OZZY OSBOURNE spoke to Cameron Adams from Australia's Herald Sun recently about a number of topics including his current album Black Rain. While Black Rain made No. 3 on the US Billboard charts, like everyone else, Osbourne is battling lower sales in the modern era.

"I've been suffering terribly from people downloading it. If they don't find something to stop it, people won't be able to make records. There won't be any new bands. How are they going to survive?

"I'm an old-timer, I've been doing it 40 years now, but new bands are going to suffer. It's ridiculous, you could be doing it for nothing.

"Sharon said I'd be astounded to find out how many bands are touring because you can download a record but you can't beat a rock show.

"I've never done in a long time as many live shows as I'm doing now. This year I've done 90 shows.

"I mean, I ain't getting any younger. Sharon says to me 'Just stand there'. I can't just fucking stand there! I'm a moving target. People would aim their can of beer at my head!"

Osbourne says playing live is a better high than any drink or drug.

"I never used to drink to go on stage, I used to do it after I'd done my work. I was probably still pissed from the night before. To be honest with you, it's as interesting for me to be sober as it was for me when I was getting drunk."

Though Osbourne is still enjoying his current workload ("My job is to get that crowd going nuts. I'll do anything I can to do that. I go to see them as much as they go to see me") he's not entertaining the notion of retirement.

"I did try that but I've still got life in my bones. I'm still selling lots of records. If there comes a day when I'm playing to empty clubs, what's the point after I've done what I'm doing? It seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

"I've been doing it at the level I'm at now for a lot of years. There have been ups and downs along the way, like any career, but I've survived it physically and professionally. All I know is I'm here today.

"I'm either incredibly lucky or a survivor. To survive you don't have to be strong. A lot drank and used more drugs than I did. Some are dead. Then there are some who didn't do as much drugs and alcohol as I did. Some lived, some died. I've always said that when I die it won't be from natural causes, it'll be some rare bird who's s--- on me and given me some disease no one's heard of."

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