UPDATE: Listen to a new song now!

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Black Sabbath on 'CSI,' no joke

Via Ozzy's Facebook:

For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an asshole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober.

Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I'm just trying to be a better person.

I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my band mates for my insane behavior during this period.........and my fans.

God Bless,

Ozzy

Catch a sober Ozzy Osbourne with his reunited band Black Sabbath on the road this summer, including at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on August 4. Tickets go on presale Thursday (4/18) with a presale code of "SABBATH," and regular sale on Saturday at noon.

As discussed, the first Black Sabbath single from the new album 13, "God is Dead," will be released Thursday (via Clear Channel radio stations) and another will be performed on the season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (no shit) which airs May 15. Iommi recently described the LP as one that "sits comfortably with our first three albums - Black Sabbath, Paranoid and Master Of Reality." That would make my year, but we'll see.

To quote High Times,

Colorado's Amendment 64, which will regulate marijuana like alcohol and remove civil and criminal penalties for adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, has passed.

Colorado is the first state to legalize marijuana.

Amendment 64 will also allow adults to grow their own cannabis - up to six plants in an enclosed space.

Congratulations Colorado!

Washington voters on Tuesday passed Initiative 502 to legalize, regulate and tax sales of small amounts of marijuana to adults, a measure that flies in the face of federal law and policy that still treats possession of cannabis as a crime.

A similar measure in Colorado was ahead, and Massachusetts became the 18th state to approve use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Washington, by its vote, became a national pacesetter in the drive to reform drug laws. The reform effort was led by former federal prosecutors, the Seattle City Attorney and an ex-top FBI agent -- all former warrior in the 40-year "War on Drugs."

Oregon also has weed on the ballot, but Measure 80 didn't pass there.

Last year, five Queens cops were hurt trying to stop an onslaught by gang members who attacked them with brass knuckles, knives and a baseball bat, court papers state.

Even Bushwick's hipsters ran afoul of the Forbidden Ones, who had a clubhouse on the ground floor of a three-story loft building at 15 Thames St.

"My roommates said they got assaulted by members of the biker gang," said Wendy Scher, a 33-year-old resident of the building. "Two of them won't come back because they're afraid."

But other residents got a kick out of the outlaws.

"They're really nice guys. "They're really chill. I party with them all the time," said Alex Syner, 25.

But even the most free-spirited bohemian might have been uneasy to know that a two-wheeled cannon was loaded and aimed at the front door of the Forbidden Ones' lair, ready to fire at infiltrators, according to the prosecutor.

"The defendants wear the 'patch' to make it known that they are 'outlaws' who reject mainstream society and live outside the law," wrote Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen. [Daily News]

Man these Texas cops have it out for touring musicians!

Rapper Nelly was detained last night in Texas while police officers searched his tour bus -- and found HEROIN in addition to a loaded gun ... and MASSIVE amounts of weed ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

According to law enforcement sources, Nelly's bus was stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca -- and a police canine detected the presence of drugs.

We're told cops pulled the bus over -- and after performing a search, they found 36 small baggies of heroin (totaling .64 ounces) and over TEN POUNDS of marijuana inside a large green duffel bag (an amount roughly the size of a large bed pillow).

Cops also say they found a loaded .45 caliber pistol.

There were seven people riding on Nelly's bus at the time -- including the rapper -- and they were all detained during the search.

According to law enforcement sources, one of the passengers -- a guy named Brian Keith Jones -- admitted the drugs and the gun were his. He was subsequently placed under arrest.

Nelly and the remaining five were let go. Calls to Nelly's reps were not returned.

FYI -- this is the same checkpoint where multitudes of celebs have been busted for drugs in recent years ... including Willie Nelson, Armie Hammer, Snoop Dogg, and Fiona Apple. [TMZ]

In somewhat related news, Fiona Apple's Austin show has changed status from "postponed" to "cancelled". her NJ, Long Island and NYC shows this week are still all on though.

And just when we were starting to wonder if Billy's freak out was a PR stunt, Green Day announces:

Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse. We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas. We regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances.

Which appearances are being cancelled is unclear, but the band is supposed to be on Kimmel and Ellen this week along with some other California gigs. Their proper tour with Best Coast doesn't start for a while though. Take care Billie Joe.

Watch the on-stage freakout HERE.

Fiona Apple at Bowery Ballroom in March (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

TMZ reports that Fiona Apple was arrested in Texas yesterday (9/19) for possession of hash. She's currently beind held at Hudspeth County Jail.

If all goes well, Fiona will return to the NYC area for multiple shows in October. Meanwhile she's scheduled to play the Moody Theater in Austin tonight. UPDATE: Tonight's show is sadly postponed

Free Fiona! UPDATE: she is actually free at least.

Apple spent the night in the Hudspeth County Jail, and was ordered released this afternoon on $11,000 bond.

