's CD player, especially on long lonely drives along the Interstate highways that I found myself during my wanderings. Yes, the "warm smell of colitas" is still "rising up through the air" for this "Desperado."

For the Love of God

'Got tickets to Steve Vai's concert via 106.7 FM at the Royal Oak Music Theatre but missed the show tonight because of a bad case of migraine earlier. Dang...

Child in Time: Jon Lord, 71

The Lord of the Hammond is Dead.

Yes, Jon Lord, Deep Purple's legendary keyboard player, "suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism today, Monday 16th July at the London Clinic, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer."

Jon Lord was one of the driving forces behind the success of British supergroup Deep Purple. He co-wrote many of the band's hits, including the seminal "Smoke on the Water." Although he played with other bands (Whitesnake) and musicians, he will always be remembered for his days with Deep Purple.

To rock and roll fans, he was the 'master of the keys' who in his heyday made his presence felt with his legendary 'duets and duels' with Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple's guitar god and legend on many of their hits, wherein their instruments competed for attention and dominance -- riff by riff, keyboard versus guitar, Hammond and Stratocaster that made their music click and unique.

Jon Lord made the keyboard a major part, if not the centerpiece of the relevant Deep Purple songs. Jon Lord can speak with you, play with you and travel with you to parts unknown with the sound coming from his keyboard. Yes, he can tell a story with the tips of his fingers and help you explore the hidden universe with the power of his music. Who can forget the intense and explosive playing that he did in Child in Time or the fast and furious waves on Highway Star or the soaring, hard-driven riffs on Burn?

I have been a life-long Deep Purple fan ever since I bought their Machine Head album in the early 80s, and I now own every single album and record of the band. And just like many rock music fans, I lament the fact that Deep Purple is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but the likes of Madonna and other rap stars are in. It is really a shame that one of the pioneers of hard rock, an influence on many of today's best rock groups (including Hall of Famers Metallica (2009) and Aerosmith (2001)), and considered to be among the best musicians in rock and roll history, is being snubbed by the people in Cleveland, Ohio for whatever strange reasons that they have against the band.

But with or without the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame enshrinement, Deep Purple and Jon Lord's legacy is secure. Their music will live in the hearts and minds of true rock and roll fans. As long as there are people who love quality rock music, rock and roll will never die and Deep Purple and in essence Jon Lord's music will live forever.

It was really unfortunate that I have not seen Jon Lord play live since he retired from touring with the band in 2002. I have been to two Deep Purple concerts since 2008 with Jon Lord's very talented and very capable replacement, Don Airey, but still, his performance of the classic Deep Purple hits was not the same and will never be the same.

Jon Lord's death is not the end but only the beginning of another chapter in his musical journey. His website says it best, "Jon passes from Darkness to Light."

Goodbye and Goodnight, Mr. Jon Lord.


photo credit: Jon Lord The Official Website
Note: This article was previously published on Yahoo! Voices