Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath in Phoenix, AZ last night 8-30-13 picture from www.azcentral.com

   Black Sabbath's latest album entitled, "13" debuted at number one on I Tunes proving that rock is far from dead. I went to see them in concert last night and that's what I want to blog and share some pictures of the show that I did not take. 

Guitarist Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013.

picture from www.azcentral.com

  I was excited about seeing Black Sabbath for several reasons. I've seen Ozzy in concert three times since 1988 and he always puts on a good show, I've never seen Black Sabbath before. But mostly, I wanted to see one of my guitar heroes Tony Iommi play live, especially since he has cancer now, I figured this could be the last chance I get.

  After I bought my tickets, I looked at some Youtube videos of this tour and I gotta admit I was a little shocked. Ozzy hanging on to the microphone stand for dear life sounded tired and was having trouble hitting a lot of the higher notes. The guitar was detuned so much to presumably accommodate Ozzy's diminishing vocal range that it was hard to listen to the music and make out a lot of the songs like "War Pigs." And very importantly drummer Bill Ward was not present, apparently he said he would not be part of this reunion unless he was offered a, "signable contract." (source wikipedia,) and I'm not a big fan of messing with the rhythm section of a band. 

 I also found this blog on the Houston Press Website talking about their opening night on Houston. Calling Ozzy's performance, "struggling," "decidedly not in key," "off key mumbling," and, "painful to witness." The link to that blog is here:

 http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/07/ozzy_osbourne_cant_sing.php

 I was seriously doubting my decision to go to this concert. I wanted to see a rock and roll show not a funeral. 

Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013. If Jesus played drums this is what it would look like.
picture from www.azcentral.com

 But the show that I saw was not the show that the Houston Press blogged about. The crowd loved it and was going nuts the entire time, the band was tight, and Ozzy's voice was powerful and strong. He was in top form, jumping, and running around on stage for 17 songs. Not bad for being 64 years old. As much of a mess he is in real life, I swear something happens when he gets on stage and it's like he's a completely different person. Rock n Roll just keeps you young that way I guess. 

 The band also had great videos, lights and an insane 10+ minute drum solo. What ever happened to drum solos? I miss them at concerts.

  If anyone has a chance to go this show I highly recommend it. Kids were there with their parents and I sat next to a old lady who must've been at least 70 years old.

Set list

1. War Pigs
2. Into the Void
3. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes
4. Snowblind
5. Age of Reason
6. Black Sabbath
7. Behind the Wall of Sleep
8. N.I.B.
9. End of the Beginning
10. Fairies Wear Boots
11. Rat Salad
    (Followed by Tommy Clufetos Drum Solo)
12. Iron Man
13. God Is Dead?
14. Dirty Women
15. Children of the Grave
16. Encore:
16. Paranoid
    (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Intro)
17. Zeitgeist
    
     Black Sabbath perform at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday, August 30, 2013.
    picture from www.azcentral.com
    My only criticism is with Ozzy's usual stage antics and gimmicks.  He's been doing the same bits for years and if  you've never seen Ozzy here's what you can expect when you see him. 
    
    
    1. He can't fucking hear you!: he will say that over and over again, so make sure you yell really loud.
    2. He wants to see your fucking hands!: Even though Black Sabbath is not exactly a wave your hands in the air type of band, he will insist on seeing your hands.
    3. He loves you very much: and he's not afraid to say it.
    
    
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The Five Stages of Rock: Stage 4 & 5

  

 

   The depression that characterizes Stage 3, turns into pleasant surprise as Stage 4 unfolds.  Several important landmarks signify the onset of Stage 4:



* For the first time you hear one of your favorite teenage songs on the classic rock station.

* You see one of those record compilation commercials for a CD of music from your "youth"  Like my favorite "Freedom Rock,"
 
* "I'll never drink again," turns into "I can't drink anymore like I  used to."



   This is the age where, as Chris Rock put it, you're now, "the old guy in the club." Not old, but just a little too old to be in the club. You think its weird funny at first, hearing your old favorite songs on the classic rock station. You go get your hair cut and you make a joke that references an old movie that you like and the girl has no idea what you're talking about. 
   You're at the mall, shopping with you wife, because she says you never want to do anything with her, and you don't see the point because all you end up doing anyways is just sitting in that seat outside the dressing room reserved for miserable, married men who've been castrated by their wives, and you just keep checking your Facebook over and over again, then you notice out of the corner of your eyes, this group of hot giggling girls and you realize that those teenage girls you're looking at are old enough to be your daughters. 

