Ozzy Back to the Beginning!

[Jim85IROC]

7 hours ago, diablo175 said:

A number of ways this show could have been perceived; glorious nostalgia, celebrating the impressive run and impact of a genre-defining band, paying homage to iconic musical figure(s)...

...or as a cynical example of the money-grabbing, capitalistic vulgarity.

On the surface, it seems like a harmless, laudable endeavor. To most, it was one more (last) opportunity to see one of rock music's icons perform. (We'll see. If Sharon can squeeze another show, video or recording out of Ozz, she'll do it) As one post observed, the vast majority of those shown in attendance in Birmingham weren't even old enough to have been around in Sabb's heyday. I reckon they were there to get in on a good time and perhaps secure bragging rights in having attended a historically momentous event. 

I derived various things from it. The most profound of those was the pathetic, depressing spectacle of propping up a visibly diminished and health-ravaged Ozzy for one last gig.  Surrounding him with genuinely supportive and immensely talented folks who shared in his career or shared much of the same time period in which Oz thrived was a fitting tribute. But ultimately, I was reminded of the inexorable march of time and the ravages of aging. Both his, theirs and mine. 

It just was kinda sad. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

I dunno.  I don't think you need to be as old as Ozzy to be a fan.  I grew up listening to that music, and it's sad )but inevitable) that it's come to an end.  Based on the multiple videos I saw of people at the show crying, I don't feel it's fair to say they were just there for a good time and bragging rights.

 

And while I agree that Sharon will exploit anyone, including Ozzy just to make a buck, I think that one final goodbye is appropriate and greatly appreciated by fans.

[diablo175]

1 hour ago, Jim85IROC said:

I dunno.  I don't think you need to be as old as Ozzy to be a fan.  I grew up listening to that music, and it's sad )but inevitable) that it's come to an end.  Based on the multiple videos I saw of people at the show crying, I don't feel it's fair to say they were just there for a good time and bragging rights.

 

And while I agree that Sharon will exploit anyone, including Ozzy just to make a buck, I think that one final goodbye is appropriate and greatly appreciated by fans.

I'm not taking away from his deserving a fitting send off/tribute. Not at all. I just have seen what the music industry has and is doing and the cynic  naturally questions the motives behind why Sharon did it. Cash grab? It also pained me to see him look so diminished. He was a HUGE influence on me as both a bumbling teen and as an adult musician.

And I agree that you don't have to be of the same generation as Ozzy to appreciate Ozzy. I'm just mindful of Sabbath's 70's and Dio-era early 80's heyday and their appeal to a certain age range. Ozzy's ability to remain relevant all these years is remarkable. You'd have to give some of the credit to Sharon for that. But Sabbath doesn't strike me as a band that held that same kind of longevity in terms of remaining relevant. I think Dio did an amazing job of revamping them in 1980 and the Ozzy/Sabs reunion kinda helped too. But I don't think they held that same kind of endurance. I dunno, maybe I'm way off on that.

 

 

[Jakeboy]

Nuno was rock solid on every song I saw him play. Great playing and tone.

[Saul Goodman]

5 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

I love Metallica, and I love Sabbath and Hole In The Sky is one of my top ten Sabbath tunes, but I thought Metallica's version sucked balls... So glad it wasn't on the Garage Inc. album 🤮

Metallica has never been at their best on covers. They do best at just Metallica. 

[Dave Scepter]

3 minutes ago, Saul Goodman said:

Metallica has never been at their best on covers. They do best at just Metallica. 

Totally disagree!.. Garage Inc. is one of my favorite Metallica albums... it's absolutely killer!

BTW,... Am I Evil is a cover

Edited July 7, 2025 by Dave Scepter

[Saul Goodman]

Just now, Dave Scepter said:

Totally disagree!.. Garage Inc. is one of my favorite Metallica albums... it's absolutely killer!

Oh, man, I hated that album. 

[Dave Scepter]

Excellent cover and great performances by all... Jack Blacks voice is pretty damn impressive!🤘😝🤘 

Close your eyes and listen to it~

Edited July 7, 2025 by Dave Scepter

[DarkHammer]

I've noticed than in most videos crowd is very quiet, even folks by the stage just stand there without showing any emotions. I mean, they paid so much for these tickets and act like they are not really excited to be there. What gives?

[kizanski]

I know I'm in the minority (something I've gotten used to), but I don't need to ever see Jack Black again.

It's enough, already. Overexposure for a mediocre talent, IMO.

Same goes for The Rock, Samuel L Jackson, and John Goodman.

[diablo175]

15 hours ago, Jakeboy said:

Nuno was rock solid on every song I saw him play. Great playing and tone.

+1  Nuno was on point. 

[Steve Haynie]

3 hours ago, DarkHammer said:

I've noticed than in most videos crowd is very quiet, even folks by the stage just stand there without showing any emotions. I mean, they paid so much for these tickets and act like they are not really excited to be there. What gives?

How long were those people waiting in line before the gates opened?  The show was almost 10 hours.  Putting up with misting rain along with direct sunlight while standing up the entire time would make most people a little numb.  

[Willie G. Moseley]

^^^Should Billy Bob Thornton be added to the list of actors-who-form-their-own-(viable)-rock-bands-list? He seems to be "into" (or is he acting?) it but I'm not particularly impressed. Saw him open for ZZ TOP in 2015, and apparently he's still going with his band, the Boxmasters.

