Features
Odds & Ends: Ozzy Osbourne, Dir En Grey, Red Hot Chili Peppers and ‘Objectionable Music’
Ozzy’s “Boneyard Channel” launches tonight on SiriusXM, Dir En Grey cancels its U.S. Tour; Red Hot Chili Peppers added to Hangout Festival; and Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly votes to ban “objectionable music” in schools.
Channeling Ozzy
You gotta admit that SiriusXM picked the right name for its new channel dedicated to classic hard rock and metal music. “Ozzy’s Boneyard” goes live tonight and will feature plenty of content featuring the one and only Ozzy Osbourne along with his family members, bandmates and other acquaintances.
Ozzy will grace the channel’s launch via an interview conducted by SiriusXM host Jose Mangin which will mark the first time the rocker discusses Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi’s Lymphoma diagnosis.
Of course, a channel named “Ozzy’s Boneyard” means listeners expect lots of Mr. Osbourne. Regular specials include the singer’s thoughts on, well, everything showcased in a feature dubbed “The Diary Of A Madman.” There’s also a segment called “God Bless The Prince Of Darkness” that features members of Osbourne’s family along with other notables talking about their love of all things Ozzy.
Ozzy’s Boneyard debuts at 6 p.m. EST tonight on SiriusXM’s channel 38.
Photo: AP Photo
Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dir En Grey Nixes U.S. Tour
A throat condition has sunk Japanese band Dir En Grey’s U.S. tour plans.
Dir En Grey had several March dates, traveling with Asking Alexandria along with Trivium, I See Stars, Motionless In White and The Amity Affliction on The Still Reckless Tour as well as solo gigs such as the band’s SXSW appearance March 15.
But those dates along with the band’s March and April itinerary have been filed under tours that never happen. Turns out that Dir En Grey frontman Kyo has been experiencing throat problems and doctors have recommended a couple months of rest.
“To our fans as well as the other bands and staff involved in the tour we extend our sincere apologies,” Dir En Grey bandmembers said collectively in a statement. “We ask for your understanding that this was an extremely difficult decision to make. Thank you all for your continued support, which is greatly appreciated.”
Photo: Rod Tanaka / TanakaPhoto.net
Ogden Theatre, Denver, Colo.
RHCP At Hangout
As if you need another reason to spend a weekend soaking up the sun, music and vibes at this year’s Hangout Music Fest on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala., organizers have come up with one more enticement – Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The announcement that RHCP will play the May 18-20 festival comes only 24 hours after Hangout released a massive lineup featuring Dave Matthews Band in its first 2012 appearance. Other acts signed on for this year’s Hangout include Jack White, String Cheese Incident, Skrillex, Wilco, The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side Of The Moon, Dispatch, Steve Winwood, Chris Cornell, STS9 and many, many more.
General admission, VIP, Super VIP and Big Kahuna festival tickets go on sale Feb. 10 at high noon EST. Visit HangoutMusicFest.com for everything you need to know, contemplate and ponder.
The Dangers Of Objectionable Music
Website PakistanToday.com ran an item today that serves as a good reminder that not every country’s government is comfortable with free speech.
The article, titled “Ban On Music Concerts,” reports that the country’s Punjab Assembly had unanimously voted to ban objectionable music concerts in schools.
PakistanToday.com commended the Punjab Assembly on its decision, saying such music might “lead some young people to commit heinous crimes against women and even small children, ending in their killing to avoid being exposed.”
The article goes on to say that such crimes have risen and blames the increase, not only on “objectionable music” but on TV shows and advertisements as well, especially those featuring “beautiful girls with scanty dress in utter violation of the divine dress code of all holy scriptures especially that of the Holy Quran.”
But it’s the last graph that really grabbed our attention, for not only does it advocate censorship but it serves as a reminder of what life can be like in some countries.
“In view of the above, it is advisable to avoid such violation of divine injunctions and to appoint strict censure on TV programmes and TV ads. Apart from this, in view of the shortage of electricity, TV transmissions and cable operations should be curtailed within reasonable day and night time, preferably from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with break between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Such measures will save sufficient power consumption.”