Yeah thats a lot like what Stage 4 is like. 

   Musically, Stage 4, is like a man torn between two lovers. On one hand you got your old favorites, but you don't hear them in clubs anymore. You only hear them in bars when people put it on the jukebox, on a night when nobody is there, or some group of youngsters sing it as a karaoke goof. 
After a few years, that gets old.


   You try to stay on top of new music, but with every passing year it gets harder. For example I just looked at the current Billboard Top Ten. Eight names I've never, ever heard of. One name I've heard people mention but I've never heard anything they've ever done, and one person I think I saw on an acne commercial once or twice. 
   I used to love watching The Grammys and the MTV music awards, but I can't anymore because I don't know who the hell anyone is. 

   And not that I want to anyways. Everything just sounds like crap. 

   So by the time you figure out that you can't keep up with modern music anymore, you don't really care anyways.

   There are a few newer artists making music nowadays that I find interesting, like The Black Keys, or The Mars Volta, who I listened to a couple years ago. But I couldn't tell you much about them or how many records they've put out and I really only heard their songs a few times, agreed that yeah, they're ok, and then never heard them again. It's just really hard for me to make room for new artists these days.

   I've heard quite a few Radiohead songs, they're music is good, but I don't know much about them and don't know if they're still making albums. 


   I really like System of a Down, but I think they broke up.


   I've always liked the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I don't keep up with them, I didn't get into the last album they did and I don't know if they've put anything out recently. 


   I like the foo fighters but I'm only familiar with the songs they play on the radio.

   I'm not a big fan of modern heavy metal these days. I never thought I would ever say this, but its just getting too damn noisy for me to enjoy. I find it either annoying with the "cookie monster vocals," that is if they're still doing the cookie monster vocals thing, and if they're not I really don't care, cuz I don't wanna listen to it anyways. 

   Once in a while when I'm in the mood I might listen to System of a Down, but my headbanging days are pretty much over. 


   The artists on my I-phone today include, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, The Ramones, The Misfits, Danzig (his first two solo albums only), Social Distortion, Iggy Pop, Velvet Undergound, Sex Pistols,David Bowie...


   I'll be 39 this fall. I've probably got more time behind me than ahead of me now. I've found my comfort zone- musically, and thats where I want to stay. I'm pushing 40, and there's no way I want to be one of those 40 year old douchebags pretending to be all hip with all the kids music and fashions n shit. 

   This is the latter half of stage 4. Other interesting things start happening too. Those pains in your knees and back that you occasionally wake up with, are becoming more frequent. You say its because, "you must've slept wrong last night." but who are you fooling? you have a tempur pedic mattress. 


   You drink Pepsi, not because it makes you feel young, but because it helps you burp. You stay away from pizza and beer not because you're watching your weight but because it gives you excruciating indigestion. You go out on Friday night, not because you're ready to party, but because its you and your wife's predetermined 'date night' and while you're not too thrilled about going out because one of you has to stay sober so they can drive, and this week its your turn, but still it beats staying at home and having to deal with the kids and all their bullshit.  


OK ENOUGH SERIOUS SHIT, LET'S TAKE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE BREAK, SHALL WE?

___________________________________________

Wow, that was a lot, let's go over what we've covered so far

   

Stage 4

* Begins with the enjoyment of the novelty of things you used to listen to, being relegated to the ranks of nostalgia.

* Attempts to hang on to your youth, stay hip and pretend you're not getting older.

* Eventual resignation and acceptance combined with extreme 'south park-like' cynicism where everything begins to sound and look like shit.

 ____________________________________________

Stage 5? 

   I'm not too sure about what stage 5 is. I'm still in the last part of stage 4 and I don't see that changing any time soon. 

But I have some projections. It's hard though, considering I never, ever thought I would make it to thirty, and rock and roll doesn't really have an old timers day. Know what I mean?

* If you're lucky, you will enter old age, beat up but still functional and looking descent(considering the heavy mileage you've got) and still able to rock out without making it seem like you're trying to hard like a douchebag in denial.

