Mojo - The Music Magazine

Ozzy Osbourne is suing Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi over unpaid royalties.

Ozzy has accused Iommi of falsely claiming the sole copyright to the band's name and is claiming damages, lost profits and a share of the copyright.

"Tony, I am so sorry it's had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you," said Osbourne in a statement released on Friday. "We've all worked too hard and long in our careers to allow you to sell merchandise that features all our faces, old Black Sabbath album covers and band logos, and then you tell us that you own the copyright. We're all in our sixties now. The Black Sabbath legacy should live on long after we have all gone. Please do the right thing."

Ozzy is seeking a cut of the profits the guitarist made touring under the Black Sabbath name in the '90s. Iommi has responded that Osbourne legally relinquished claims to the band's name in the 1980s.

--------------------------------

Phil Spector has been sentenced to 19 years to life for the murder of Lana Clarkson.

The wall of sound producer, 69, was convicted of second degree murder last month for killing actress Clarkson at his home in Los Angeles.

"This is a sad day for everybody involved," said Spector's 28-year-old wife, Rachelle. "The Clarkson family has lost a daughter and a sister. I've lost my husband, my best friend. I feel that a grave injustice has been done and from this day forward I'm going to dedicate myself to proving my husband's innocence."

"I'm torn about this, I'm losing my father who is going to spend his life in jail," said the producer's son Louis - himself adopted by Spector in 1971 as a surprise Christmas present for then wife Ronnie - before adding, "at the same time, justice is served."

Read the full story here

--------------------------------

Joss Stone is reportedly so unhappy with EMI that she has offered to pay back her £2 million advance if they will let her go.

"Joss has completely lost faith in EMI," a source told the Daily Mail. "It's all pie charts and products and there's no creativity. She has no working relationship with them and no confidence they will support her or market her album properly. She's actually prepared to pay £2million for her freedom - that's how bad it is."

The mid-Atlantic accented singer is also refusing - Dexys Midnight Runners style - to hand over the masters for her next album, the enticingly titled Colour Me Free.

Stone previously attacked the label earlier this year over plans for the album. "They were supposed to be launching the album in April but now they've postponed it until July," she said. "I just don't know what's happening with it. They really need to pull their finger out. I've worked very hard on this record and I don't know what the plans are until EMI confirm a release date."

--------------------------------

Blur are offering the chance to win 46 pairs of tickets to their forthcoming intimate shows at London Goldsmith's College, (June 22) and Colchester's East Anglian Railway Museum (June 13).

Entrants need to pay a £5 charity donation for a chance to win. Money raised will go to the East Anglian Railway Museum, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Aldham Village Hall.

--------------------------------

To celebrate 40 years since the first gig at legendary Aylesbury rock club Friars, The Pretty Things, Edgar Broughton Band and The Groundhogs will play the town's Civic Centre tonight.

MOJO's Kris Needs attended the first ever show at Friars - featuring a double bill of Mandrake Paddle Steamer and Mike Cooper - and will be DJ-ing a selection of authentic 1969 tunes.

ALBUMS OUT TODAY

Eels - Hombre Lobo, Polydor.
Elvis Costello - Secret Profane & Sugarcane, Decca.
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up, Atlantic.
Patrick Wolf - Bachelor, Bloody Chamber Music.
-------------------------------------

And finally... a very happy birthday to Ronnie Wood, who is 62 today. Here's a clip of Woody and the Faces in all their booze-soaked glory performing Flying at The Marquee in 1970...