Latest news with #IronMaiden
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ozzies Everywhere: Leicestershire To Ohio To Paikpara
Ozzies Everywhere: Leicestershire To Ohio To Paikpara Mohua Das TNN Jul 23, 2025, 21:10 IST Heavy metal's guttural howls & ear-splitting guitar may no longer top charts. But metalheads abound, across countries & cultures, in any offbeat space willing to handle the decibels Once upon a snowstorm, heavy metal blasting from a car stereo saved a man's life. Or so claimed a 1990s print ad that ran with the tagline, ' Judas Priest saved my life.' The story went that a man trapped in the snow was miraculously rescued when Rob Halford's screams pierced through the blizzard and alerted help. The joke sold speakers. But it was also kind of believable. Because that's the thing about heavy metal. It doesn't ask to be heard. It bludgeons its way into your ears. Cut to 2025. Ozzy Osbourne just died. Judas Priest isn't selling sound systems anymore. Metal isn't on the charts and the long-haired leather-clad gods of yore haven't ruled pop culture in decades. But try telling that to the 80,000-strong crowd at the Download Festival in Leicestershire each June where bands like Metallica , Iron Maiden and Slipknot still reign supreme. Or to the sea of loyalists at Sonic Temple in Ohio, where crowds top 120,000. Or, closer home, at underground mosh pits and DIY metal fests in Bangalore, Bombay and Bengal.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ozzy Osbourne fans remember Birmingham star who was ‘a big part of our lives'
Fans of Ozzy Osbourne have paid tribute to the Birmingham music star who they say was 'a big part of our lives'. The heavy metal vocalist, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, died at the age of 76 on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family. Christine Turner, from the Hodge Hill area of Birmingham, wore her Aston Villa football shirt to pay tribute to Osbourne at the Black Sabbath mural in the city. She said her father was a childhood friend of the rock star and they used to play football together in Lodge Road, where they grew up. She told the PA news agency: 'He has been a big part of our lives, my dad was childhood best mates with him, so I've come up to pay my respects.' When asked how she felt when she heard he had died, she said: 'Shocked. I think deep in our hearts we knew it was coming, but it was still a shock last night. 'I was supposed to have done the washing last night but it didn't get done after I found out at about quarter past seven. 'I was upset, tears were shed last night.' Jimmy Smith, from Bristol, who was in the city to visit the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum, stopped at the scene on Wednesday morning to pay his respects. He told PA: 'I did like Ozzy, I saw him a few times back in the day. It was quite sad yesterday (when he died), but with the concert at Villa Park a few weeks back, I had a feeling it was coming. It felt like his final bow. 'I was up here a few weeks ago for the Iron Maiden concert so I knew the mural was here, so I thought I would come and have a look, and I'll also go to the Black Sabbath bridge before going to the museum.' Two Black Sabbath fans from King's Norton jumped on a train to visit the mural of the band in Birmingham to pay their respects to Osbourne following his death. Megan and Mia, who did not want to give their surnames, said they wished they had been able to go to Osbourne's last show at Villa Park on July 5. Megan said: 'It was really sad and heart-breaking (to hear he had died), I think I was expecting it to happen soon but not that quick.' When asked how it felt to visit the mural after Ozzy's death, Mia said: 'It's surreal but it's nice that people have put flowers out.' Mia added that she believed the next Aston Villa football game would be 'even more packed than usual' in Osbourne's memory. She said: 'I know there will be some form of respects paid to him at the game, definitely.' Osbourne played a final farewell concert in front of a home crowd at Villa Park earlier in the month. Black Sabbath were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back To The Beginning concert that took place not far from the Crown pub where they played their first gig in 1968. Also paying his respects was Black Sabbath's first manager, Jim Simpson, who spoke on Broad Street, where dozens of fans had gathered to pay tribute to the rock legend. When asked how he felt when he heard the news Osbourne had died, Mr Simpson said: 'Deep sadness, but no surprise, because it's been on the cards for quite a long time. 'He even said beforehand that he expected to die on the stage at the July the fifth show at Villa Park. The world's lost an inordinately nice, balanced, human being.' Referencing the amount of people who had turned up to pay tribute to Osbourne following his death, he said: 'The fact is, there are people here who are 80 years of age or eight years of age and all stages in between and it shows he had a remarkable way of contacting people. 'It has been 55 years and still (Black Sabbath) are more popular than ever. 'It is remarkable and they have all done a great job and they should be proud of themselves.' Black Sabbath, comprised of vocalist Osbourne, drummer Bill Ward, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Terence 'Geezer' Butler, formed in 1968 and were credited with shaping the heavy metal genre. The group were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and Osbourne was added for a second time, as a solo artist, last year. In the noughties he featured in MTV series The Osbournes, which followed the lives of him, his wife Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne fans remember Birmingham star who was ‘a big part of our lives'
