Latest news with #JudasPriest
Time of India
8 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.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alice Cooper pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'a cross between the Prince of Darkness and a court jester'
Rock icons are paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died yesterday, and the legendary Alice Cooper has joined with his own thoughts on the Black Sabbath frontman. The pair were friends, having both emerged and found serious heavy metal fame in the late-60s and 70s. Cooper said, 'The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon. I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw. He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood - our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on.' Cooper also released a video of him and his band gathering their thoughts before they played a show in Cardiff last night Cooper is playing the O2 in London this Friday alongside Judas Priest, where you can expect more tributes to be paid. Further news on memorials for Osbourne are expected in the coming days.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Joanna Lumley says King Charles 'really is ill' as she shares rare health battle insight
Joanna Lumley has shared her deep admiration for King Charles and offered a rare insight into how the monarch is handing his health battle after being diagnosed with cancer last year Absolutely Fabulous legend Dame Joanna Lumley, a devoted royalist, has showered King Charles with glowing praise - describing the monarch as being "exceptionally brave". The 79-year-old actress, who received her damehood three years ago, offered the glowing tribute while discussing Charles' ongoing health struggles, following his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. Speaking to Saga Magazine, she said: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible." Yet Joanna's deep respect for Charles stretches back decades, as she insisted he had already established an extraordinary legacy well before ascending to the throne. She declared: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see, without being cruel to Prince William, because he had the role for so long. The Prince's Trust was set up when he was in his twenties - what a far-thinking thing to do!" Having encountered both Charles and Queen Camilla personally, Joanna described the latter as a "golden, fabulous person". The veteran performer claimed the press had backed Diana throughout the Royal couple's marital troubles, noting that "so much mud was flung" at the woman then known as Camilla Parker Bowles. She added: "But now she goes about her job without any rancour." Joanna received an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List before securing her Dame title 27 years later. She revealed discovering the news through a letter left her in floods of tears during an unforgettable moment that proved completely overwhelming. The 2022 honours were the final New Year's awards distributed by Queen Elizabeth II before her death nine months later, following her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Offering a glimpse into the late monarch, she remarked: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died." In 2021, Joanna released a book titled A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II. She explained to Jonathan Ross that it featured stories from individuals who had encountered her throughout her reign - ranging from figures like Winston Churchill to children who presented her with flowers on the street. One tale came from rock legend Rob Halford from Judas Priest, with Joanna revealing: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed I'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'" Meanwhile, Joanna has also attracted attention recently after voicing support for assisted dying - stating she wouldn't wish to continue living if left unable to speak or recognise her loved ones.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Joanna Lumley recalls tearful moment she received mystery letter from Buckingham Palace
The actress and campaigner was named a Dame in the New Year's Honours in 2022, the last list to be issued by the late Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September of that year. Joanna Lumley, a devoted royalist and tireless charity supporter, was over the moon when she was appointed an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List. However, when an "official-looking" letter arrived at Joanna 's doorstep seven years later, she was somewhat apprehensive. The Absolutely Fabulous actress confessed to Saga Magazine: "My heart sank because I thought it would say I'd been parking on the wrong side of the street. Then I opened it and was completely overwhelmed. I blubbed." She revealed that the letter, from Buckingham Palace, informed her she was to be made a Dame. Joanna added: "I was terribly moved. I don't think you should be rewarded for charity stuff - you do it because you love to help - but it was a big deal." Joanna remembers that the 2022 awards were the final New Year's Honours bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen passed away nine months later in September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee marking her record-breaking 70-year reign. Joanna remarked: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died." Joanna has penned a book titled 'A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Our One and Only Queen Elizabeth II on Her Platinum Jubilee', which compiles anecdotes from individuals who had the privilege of meeting the late monarch during her long reign. In conversation with Jonathan Ross, she revealed that these stories were gathered "from all kinds of people from very grand statesmen people like Ban Ki-moon and Khrushchev and Winston Churchill, right down to little kids who saw her passing by in the street and were allowed to go and give their flowers." She highlighted one