 

* You end up as one of those "rapping granny" type old people. haha, oh how cute! it's so great to see someone your age still being active and refusing to give in to old age...uh, um ok you can stop now, becuz its starting to get creepy.

 

 * You end up just an old cynical asshole. The new music sounds like shit. The old music you've heard too many times, and you're tired of it...Reminds me of a Pink Floyd Song...

You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.

 - Free Four, Pink Floyd.

Ozzy Osbourne

[This is an excerpt taken from the book "I am Ozzy" by Ozzy Osbourne. It's a great book but this is by far my favorite part.]


'Ok Mr. Osbourne, I'm going to ask you a question' said the doc. 'Have you ever taken any, "street drugs"?'

This was the new guy I went to see when I decided to get clean. I'd spent almost forty years blasting the booze, and the pills, so it seemed like a good idea to see what kind of damage I'd done.

'Well,' I told him with a little cough, 'I once smoked some pot."

'Is that it?'

'Yeah thats it.'

The doc carried on prodding me and checking his notes. Then he stopped and asked, "Are you sure?"

'Well,' I said with another little cough, 'I've taken a bit of speed. A long time ago, y'know?'

'So just the pot, and a bit of speed?'

'Pretty much, yeah'

The doc carried on doing his thing. But after a while, he stopped again. 'Are you absolutely sure it was just the pot and the speed?'

'Well, I suppose I've had a few toots of the old waffle dust in my time,' I said. I was starting to warm up now.

'So pot, speed, and...a few lines of cocaine?'

'Pretty much, yeah.'

'And you're sure about that?'

'Uh-huh.'

'I just want to make absolut-'

'Does heroin count?'

'Yes. Heroin counts.'

'Oh, and heroin then. Just once or twice, mind'

'And you're sure it was just once or twice?'

'Oh yeah. Fucking crap drug heroin is. Have you tried it?'

'No'

'Too much throwing up for my liking'

'The nausea can be intense, yes'

'It's a waste of booze, thats what it is.'

'OK,' the doctor snapped. 'Lets just stop this. Are there any drugs you haven't taken Mr. Osbourne?'

'Not that I'm aware of, no.'

More silence.

Finally the doc said, 'And what about alcohol? You mention that you drink. How many units per day?'

'Oh, about four. Give or take.'

'Can you be more specific?'

'Bottles of Hennessey. But it depends.'

'On what?'

'On how long I pass out between them.'

'And it's just the Hennessey?'

'Well, beer doesn't count, does it?'

The doc shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and let out a big sigh. He looked like he wanted to go home. Then he asked, 'And do you smoke, Mr. Osbourne?'

'Now and again.'

'What a surprise. How many per day, would you say?'

'Oh, thirty-ish?'

'What brand of cigarettes?'

'Cigars, I don't count the cigarettes.'

The doc started to go very white. Then he said, 'For how long has this been your typical daily routine?'

'What year is it?' I asked him.

'2004.'

'Nearly forty years then.'

'And is there anything else in your medical history I should know about?' asked the doc.

'Well,' I said, "I got hit by an airplane once - sort of, anyway. And I broke my neck on a quad bike. Then I died twice during the coma. I had AIDS for 24 hours too* And I thought I had MS but it turned out to be a parkinsonian tremor. I broke my clack [uvula] that other time. Oh, and I've had the clap a few times. Oh and one or two seizures. Like when I took codeine in New York, or when I date raped myself in Germany. Unless you count the abuse of prescription medication.

The doctor nodded.

Then he cleared his throat, loosened his tie and said, "I've got one last question for you, Mr. Osbourne."

'Go ahead doc.'

'Why are you still alive?'

He was right. There was no plausible medical reason why I should still be alive. There's even less of a reason I should be so healthy...I mean yes my short term memory hasn't been too great since the quad bike accident, but I have a memory therapist now to help me with it - and I still have a mild stammer. But my heart's in great shape, and my liver's like brand new. After a million and one tests, the best the doc could come up with was that I had, 'a bit of cholesterol.'

haha, thats a very amusing story. That dude is very lucky to be alive. That also shows you just how strong genetics can be. I like Ozzy Osbourne. He is a good singer. He can really rock his ass off.

ok bye.

***You find out earlier in the book that Ozzy's false positive AIDS test was because he was taking so many drugs that his immune system was obliterated, haha.***