Fans of Ozzy Osbourne have paid tribute to the Birmingham music star who they say was 'a big part of our lives'. The heavy metal vocalist, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, died at the age of 76 on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family. Christine Turner, from the Hodge Hill area of Birmingham, wore her Aston Villa football shirt to pay tribute to Osbourne at the Black Sabbath mural in the city. She said her father was a childhood friend of the rock star and they used to play football together in Lodge Road, where they grew up. She told the PA news agency: 'He has been a big part of our lives, my dad was childhood best mates with him, so I've come up to pay my respects.' When asked how she felt when she heard he had died, she said: 'Shocked. I think deep in our hearts we knew it was coming, but it was still a shock last night. 'I was supposed to have done the washing last night but it didn't get done after I found out at about quarter past seven. 'I was upset, tears were shed last night.' Jimmy Smith, from Bristol, who was in the city to visit the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum, stopped at the scene on Wednesday morning to pay his respects. He told PA: 'I did like Ozzy, I saw him a few times back in the day. It was quite sad yesterday (when he died), but with the concert at Villa Park a few weeks back, I had a feeling it was coming. It felt like his final bow. 'I was up here a few weeks ago for the Iron Maiden concert so I knew the mural was here, so I thought I would come and have a look, and I'll also go to the Black Sabbath bridge before going to the museum.' Two Black Sabbath fans from King's Norton jumped on a train to visit the mural of the band in Birmingham to pay their respects to Osbourne following his death. Megan and Mia, who did not want to give their surnames, said they wished they had been able to go to Osbourne's last show at Villa Park on July 5. Megan said: 'It was really sad and heart-breaking (to hear he had died), I think I was expecting it to happen soon but not that quick.' When asked how it felt to visit the mural after Ozzy's death, Mia said: 'It's surreal but it's nice that people have put flowers out.' Mia added that she believed the next Aston Villa football game would be 'even more packed than usual' in Osbourne's memory. She said: 'I know there will be some form of respects paid to him at the game, definitely.' Osbourne played a final farewell concert in front of a home crowd at Villa Park earlier in the month. Black Sabbath were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back To The Beginning concert that took place not far from the Crown pub where they played their first gig in 1968. Also paying his respects was Black Sabbath's first manager, Jim Simpson, who spoke on Broad Street, where dozens of fans had gathered to pay tribute to the rock legend. When asked how he felt when he heard the news Osbourne had died, Mr Simpson said: 'Deep sadness, but no surprise, because it's been on the cards for quite a long time. 'He even said beforehand that he expected to die on the stage at the July the fifth show at Villa Park. The world's lost an inordinately nice, balanced, human being.' Referencing the amount of people who had turned up to pay tribute to Osbourne following his death, he said: 'The fact is, there are people here who are 80 years of age or eight years of age and all stages in between and it shows he had a remarkable way of contacting people. 'It has been 55 years and still (Black Sabbath) are more popular than ever. 'It is remarkable and they have all done a great job and they should be proud of themselves.' Black Sabbath, comprised of vocalist Osbourne, drummer Bill Ward, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Terence 'Geezer' Butler, formed in 1968 and were credited with shaping the heavy metal genre. The group were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and Osbourne was added for a second time, as a solo artist, last year. In the noughties he featured in MTV series The Osbournes, which followed the lives of him, his wife Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ozzy's loss feels like losing a godfather, says Girish Pradhan of Girish & The Chronicles
Collage of Girish Pradhan on the Black Sabbath bridge and Ozzy Osbourne at his last concert For Girish Pradhan, frontman of Sikkim-based rock band Girish & The Chronicles , Ozzy Osbourne wasn't just a music legend — he was a guiding force. 'This is a sad day for rock'n'roll,' said Pradhan. 'Ozzy left a lasting influence on anyone into rock music — including us, as teenagers in Gangtok in the late '90s, getting into rock and metal through pirated tape compilations called things like Greatest Rock Hits . I remember one had Paranoid and Rock'n'Roll Doctor — me and my brother Yogesh [GATC bassist] loved those songs right off the bat. Later, when we really dove in, it was War Pigs and Black Sabbath that hooked us.' Though Pradhan gravitated towards high-octane vocalists like Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, he says Ozzy's subtle power left a unique imprint. 'I was more into the screaming vocal style — Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, the stuff that traced its roots back to Robert Plant and Janis Joplin. But Ozzy gave me a very different perspective. His note selection, phrasing, timing — all of it had a huge influence on my songwriting. The way he built melodies with Black Sabbath was something else.' Just weeks before Ozzy's final farewell concert in Birmingham, Girish found himself in the city — almost serendipitously. 'Me and my wife landed up in Birmingham on July 7. There was a visa issue and we missed the show on the 6th — though we had tickets through friends. Still, it was a beautiful tour. First thing I did when we landed was head to this massive Black Sabbath museum with a huge poster of Ozzy welcoming you to the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like End Season Sale: Special Discount Luxury Watches Buy Now Undo And then, there we were, at the town square — Black Sabbath mania all around us, and right in the middle of it, a Bollywood film was being shot! (laughs) It was surreal.' Despite Ozzy's towering presence in his life, Girish never got to see him live. 'Iron Maiden came to India — I didn't go. I've never seen Ozzy live. That's why this loss hits so hard. It feels like losing a godfather. It wasn't just his songs or that unique voice. It was his persona, his presence — the way he brought the metal community together. He was the centre of it all.' For GATC, Ozzy's influence runs deep. 'No other band has shaped and influenced the world of metal like the Ozzy era of Black Sabbath. That's who Ozzy will always be for me. In fact, we named our first album Back on Earth — after his song. He truly was the guiding force for us musicians.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Who was cab driver George Murdoch aka Dod and what do we know about his ‘cheesewire' killer?
