Jack Osbourne shared details about his last conversation with his father Ozzy Osbourne before the rock legend’s death on July 22, 2025. Speaking on the Hate to Break it to Ya with Jamie Kennedy podcast, Jack recalled helping Ozzy prepare for bed after Black Sabbath‘s final reunion concert. While brushing his teeth and looking in the mirror, Ozzy told his son “I think I’m gonna cut my hair off.” When Jack asked why, Ozzy responded “I’ve retired. I’m not a rock star anymore.” Jack believes his father “was done” and “was OK with his journey.” Ozzy died from a heart attack, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Jack said Ozzy was having a normal day when he died, calling it a “surprise.” “Obviously, everyone knew he was sick. But we weren’t expecting it to be as quick as it was. I think he was done,” Jack said. (TMZ)
Country Joe McDonald, the folk-rock musician who became a counterculture icon through his Vietnam War protest song at Woodstock, died on Saturday (March 7) at the age of 84. Born Joseph Allen McDonald on January 1, 1942, he passed away from Parkinson’s disease in Berkeley according to social media statements. McDonald gained fame with Country Joe and the Fish, performing “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” at the 1969 Woodstock Festival alongside the notorious “Fish Cheer” that had audiences spelling out profanity. He told Street Spirit website the song’s importance was “that it had a new point of view that did not blame soldiers for war. It just blamed the politicians and it blamed the manufacturers of weapons.” The band formed in Berkeley in 1965 with guitarist Barry Melton. After the group disbanded in 1971, McDonald continued releasing solo records addressing environmental and civil rights issues. He is survived by his wife Kathy and five children. (Variety)
On Friday (March 6), Netflix unveiled the official trailer for The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, a documentary examining the band’s early years with original guitarist Hillel Slovak. Director Ben Feldman‘s film features interviews with band members Flea, Anthony Kiedis, and John Frusciante, exploring their childhood friendships and the group’s beginnings in Los Angeles’ music scene. However, the Chili Peppers recently distanced themselves from the project, stating “We had nothing to do with it creatively. We have yet to make a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary.” The documentary will premiere at SXSW on March 13th before streaming on Netflix on March 20th. Slovak formed the band with Flea, Kiedis, and drummer Jack Irons in 1983 and played on their first three albums before dying from a drug overdose in 1988 at age 26. Frusciante later replaced him in the lineup. (Consequence of Sound)
Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe delivered a rare live performance on Saturday night (March 7) during Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy‘s tribute concert at Brooklyn Steel. Stipe sang two R.E.M. songs with the group, the 1986 deep cut “These Days,” and “The Great Beyond” from the Man on the Moon soundtrack. The performance marked Stipe’s first time singing those classic tracks live since 2008. Shannon and Narducy have toured as an R.E.M. tribute act for several years, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 album, Lifes Rich Pageant, during this current run of shows. R.E.M. members have frequently joined the tribute shows over the years, including a memorable 2024 performance at the 40 Watt Club in the group’s hometown of Athens, Georgia that featured all four original band members reuniting on stage for the first time in 20 years. Guitarist Peter Buck also joined the group at their recent 40 Watt show earlier on this tour. (Rolling Stone)