Ozzy hosted the special media showcase and press conference at his rehearsal space in North Hollywood on Monday. 

Ozzy played his last show with bassist Robert Trujillo last Friday in Las Vegas. Trujillo left Osbourne’s group to join Metallica. 

Here are excerpts from a press release about Monday’s showcase/announcement: 

New bassist Jason Newsted (formerly of METALLICA) joined Osbourne, guitarist Zakk Wylde, and drummer Mike Bordin for a blinding four-song set featuring “War Pigs”, “Believer”, “No More Tears”, and “Crazy Train”.

“I was f***ing thrilled,” Ozzy said of Newsted’s decision to join the group. “I’ve always liked his bass playing. I think he’s a great asset to any band.” 

Regarding former OZZY bassist Robert Trujillo’s recent departure to fill Newsted’s long-vacant slot with METALLICA, Osbourne said, “No disrespect to Robert Trujillo but a change is as good as a rest, you know? Robert Trujillo is a fantastic bass player and I know he’s gonna go well with METALLICA and I wish them all well. I’m not pissed off with METALLICA at all, we’re all good friends and nobody hates anybody. I don’t want anybody to say, ‘Oh, Ozzy said Lars is an a**hole,’ you know. I think Lars is a great drummer, I think METALLICA are one of my favorite bands. But, you know, we’re gonna have some fun here. That’s what it’s all about is having f***ing fun, man.” 

With regards to his new job, Newsted said, “I keep chasing the feeling.  That’s what I say, you know? It’s like, a lot of people say ‘I get to this point and I sell this many records and I’m happy here and that’s fine, I’m gonna stop now.’ Well, METALLICA sold 85-million freakin’ records or whatever it is but you got to keep trying, like the first time you ever jammed in a garage, you stop together, you start together, and the thing’s like, ‘holy crap!’ That feeling right there. That’s what I keep chasing.”

Both Newsted and Osbourne have expressed a desire to collaborate on new material, with Jason explaining how in METALLICA he’d often write riffs that would have to be dismissed because they were too “SABBATH-like” — something he doesn’t expect to be an issue anymore.

Newsted will make his public debut with OZZY OSBOURNE on June 1 in Vancouver, the initial stop on the group’s eight-date Canadian tour. U.S. audiences will experience the new lineup for the first time at the Ozzfest 2003 kick-off on June 28 in San Antonio, Texas.

Photos and the press release are expected to be posted on the official Ozzfest website soon.

TRUSTcompany Drop Ozzfest.

In related news, Ozzfest.com reported the following:

Alambaman[sic] rockers TRUSTcompany have decided to return to the studio to begin laying out their second album and, as a result, they will not be able to tour with Ozzfest this summer. No replacement has been named as yet.

more on Ozzy, Metallica, TrustCompany and Ozzfest

Preview and purchase music from Ozzy, Metallica and TrustCompany