A Few More Things: Black Sabbath, Nick Cannon, Robin Thicke and Dr. George Clinton

Another Message From Bill

Sometimes timing is everything.

Two weeks ago Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward posted a message on his website saying he would “love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour” as long as he received a “signable contract.”

Sabbath quickly replied by posting a message on the band’s own piece of Web real estate saying it had “no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open.”

Today Ward posted a new message on his website saying he remains “hopeful for a ‘signable contract’ and a positive outcome.”

Ward also said he is “prepared to go to the U.K. and record, and later tour with the band.”

However, Ward might have posted his message too soon. Although dated today, it appears the message was posted only hours before Black Sabbath announced that it was putting the tour on hold due to guitarist Tony Iommi’s bout with lymphoma. Instead, the band will play only one date – June 10 at England’s Download Festival – and many of Sabbath’s originally scheduled dates will feature “Ozzy & Friends” instead.

Nick Cannon has resigned from his radio gig at New York City hit music station 92.3 NOW where he hosted his “Rollin’” show for two years.

Cannon, who was hospitalized last month for what his wife Mariah Carey called a “mild kidney failure,” posted a statement on the station’s website saying doctors had ordered him to cut back on work and get more rest.

“Under doctor’s orders, I have been asked to put my health first and cut back on some of my professional commitments in order to allow my body to get the rest that it needs to keep up with the demands of my multi-tasking schedule,” Cannon wrote.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with CBS Radio and the 92.3 NOW morning show team and I would like to thank them for their unwavering support. I will continue to host my syndicated ‘Cannon’s Countdown’ weekend show and look forward to contributing to 92.3 NOW whenever possible. Even Superman has to sleep.”

Cannon and Carey had been vacationing in Aspen, Colo., during the holidays when illness forced him into a local hospital. Carey tweeted that her husband was suffering from “mild kidney failure” and posted a photo showing her by his hospital bedside.

In The Thicke Of Things

Singer/songwriter Robin Thicke is facing a minor drug charge in New York City after getting arrested for marijuana possession.

The next time you run into the leader of the Parliament Funkadelics remember to address him as “Doctor.”

That’s because George Clinton received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Boston’s Berklee College of Music Feb. 16.