More than 30 years after its release, OZZY OSBOURNE’s sixth solo album–the Top 10 (#7) and quadruple platinum NO MORE TEARS will be celebrated with an expanded digital audio album due out September 17 (Sony). Two special editions–a 2LP black vinyl version and a special yellow and red 2LP vinyl version with a specially created booklet–will be released simultaneously.
Earlier this week, it was announced that a never-before-released interpretation of “Hellraiser”–with a mash-up of vocals by OZZY OSBOURNE and the song’s co-writer, longtime friend and colleague Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead–was added to the digital 30th anniversary release of OZZY’s classic album NO MORE TEARS out today (September 17) via Sony. Now comes news that this new updated version of “Hellraiser” will be issued as a stand-alone release on OZZY’s birthday, December 3. The special 10” black vinyl single features three versions of the song, which was co-written by OZZY, his friend and colleague Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead and OZZY’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde. In addition to the new “Hellraiser” mash-up–which was remixed by Rob Kinelski–the 10” will include the classic original OZZY track with Motorhead’s version of the same song as the B-side.
“Hellraiser” originally appeared on NO MORE TEARS; Motorhead then recorded their own version and released it as a single from their 1992 March ör Die album. “Hellraiser” was one of four songs from NO MORE TEARS co-written by OZZY with Lemmy; the others are “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” “Desire,” and “I Don’t Want to Change the World.”
“I have a lot of great memories of making the album,” OZZY says. “We worked hard on the record with John Purdell and Duane Baron, who became extra two members of the band. Before we went into the studio, we discussed what we were going to do–everything was planned. It’s so nice when you get a producer who’s more like a part of the band than them saying, ’nah, you do it this way.’ Because we write them and when you write the songs, you have a mental picture of how you think you want it to sound. Sometimes you’re surprised for the better, but other times you’re disappointed, but John and Duane did an extraordinary job on the album. It was really, really well done. Every song was worked on for a long time and we spent extra time trying to get things right. But there was also lots of goofing around and we had a good time making it. And Zakk’s playing on it is spectacular.”