Apple was arrested at the same checkpoint where Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and 'J. Edgar' actor Armie Hammer were arrested on similar charges. What does Dean-Walker think of all of the celebrities being arrested in her remote county, which is in the Big Bend between San Antonio and El Paso?

"I think the reason we're catching so many celebrities there is they are going through there with stuff they shouldn't have," she said. [WOAI]

You can see her mugshot, via TMZ, below...

Continue reading "Fiona Apple arrested for possession of hash in Texas"

Coachella 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Dude falling from wooden Coachella art and more Youtube fun from this year's festival, below...

Continue reading "VIDEOS: 'Guy Falls From Wooden Structure @ Coachella 2012'"

Madonna has added a Madison Square Garden show to her tour that already included two shows at Yankee Stadium. Tickets for the November 12th show are on pre-sale now (password: Madge). General sale begins 3/30 at 10am.

In related news, Madonna was just down at Ultra Music Festival where she asked a giant crowd how many of them have "seen Molly". She has since denied it was a drug reference, though as Deadmau5 pointed out after hearing it, it obviously was (even if she didn't realize it). Watch in the first minute of the video, below...

Continue reading "Madonna adds MSG show, asks Ultra Music Fest crowd if they've seen Molly (video) "

by BBG

Buzzov-en at Maryland Death Fest (more by BBG)

Posted to Facebook on Wednesday evening:

I am the singer and man who started buzzoven.I am in recovery from drug addiction and would love to share my journey with anyone who wants maybe to stop drinking or using drugs. This helps me!!

Meanwhile, I'm waiting anxiously for new music when he's ready, and some of his bandmates are out on the road in Hail Hornet.

The Lemonheads played their first of two full-album shows at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday night (10/9), sort of. Eric wrote in:

"I just hope you make it known that they FAILED to deliver tonight...after waiting for way too long, they did not perform Its a Shame About Ray...they just FAILED...I have lived in NYC since early 2001 and have gone to MANY MANY shows...and I have never been so completely disappointed and never felt so totally ripped off. Evan seemed like he didnt even care that they didn't perform the album as marketed. I went down to the men's room halfway thru their set and everyone downstairs was like, "WTF are they doing...this is total BS..." It was such a let down...even the merch girl was sorry about them NOT PLAYING THE ALBUM AT ALL...they played more of come on feel the...I don't know...I feel like my time and money got totally wasted..and I loved this band and that album...WTF...BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. I hope I am not the only one who felt this. "

Missed out? They do it again tonight! (though it is currently sold out)

"Just hours before his band was to open for Soundgarden on Sunday, the bass player for Coheed and Cambria, the alternative rock band from Nyack, N.Y., was arrested on charges he robbed a pharmacy in Massachusetts to get prescription painkillers, the Associated Press reported.

The police said the bassist, Mike Todd, entered the Walgreens pharmacy in Attleboro, Mass., on Sunday afternoon and showed the pharmacists a note on his telephone claiming he had a bomb. Mr. Todd, who is 30, was said to have demanded six bottles of OxyContin and then caught a cab to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Mass., where his band was to play the opening set before Soundgarden took the stage. He was arrested at the concert hall before the show and charged with armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance, the police said. The band played without him." [NY Times]

Update: Pictures from the Jones Beach show (though none of Coheed), HERE.

photos by Dana (Distortion) Yavin & Graeme Flegenheimer

Primus

Arcade Fire

Two New York men who got arrested here Friday never made it to Bonnaroo. That's because law officers allegedly found they were carrying over a pound of cocaine, 1,000 ecstasy pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Alberto R. Almonte, 40, and Joseph Cruz, 29, both of the Bronx, N.Y., are charged with possession of drugs for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia. Almonte is also charged with speeding.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, it was around 2 p.m. Friday when Trooper Matilda Mahaney clocked a 2006 Chevrolet Impala doing 83 in a 55 mile-per-hour zone on Highway 111 in Putnam County.

The trooper stopped the car "and discovered that the two occupants were enroute to Bonnaroo in Manchester," says a news release from the THP. [Herald Citizen]

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2011 -- Day 2 in pics (Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, NOFX, Grace Potter, Lil Wayne, Primus & more)"

Coachella ferris wheel Friday night (more by David Andrako)

The LA Times reports...

"A young woman who attempted to jump out of a Coachella Ferris wheel gondola was saved from almost certain injury late Friday evening when a nearby companion grabbed her legs and held onto her until the gondola could be lowered, an Indio Fire Department spokesman has confirmed. A potentially major crisis was averted as the woman was unharmed....

....Indio police were first to the scene, said Talbot, and the would-be jumper, "a young lady mentally altered on substances," said Talbot, was taken off-site for further care. It was unclear whether the jumper was saved by someone riding in the same gondola, or was caught by someone in the gondola below her. (Rumors of the latter version include someone in the second gondola yelling "I will catch you" before the attempted jump.)...