particular tale from Rob Halford, the lead vocalist of rock band Judas Priest: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed i'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'" Speaking to Saga, Joanna also expressed her immense admiration for the King: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see," she stated. Noting that the King held the title of Prince Of Wales for over 64 years, she emphasised that his cancer diagnosis hasn't hindered him from fulfilling his Royal duties: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. "He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible." Joanna noted that during his time as Prince Of Wales, he experienced "a dark, dark time" when the media sided with Princess Diana against him: "So much mud was flung at the new Queen when she was Camilla Parker Bowles, but now she just goes about her job without any rancour. She's a golden, fabulous person."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Musical heritage 'should be part of Birmingham's tourism'
Birmingham is the home of Black Sabbath and widely regarded as the birthplace of heavy metal - but many have asked whether it gets the recognition it deserves for its rich musical heritage. As well as Sabbath, influential bands like Judas Priest and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) further solidify the city's place in rock history. Since thousands of fans visited for Sabbath's final performance, calls to make the location of the band's first ever gig part of a heritage site, have become should the city's historic roots in heavy metal become part of its official tourism? Birmingham has been championed in recent months in the lead up to Black Sabbath's star-studded final performance on 5 July, which saw 40,000 fans descend upon Villa Park stadium. While in the city, fans visited well known rock shrines like the Crown Pub, on Station Street, where images of the band members have been placed on the building's exterior. Sabbath, which used to be known as Earth, played their first gig at Henry's Blueshouse, which was located upstairs in the journalist Kirsty Bosley told the BBC the city has enough rock memorabilia ready to fill a dedicated museum. "Jim Simpson is still in Birmingham, he's still running Henry's Blueshouse and he's still got in his office in Broad Street with boxes full of memorabilia and leaflets and coverage and newspapers that is ready to go," she pub was built in 1881 and shut in 2014 after it was bought by a Japanese development company. Plans to restore the pub fell apart last year after Birmingham City Council retracted its offer of a loan. The council told the BBC it recognised the cultural significance of Station Street to the Saima Suleman said: "We are committed to working collaboratively with partners, to ensure that any future development reflects Birmingham's identity and supports inclusive growth."The council also wishes to reassure residents that we take seriously our role in protecting the city's heritage, and any proposals will be carefully considered through the proper planning process to balance progress with preservation."Speaking to BBC Radio WM, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker he would like to see Station Street saved, but there was a need "to ensure that any solution is financially robust and sustainable".Ms Boseley added: "It's difficult for me to accept that [anyone] thinks The Crown couldn't just wash its face, even just being a boozer near the busiest train station outside of London."Save Station Street campaigners said The Crown should be the site of "(un)holy pilgrimage".The group said: "The city has been gift-wrapped the most historic grassroots arts street in the UK."Yet most of it is closed down. Boarded up. Under threat. The Crown especially should be the site of (un)holy pilgrimage for every Sabbath fan, Metal Head, Ska Revivalist, Punk and Folkie globally - showcasing the best Brum music, beer, food and creativity." 'World paying attention' Tom Morello, of Rage Against The Machine, was the musical director for the Sabbath event. He told the BBC that the whole world was paying attention to the moment the band's original line-up played together for the first time in 20 years - "not just the heavy metal world".He said: "Black Sabbath is the band that invented heavy metal music, and it is a band that is so meaningful to so many of us, and the DNA of Black Sabbath is everywhere."Those are things that originated in your city. Those are things that originated with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne."Speaking about the black throne Ozzy performed from during the event, he added: "I'm not sure what happened to it, but hopefully there'll be some Birmingham museum of Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, where it should be in the front and the first thing you see when you walk in." 'Absolute hub' of music UB40's Robin Campbell told BBC Radio WM that he felt Birmingham had not got the recognition it deserved for the music it has produced over the said: "It's been an absolute hub of music, of all types, of all genres - from heavy metal and rock and reggae, but also pop groups - so much music has come out of Birmingham."Black Sabbath's connection to Birmingham has been compared to Liverpool's with The Cannon, who runs guided tours in Liverpool, said the city's musical heritage supported more than 2,300 research by the University of Liverpool in 2016, he said The Beatles' legacy was worth £82m to the city each year."We have got quite a large musical heritage, the same as Birmingham," he if Birmingham could support a similar music heritage economy, he said that Liverpool had largely achieved it without council backing and that most of the city's Beatles tourism was privately added: "It's taken nearly 30, 40 years for Beatles tourism to take off. But when it first opened nobody was interested in visiting it, but it's really taken off." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