Howzabout Dennis Quaid? Russell Crowe?

Mehtinks there's some sardonic metaphors, synonyms and allusions in such a topic...

Edited July 7, 2025 by Willie G. Moseley

[DarkHammer]

20 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said:

How long were those people waiting in line before the gates opened?  The show was almost 10 hours.  Putting up with misting rain along with direct sunlight while standing up the entire time would make most people a little numb.  

True, 10+ hrs is way too long!

In a way I am glad I wasn't there and watched videos of artists/bands I was interested in.

[Brooks]

16 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

Totally disagree!.. Garage Inc. is one of my favorite Metallica albums... it's absolutely killer!

BTW,... Am I Evil is a cover

I like Metallica best when they do *good* covers;

 

[bubs_42]

Nuno was badass, the second I realized that he and Jake were doubling the guitars on the whole first song,. MIND BLOWN.  

[LucSulla]

On 7/6/2025 at 5:02 PM, Jakeboy said:

Nuno was rock solid on every song I saw him play. Great playing and tone.

Changes was just fucking amazing. That Yungblud fella has some pipes, and Nuno rose to meet that energy. 

I think Nuno might be the best of the post-Eddie crowd in retrospect. He's just an all around fantastic musician and can do crazy to classy like very, very few others. 

[Bluesking]

To me, the various bands playing BS cover tunes demonstrated the untouchable power, uniqueness, and chemistry of the original Black Sabbath. They gave it a shot, but it's impossible to replicate the Titans of Metal.

Of course, being a mid 50s guy who generally lives in the past, I didn't recognize several of the performers and thought several weren't up to par. Nobody cares what an old guy thinks, but my opinion isn't what's important here. This event demonstrated the immense influence that Sabbath has wielded over the the last 50+ years, as manifested by the sheer number and variety of acts paying them tribute. That's a great thing.

I don't have any idea why Ron Wood, Steven Tyler, and others who don't seem to fit the Sabbath mold were there, but I didn't book the show. 

Finally, it was cool to see the respect and admiration that Jake E. Lee received from his fellow musicians and fans. 

[kizanski]

4 hours ago, Bluesking said:

I don't have any idea why Ron Wood, Steven Tyler, and others who don't seem to fit the Sabbath mold were there, but I didn't book the show. 

Sometimes you have to take the names that are available, or the ones that agree to do it.  

[Steve Haynie]

Over five million people paid for the livestream.  That was an incentive for those who could join in to do so.  It was where all the cool kids were hanging out.  You would think a few politicians might have wanted to join in.  Of course, War Pigs is not friendly toward politicians.  

[diablo175]

10 hours ago, LucSulla said:

I think Nuno might be the best of the post-Eddie crowd in retrospect. He's just an all around fantastic musician and can do crazy to classy like very, very few others. 

Was having this discussion with our own DBraz offline. Nuno is a standout amongst what was a crowded field of contenders in the 80's and early 90's. Listening to his playing, I've always been awed by his combination of feel and technique. But what REALLY floors me and prompts me to put him on a level with Eddie are his fluidity and the mind blowing way he blends techniques and styles so smoothly. Sure, he's stoopid fast but it's the smooth, seamless way in which he weaves a tapestry of styles and phrasing. Just listen to the sumptuous buffet of tasty sonics, styles and techniques he serves up on Pornograffitti and Color Me Blind. 

Like Eddie, I think some of that can be attributed to Nuno's ethnic/cultural heritage. He has that innate rhythmic tastiness and instinct. Could Eddie's Indonesian heritage also be looked at as contributing to some degree to his amazing sense of rhythm? 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2025 by diablo175

[tbonesullivan]

I see they've been clamping down hard on the DMCA strikes for any videos out of the concert, or at least any clips of the live stream. I've got mixed feelings about the concert, and one of those feelings is "why the hell couldn't the management have not been assholes and gotten Bill Ward on the actual farewell "The End" tour 9 years ago.

However, by all accounts some great music happened, and a lot of people came together to give Ozzy one final hurrah before really "retiring" due to his health. I LOVED the stuff that Jack Black did, and I've seen a lot of other great clips from the show. Sure, it's no "Concert for George", but it's still great, and I assume there's going to be some huge mega box set come out for it eventually, once they get all the rights and such.

[BTMN]

15 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

Nuno was badass, the second I realized that he and Jake were doubling the guitars on the whole first song,. MIND BLOWN.  

Nuno interview post event. 😎👍🏁
 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1015655873981273?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

[Jakeboy]

Watching and  rewatching clips…. Ronnie Wood sounded terrible. After holding the Stones up for years with his stellar playing,  he is finally deteriorating a bit. His slide was particularly bad on Train…

Not a Zakk fan, but damn, he acquitted himself very well on the Randy era tones…respect.

Tyler sounded great and that was shocking.

Tom Morello’s slide thing on Train was cool, unique, and different. Not a fan of his in general, but that was uber-cool.

Iommi can still bring it. That made me happy.

 

Edited July 8, 2025 by Jakeboy

[Disturber]

[tbonesullivan]

6 hours ago, Disturber said:

At least he has a valid excuse for not playing bark at the moon. Mine is just that I am not a great guitar player. The speed of those palm mutes interspersed with the notes, as well as the insane stretches? OOF. Even guitarist / youtuber Ben Eller has trouble with those. 5th to 10th fret stretches in the main riff, and then 10th to 17th fret stretches in the outro.