...The Ferris wheel is running Saturday afternoon, and the woman selling tickets, who identified herself as the owner, refused to speak to a reporter. "I haven't heard that and don't know anything about what you're talking about," she said. "No comment."...

Continue reading "the mysterious Coachella ferris wheel jumper..."

"As this years holiday gift, Johnny Winter was told by his Guitarist/Manager Paul Nelson (2011 KBA recipient) that he had been slowly lowering his methadone dosage for 3 years without Johnny's knowledge and, as a result, Johnny is completely off of his 40 year addiction as of 8 months ago and is finally drug free! Johnny could not be more amazed, happier and healthier..." [Blues Foundation]

Continue reading "Johnny Winter reportedly drug free for first time in 40 years, touring (dates)"

Waylon (a fictional character played by Justin's dad)

Mr. [Justin Townes] Earle said he began using hard drugs at age 12, while sharing a house with his father, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who's had his own bouts with addiction and jail time. Though he admitted he's reluctant to take his father's advice, Mr. Earle said they occasionally go to 12-step meetings together.

"It takes a lot for someone with the substance abuse issues I have to stay away from such things," said Mr. Earle, who added that he was consuming a half-gallon of vodka a day, cocktail by cocktail. "If you hang around the barber shop long enough, you're going to get a haircut. I'd just gotten to a point with my drinking that it required a medical detox. Alcoholics and junkies tend to become stupid when it comes to that. We need giant catastrophes to hip us to the fact that we're f----- up."

Back on his feet, Mr. Earle will embark from his East Village apartment on Thanksgiving for his first concerts since September, with shows in Nashville this weekend, followed by a Dec. 18 rain date at New York's Webster Hall. [Wall Street Journal]

Steve Earle opens for Levon Helm at Beacon Theater on 11/26.

All Justin dates below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle talks about his addiction, embarking on rescheduled tour (dates) "

Santos Party House - 10/28/2010 (picturs via the Village Voice)

As I was saying last night, Santos Party House was suddenly shut down right before the Ninja Tune party last night, forcing it to move to BLVD. One person who was there wrote, "Santos can get crowded, but BLVD was just insanely packed. The sound was ear-splittingly bad and the drinks crazy expensive. And STILL we had a great time."

This morning the Village Voice posted the above pictures which give some explanation (from the government's point of view) of what went down...

"(The notice alleges: "Criminal sale or possession of controlled substances, marihuana, or for any other violation of Articles 220 and/or 221 of New York State Penal Law." Articles 220 and 221 set criminal penalties for possession or sale of, yup, marijuana.) A promoter-affiliated door person we spoke with said that she had just arrived at Santos to set up for the party when the police came to shut the venue down. They were told they had to leave because no one was allowed in the building."

Now just waiting for the national headlines: "party rocker Andrew WK's nightclub alleged drug den".

Stay tuned for more info, but don't count on any of their listed events scheduled for this weekend happening (at Santos anyway), Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black Halloween show included.

Justin Townes Earle @ Governors Island in August (more by Chris La Putt)

Justin Townes Earle has decided to suspend the remaining dates on his tour and enter a rehabilitation facility. Earle is strongly committed to confronting his on-going struggle with addiction and thanks his family, friends and fans for their continued support through this difficult time.

In regards to the misdemeanor charges recently filed in Indianapolis, Earle released the following statement earlier this week: "Unfortunately, reports surfacing online about the incident in Indianapolis are not accurate. I have been advised by counsel that I should not comment on a pending criminal matter, but suffice to say that I am looking forward to having my day in court. I would also like to say that I oppose violence against women in any form."

Earle looks forward to resuming the tour in support of his critically-acclaimed third album, Harlem River Blues, on independent record label Bloodshot Records. The album enters this week at #47 on the Top 200 in overall Soundscan.

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle postpones tour, enters rehab "

"Authorities say an arrest in Scott County has made them more aware of a new kind of often abused substance -- something some call the "new marijuana."

Drug agents arrested Sytanya Darren Fells on Friday during a traffic stop on Highway 27 in Oneida. Fells is wanted in Knox County for felony theft and in Florida for felony grand larson.

Fells was a passenger in a camper bound for Bonnaroo. According to drug agents, a serach of the vehicle showed the driver, Larry Thurber, was carrying 38 Xaxax pills and "Mojo" - a synthetic herbal incense often used as an alternative to marijuana." [WBIR, Knoxville, TN]

Continue reading ""the new marijuana" discovered on its way to Bonnaroo"

Video below...

Continue reading "Butts County trying to stop drugs from getting to Bonnarooo"

Bushwick (more by Ryan Muir)

The Daily News reports raids on two apartments near the Bushwick-Ridgewood border turned up a $10 million stash of cocaine - or 80 pounds (!!!) - and a small arsenal (of big firearms) on Tuesday.