The 58-year-old was found at the scene lying in a pool of blood and had suffered horrific injuries MURDER HUNT Who was cab driver George Murdoch aka Dod and what do we know about his 'cheesewire' killer? A NEW Channel 5 documentary reveals the advancements in forensics that could lead cops to the door of the infamous 'cheesewire' killer who brutally murdered an Aberdeen cabbie more than 40 years ago. George Murdoch, 58, was battered and choked to death by the fiend in a quiet street in the city in 1983. Advertisement 1 The killer used cheesewire to brutally murder George Murdoch Who was George Murdoch aka Dod? George, known affectionately to everyone as Dod, had been working as a taxi driver for about a year. On September 29 1983 he radioed his office to say he had picked up a fare to the Culter area of the city. Witnesses called cops to say they'd seen him getting beaten up on Station Road in the Pitfodels area of Aberdeen, about four miles from his destination. He was found at the scene lying in a pool of blood and had suffered horrific injuries after being garotted by the cheesewire. Advertisement George's wife Jessie never got over his murder before she died in 2004, and all his closest relatives have passed away. His nephew Alex is determined to get answers and last year offered up part of a £50,000 reward. The retired procurement manager, of Banchory, Aberdeenshire, said in September: 'I dream about the day [the cops] phone up to say, 'We've got him.'' In a statement posted on a Facebook page dedicated to securing justice for George and his family in December 2024, campaigners also told of a £10,000 incentive to catch the killer. Advertisement It read: 'In some families, dark secrets may lie buried for many years. The killer may only have told one who was very close to him. 'It is possible that this secret was known only to them and never shared with others. 'Hence why this new form of familial DNA testing can be so useful in tracking killers, no matter how many years may have passed.' It added: 'By offering this £10,000 reward sum, our hope is that it might act as an incentive and encourage everyone to comply.' Advertisement Another key part of the probe is a man who was seen wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt in Wilson's Sports Bar on Market Street in Aberdeen in 2015. Man who stabbed woman to death as she slept confesses to her murder Detective Inspector James Callander, who is in charge of the investigation, said: 'I would ask everyone to think back to when George was murdered. If you have any concerns at all from around that time, please don't dismiss them and contact us. 'The solving of this horrific crime requires the help of the public. I would urge anyone with information to please come forward. We want to give George's family some much needed closure.' What do we know about his 'cheesewire' killer? A massive hunt for the killer, said to be slim and in his 20s or 30s, got underway and cops spoke to 10,000 people. Advertisement The murderer has been on the loose for decades, but did leave some of his DNA at the scene. No one has ever been arrested but advances in technology allowed the team to identify the partial DNA profile last year. That didn't match with anyone on the national database but the evidence has now been expanded to identify potential close relatives. This is based on the theory that DNA is inherited and all family members share certain aspects of it. Advertisement Last year, detectives revealed they can use this vital genetic clue to track down the monster's family and the new two-part documentary delves into these advancements. DI Callander said at the time: 'This new DNA data is significant and will help take us a step closer to getting justice for Mr Murdoch's family. 'The familial DNA links identified will assist in tracing people who can help with our enquiries. 'I want to make clear these individuals are not suspects, but we hope they may be able to help with our ongoing investigation.' Advertisement Presented by journalist Kirsty Wark and narrated by Unforgotten star Nicola Walker, Forensics Murder Case starts at 9pm on July 21. The concluding episode is on July 22 at 9pm.
