Newsbites: 15 Black Sabbath songs being tracked

Job done: Tony Iommi

Black Sabbath are well into the process of tracking 15 new songs. Guitarist Tony Iommi recorded all his guitar parts while the band were in England for two concerts earlier this year. Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler are continuing work in Malibu with the aim of completing tracks in batches of five. One song title has been revealed: God Is Dead. It’s assumed drummer Tommy Clufetos, who replaced Bill Ward on stage, has done the same in the studio. A dozen tracks will appear on the album with the other three likely to be used as bonus material. [Metal Injection]

A burglar has been jailed for five years after breaking into Jon Bon Jovi‘s house last year. Nicholas Tracy, 22, was responsible for five break-ins and stole items totalling $300,000. He pled guilty to three county of burglary and theft. Details of what he stole from Bon Jovi have not been offered, but some of the items were recovered.

Smashing Pumpkins mainman Billy Corgan has admitted he’s considered suicide on number of occasions. He says: “I almost killed myself three, four, seven times. I literally started planning my death and what I would leave behind, what I was going to write. What I finally realised is that God, at least as I understand God, was there all along. Once I was able to process my reality in that way I no longer felt like a victim.” [Last Call]

Journey have been forced to cancel a show in Lafayette, Louisiana, after singer Arnel Pineda was ordered to rest his voice. The concert – a stop on their current US tour during which guitarist Neal Schon proposed to his girlfriend on stage – was itself a postponed date as a result of Hurricane Isaac in August. Journey say: “The band truly regret having to cancel, but hope to perform in Lafayette the next chance they get.” The tour resumes on October 30 in New York.

Blue Coupe, the three-piece band consisting of Blue Oyster Cult founding brothers Albert and Joe Bouchard plus Alice Cooper band member Dennis Dunaway, have launched a kickstarter campaign to fund their second album. They aim to raise $11,000 by November 13. Find out more.

Jack Russell has been released from hospital after contracting a severe intestinal infection. The former Great White singer, now working with his own lineup of the band, have rescheduled two missed shows. Russell had been given an IV drip and antibiotics to fight the illness.

Soulfly drummer David Kinkade is bowing out of the music business after becoming disillusioned. He says: “It’s no longer worth the effort. I’m going to retire from drumming and music altogether and focus on my family. I’ve fought my hardest for my ‘dream’ over the past 10 years and failed. The only bit of light that my career ever saw was at the end – I was able to make a record and play huge shows with a guy whose music I grew up idolising. That’s good enough for me. This whole business has ruined any sort of want or will for me to continue on. I’m just thankful that I made the decision at 29 rather than 39. I’m done.”