Newsbites: Jack Osbourne needs second opinion says dad Ozzy

Misdiagnosed: Ozzy

Ozzy Osbourne wants his son Jack to get a second opinions from doctors after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The Black Sabbath singer says: “I was misdiagnosed with MS a few years ago. It took them six months to work out I have a rare hereditary tremor called Parkin Syndrome.” Jack, 26, was given the news two months after he became a father. [Hello]

The Layne Staley tracks that appear in the soundtrack for upcoming movie Grassroots are not previously unheard, as had been claimed. It’s Coming After was first released by Seattle band Second Coming in 1994, featuring Staley on vocals. Things You Do has never been released but is also thought to have been recorded while the Alice in Chains singer was working with Second Coming.

Former Yes singer Jon Anderson has become an ambassador for revered lower-league football team Accrington Stanley. Anderson grew up in the Lancashire town. Club chief exec Rob Heys says: “There’s a whole generation of people who love Jon’s music but don’t realise his connection with the town. HIs involvement will boost the profile of the club and the town.” [Lancashire Telegraph]

Animals as Leaders have recovered the car and one of the ten guitars stolen from their LA home while they were on tour. The band say: “We want to commend the LAPD for their ability to find the stolen vehicle within 24 hours of receiving the police report. The even better news is that one of the stolen guitars was in the back seat. Hopefully this is the key to finding the rest of the guitars! Something still may pop up online so please keep your eyes open.”

Slayer guitarist Kerry King says Exodus axeman Gary Holt is “the Glenn Tipton of our era – really good, really polished and nobody talks about him.” Holt is standing in for Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman, who’s recovering from a near-fatal spider bite last year. King continues: “To this day nobody really references Judas Priest and Tipton as guitar players, and I feel the same way about Gary.” The thrash giants are allowing Holt the run of their back-catalogue. “It’s still new for him,” King says. “He’ll say, ‘Why don’t we play this one?’ So we’ll go learn another song Gary hasn’t played, because he wants to make the most of his time here.” [Full Metal Jackie]

Meanwhile, former Exodus singer Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza says he’s delighted at the attention the Big 4 shows brought to thrash music. But he adds: “Do I think Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax all belong there? Probably three of the four. If you’re talking innovators Exodus should be in there. I think Testament is as big as Anthrax – those guys work constantly at their craft and their shows are always packed. But I’m in support of the Big 4. That has definitely helped thrash metal.” [Metal Hangar 18]