The raid was called on after narcotics officers observed a drug deal in front of the Ridgewood apartment Monday afternoon. The search led cops to the white mountain, scales, and clues leading to a house in Bushwick, where officers found an AK-47 rifle, two Uzi submachine guns, five handguns, and ammo.

"It's very rare to have a seizure of this size in these kinds of neighborhoods," Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan told the Daily News. [BushwickBK.com]

So there were the strutting guys. And there was the maniacal naked guy (whose video was removed, but someone uploaded another one of the same incident). I now present wasted flip flop guy...

Continue reading "wasted flip flop guy at Coachella (video) "

Festival 8 (more pictures by Fresh Bread)

Dead heads and pot heads take note. While the straight economy goes up in smoke with double digit unemployment, job prospects for hippies are booming -- and not just for boomers.

At the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) they're looking to hire an official Grateful Dead archivist.

And in Denver, where Colorado's medical marijuana industry is legally flourishing, there are these two recent job postings:

The alternative newspaper Westword is advertising for a pot reviewer, asking for a short essay from applicants on "What Marijuana Means to Me".

Similarly, a new biotech company, Full Spectrum Laboratories, needs scientists to test the potency of cannabis samples and salesmen to market their quality-control [ABC News]

Tickets are on sale (Saturday @ 10am) for the Jay-Z shows at the Izod Center and Nassau Coliseum.

Screaming Females are playing the Bell House on November 25th with the So So Glos. Tickets are on sale.

ATP NY 2010 is now on sale.

Magnetic Fields and other tickets went on sale yesterday.

Tickets are on sale (Saturday @ 10am) for the Phish shows happening in Miami at the end of the year (New Years Eve included).

Eli Paperboy Reed plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight (11/21)

Negative Approach is at Southpaw this afternoon.

Yo Gabba Gabba perform their first of THREE SHOWS TODAY at Beacon Theater this morning! if you go, report back with what special guests they bring out (if any).

Happy Saturday!

Continue reading "Pentagram, Screaming Females, Phish, Jay-Z & other tickets +++ Yo Gabba Gabba is here (3 Beacon shows today)"

Christian County, Kentucky court house (Kristin Klein)

On November 16, 2009 Kristin Klein entered a guilty plea to 2nd degree possession of a controlled substance in Christian County, Kentucky. Ms Klein was driving a rental vehicle that was randomly stopped at a safety checkpoint. Officers located a controlled substance in the cab of the vehicle. Ms Klein was unaware of the contraband and the validity of her license was indeterminable at time of arrest. Under KY law a driver of a vehicle is responsible for its contents. Therefore, Ms Klein entered a guilty plea and is scheduled to appear on April 2, 2010 to provide proof of her valid license.

King Khan & BBQ Show are driving through the night to make their Los Angeles show at Troubador tomorrow. Tonight's show in Phoenix is cancelled, but all further west coast dates and will to be honored. Kristin Klein is safe with the band and continuing her tenure as tour manager.

Continue reading "Tour manager pleads guilty, King Khan tour resumes in LA"

"Police arrested eight people and seized 18 nitrous oxide tanks and dozens of balloons used to inhale nitrous oxide, from patrons at a Phish concert at the Comcast Theatre Friday night. Police sent a detail to the parking lots around the theater at 61 Savitt Way to investigate possible narcotics activity at around 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sgt. Dennis O'Connor said. In addition to the tanks and the balloons, police seized several grams of marijuana and $1,190, O'Connor said." [Hartford Courant]

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

"It took Patricia Mudnich and Joshua Garcia two weeks, driving their RV about 3,100 miles in a winding route from Santa Cruz, Calif., to arrive at the Rothbury music festival in West Michigan.

Cool weather and a short wait in line after the campground opened Thursday morning didn't faze them in the least. The diehard fans of The String Cheese Incident -- the popular jam band which plays its only reunion show of the summer at the second-year festival Friday -- were all smiles.

"The lineup was so impressive, we could not turn it down," said Mudnich, 41, a high school English teacher who estimated the couple spent more than $2,100 on the long trip, including festival tickets, gasoline and side trips to tourist spots such as Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. "I used to go to these festivals all the time, but now I can only fit it into the summer."

For devoted rock fans flocking this week to the remote Double JJ Ranch from far-flung places across the United States and beyond, Rothbury has become THE summer destination.

Drawing an estimated 30,000-plus people again this year, many of the festival's devotees have logged impressive road and air miles to see their favorite bands -- from The Dead to STS9 -- with clusters of enthusiastic, colorfully adorned fans making the journey from Vermont, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Colorado and all points between in everything from compact cars and pickups to dilapidated Volkwagen vans and old school buses." [Mlive.com]

Continue reading "pictures from the 2009 Rothbury Festival (NSFW)"