Ozzy Osbourne has lashed out at illegal downloaders, blaming them for the poor sales of his new album Black Rain. The heavy rock icon claims he is "suffering terribly" from the effects of internet piracy, and his financial woes are such that he has been forced to perform 90 concerts in an effort to recoup his losses.
He tells Australia's Herald Sun newspaper, "If they don't find something to stop (this), people won't be able to make records. There won't be any new bands. How are they going to survive?"
Osbourne admits he's struggling to complete a grueling world tour he felt committed to after his new release took a hit in the record stores.
And he refuses to heed his manager/wife Sharon's advice and "just stand there" onstage.
He adds, "I ain't getting any younger. Sharon says to me 'Just stand there.' I can't just f---ing stand there! I'm a moving target. People would aim their can of beer at my head!"
Alice Cooper pictured without his famous stage makeup in 2006. 
Solo American hard shock rock artist Alice Cooper has commented that ''The Osbournes'', a reality TV show starring heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, ruined the career of the Black Sabbath frontman.

Cooper said he felt that by allowing daily life in his house to be broadcast to the world, he destroyed the mystery that had previously surrounded him.

"Most fans thought he lived in a big, dark castle with skeletons in the cellar." said Cooper.

"When that show aired they knew he was just some guy who potters around his Beverly Hills mansion. 

"It was meant to be some kind of comedy but the audience was laughing at Ozzy, not with him. And as a close friend, that made me very sad." 
Ozzy Osbourne performing live in 2007. 
Meanwhile, both artists have related news this week. Finnish solo symphonic power metal soprano Tarja Turunen, most famous as the former Nightwish frontwoman, has released a 30-second preview of her cover version of Alice Cooper's top ten hit ''Poison'', which will feature on her upcoming album ''My Winter Storm''.

Cooper himself has stated that during an upcoming tour he will replicate a mock hanging for the first time after a near-fatal accident performing the same stunt in 1988, only this time he will also be wearing a straightjacket.

Meanwhile, Ozzy has blamed illegal music downloads for poor sales of his latest album ''Black Rain'', saying that the low sales have forced him into a 90-gig world tour that he has admitted he can barely cope with.