Ozzy to receive Living Legend gong at 2008 Classic Rock Awards

July 24

Ozzy Osbourne is to be granted official Living Legend status at the 2008 Classic Rock Roll Of Honour.

The nominations for the '08 ceremony were announced this afternoon by shock-rock legend Alice Cooper at a launch event held at the Borderline in central London.

The launch kicked off with a storming performance from Stone Gods.

Previous recipients of the Living Legend award include Jimmy Page, Lemmy and Cooper himself.

"I hear I'm a Living Legend, which is something I am grateful for," Osbourne said.

"I couldn't be happier to know that Classic Rock haven't yet written me off!

"Seriously, it's a great honour and I'm looking forward to going to my first Classic Rock Awards in November, can't wait to see you there."

Def Leppard and Whitesnake are both nominated for Album Of The Year, Band Of The Year and jointly Event Of The Year for their recent double-header tour.

Led Zeppelin are also up for three gongs, for Band Of The Year, DVD Of The Year and Event Of The Year, having played a comeback show at London's 02 Arena last December.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Monday, November 3 at London's Park Lane Hotel.

Scott Rowley, Classic Rock's Editor In Chief, said:

"What some people don’t realise about classic rock is that it’s still being made.

"This year’s best new bands are some of the strongest in years, while the albums of the year list sees the return to form of many classic acts.

"While the rest of the music business tries to get excited about the Ning Nang Nongs and the Rama Lama Ding Dongs, rock has become the most vibrant and vital musical genre."

The full list of nominations is as follows:

Best New Band
Airbourne
Big Linda
Endeverafter
Pride Tiger
Stone Gods
StoneRider

Album Of The Year
Big Linda – I Loved You
Black Crowes – Warpaint
Joe Bonamassa – Sloe Gin
Alice Cooper – Along Came A Spider
Def Leppard – Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
Journey – Revelation
Opeth – Watershed
Stone Gods – Silver Spoons And Broken Bones
Uriah Heep – Wake The Sleeper
Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad

Band Of The Year
Def Leppard
Foo Fighters
Kiss
Led Zeppelin
Whitesnake

Reissue Of The Year
Love – Forever Changes: Collector’s Edition
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors: Deluxe Edition
Metallica – 1st Three Albums: Vinyl Reissues
Pink Floyd – Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 40th Anniversary Edition
Wishbone Ash – Argus
Yardbirds – Over Under Sideways Down

DVD Of The Year
AC/DC – Plug Me In
The Doors – Classic Albums
Genesis – When In Rome
Jimi Hendrix Experience At Monterey
Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains The Same
The Who – Amazing Journey
ZZ Top – Live From Texas

Event Of The Year
Hard Rock Hell
Iron Maiden’s World Tour
Kiss @ Download Festival
Led Zeppelin @ The 02 Arena
Whitesnake/Def Leppard Tour

Public voting on all of these categories kicks off from August 20 in Classic Rock magazine, and from August 16 by visiting the Clog.

Other awards to be presented on the night include Classic Songwriter, Showman Award, Tommy Vance Inspiration Award, Outstanding Contribution, Classic Album, Metal Guru and VIP Award.

Thanks to www.classicrockmagazine.com