Ozzy Osbourne in Rio

By Anna Fitzpatrick, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rock’s very own Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne will be performing at Rio’s Citibank Hall on April 7^th. The singer will tour five cities in Brazil, promoting his latest album “Scream” and his current single “Life Won’t Wait”. However, there is no doubt that fans will also want to hear the British singer perform some of his classic hits such as “Road to Nowhere” and “Paranoid”.

The Heavy Metal legend will also perform in São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre. Tickets for some of the seats at the São Paulo and Rio shows will cost up to R$600 and are on sale now.

Ozzy will be supported by Brazilian bands Sepultura, Híbria and Gunport, depending on location. Due to the adult content of the show entrants must be 16 years or over though youngsters between 12 and 16 years may enter accompanied by parents or guardians.

The shows in Brazil are part of an eighteen month tour and have already received rave reviews after playing throughout much of Europe, Russia and the United States, where rock legend Slash treated the audience to guest performances. However, rumors that Slash will appear alongside Ozzy in Rio have not been confirmed, despite the Guns N Roses star being in town for concerts of his own.

Scream is the 10^th solo album from the ex-Black Sabbath front man and his popularity goes from strength to strength. The album was produced by Ozzy and Kevin Churko, who previously worked with the musician on his “Black Rain” album released in 2007.

With a career spanning forty years, Osbourne is credited with starting the Heavy Metal genre when his band Black Sabbath blasted out dark and furious hits in the 1970s. He last played in Brazil in 2008, promoting his album “Father of Heavy Metal” in São Paulo.

Known as a youngster as John, Ozzy grew up in the British city of Birmingham and lived the ultimate Rock ‘n’ Roll lifestyle that eventually took its toll on the singer. Though, according to reports the singer has been sober for the past few years.

With a career full of notorious moments, Ozzy has been condemned by various quarters including the church and animal rights groups; after he once bit the head off a real bat, apparently mistaking it for a toy during a concert in Iowa in the United States in 1982.

Describing the incident in his 2009 memoirs, I Am Ozzy, he said: “immediately though, something felt wrong, very wrong”. He has also been accused of encouraging suicide through his song lyrics.

In 2002 the singer appeared on a reality television series alongside his wife and manager Sharon and two of their three children, Kelly and Jack. The program, shown on MTV, became one of the channels biggest hits and made the family a household name the world over.

Ozzy Osbourne Show Information:

Porto Alegre
When: March 301th, 2011, 9PM
Where: Gymnasium Gigantinho

São Paulo
When: April 2nd, 2011, 9:30PM
Where: Arena Anhembi

Brasília
When: April 5th, 2011, 9:30PM
Where: Sector SRPN – Nilson Nelson Gymnasium – North Wing

Rio de Janeiro
When: April 7th, 2011, 9:30PM
Where: Citibank Hall

Belo Horizonte
When: April 9th, 2011, 9:30PM
Where: Gymnasium Adriano