Epic Shut Up Kelly Osbourne
Blabbermouth.net reports the following.

US Weekly reports that outspoken singer Kelly Osbourne has been silenced by her bosses � she's been dropped by her record company Epic. 

The 18-year-old daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne has reportedly been released from her contract after her debut album "Shut Up", sold fewer  than 150,000 copies. A source told Us Weekly, "Sharon is pissed,"  explaining that Kelly's rocker dad Ozzy has been with Epic for more than 20 years. The timing was also a shock, adds the source, who explains, "Kelly was nearly done recording her second album when they pulled the plug."

see update below - Ozzy Leaves Sony

Weird Al Takes on Eminem and Avril.

Billboard reports: 
"Weird Al" Yankovic takes on hits by a whole new crop of pop stars on his latest album, "Poodle Hat," due May 20 via Way Moby/Volcano. On the 12-track set, the musical parody veteran reworks well-known songs by such artists as Eminem, Avril Lavigne, and Nelly.

The album's lead track is "Couch Potato," a commentary on America's obsession with media and celebrity, set to Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Because Yankovic is going along with Eminem's wishes, the song won't be supported by the type of video treatment that has become the hallmark of past "Weird Al" projects. 

"Eminem gave his approval for me to use 'Couch Potato' (my 'Lose Yourself' parody) as a track on my new album, but he wouldn't allow me to do a video for it," Yankovic tells Billboard.com. "He somehow feels that a Weird Al video would detract from his legacy or make people take him less seriously. I have to respect his decision, but it's obviously very disappointing for me -- it would have been an absolutely amazing video."

Elsewhere on "Poodle Hat," Lavigne's "Complicated" becomes "A Complicated Song," while Nelly's "Hot in Herre" is morphed into "Trash Day." Yankovic also turns Billy Joel's "Piano Man" into a "Spiderman" parody as "Ode to a Superhero," and the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" into the send-up "eBay."

Click here for the full article. 

Elton John Sucks ... Blood?

Undercover reports:
Elton John and Bernie Taupin have been given a project to sink their teeth into. They will write the music for a Broadway play based on Lestat, the Vampire.

An announcement for the project was made in New York this week. "I am so  thrilled at last to be working on this project," said Elton in a statement.

 "Interview With the Vampire is one of my favorite books and Anne Rice is one  of my favorite authors. Although this project has taken awhile to come together, I firmly believe we have the right team in place. The Vampire Lestat is the first stage musical that I've written with Bernie which makes it  even more special for me." 

Elton has had a long association with Broadway. He wrote the music for The  Lion King and AIDA.

The writer of the book Anne Rice is equally thrilled with the project. "I am  absolutely elated that this is happening," said Anne Rice. "Lestat will be given  a magnificent new incarnation. I have every confidence that the musical will be superb, as the songs I've heard capture the spirit of the material marvelously. The music and lyrics go right to the tragic heart of the work.

They reflect its most ambitious themes and they are beautiful. I couldn't be  more thrilled."

For Bernie Taupin, this marks his first venture with his long-time partner Sir  Reg on the Broadway stage. "I am thrilled to be working on a project that  has been on my radar screen since I first read Interview with the Vampire in 1976 and met with Anne Rice several years later" he says. "Anne had always loved the idea of seeing her Vampire Chronicles set in some sort of serious and seductive musical setting and for all of the parties involved this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Elton and I have threatened for years to work together on something for Broadway but until now had never found anything that appealed to both of us collectively or suited my own personal writing style. I'm happy to say that 'The Vampire Lestat' fills in all the blanks that  were missing. To unify these books into a linear storyline has transported us into a penetrating and episodic epic that I am excited and honored to immerse myself in wholeheartedly. Our intention is make a classically based show that is stripped of gothic clichés and that shows the vampire dealing with his damnation on a more realistic and human level. Please let me make this clear this is NOT a rock opera. Our hope is that it will be stylish, sexy, intelligent, rich and hypnotically dark." 

The working title for the show is The Vampire Lestat. The show is planned to debut in 2005.

Ozzy Leaves Sony?

It now appears that Ozzy is leaving Sony. That is if a report from People Magazine is correct (the new Osbourne mag of preference for coverage. Sorry Ozz but it's true). The timeline is a bit screwy but the People report supposedly has Sharon trying to get Epic to release Kelly from her contract. Or was she dropped and Sharon decided to pull Ozzy in response? Hum, the drama of the Osbournes. Remember when he was our lovable "Prince of Darkness" and not a mainstream media darling? Below is Jam Showbiz report on Ozzy leaving Sony Posted on Thursday May 8th. (which came after the news that Kelly got drop kicked from Sony for those who are keeping score or even care at this point). 
 

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