(Eagle Vision) I can’t believe how long I had this sitting
on my desk without playing it. I figured, ‘why would I want to see an Ozzy
concert from just after Randy Rhoads died?’ Which completely ignores Rhoads’
legacy. While I’m sure Rhoads would have been a bit more exciting to watch
shred than the totally acceptable Brad Gillis, the reason Randy was a metal
miracle was his influence on the songwriting – the Rhoads-assisted Ozzy solo
records made hard rock poppy and hooky without losing the manliness and
metallic edge in ways that Def Leppard and Billy Squier only hinted at. The
reason to watch Ozzy live post “Blizzard” and “Diary” is because thanks to
Randy (and a few Sabbath cuts) this is a show that probably features the
strongest material in the history of the genre. And the fact that Ozzy is
playing on a stage that looks like a Satatnic temple with flying laser demons,
full-on pyro, and a keyboardist in a-hooded druid robe don’t hurt either. And let’s
not fail to celebrate that Ozzy, his voice a marvel of metal, is meandering
around the stage looking like Benn Hill in a fright wig, wearing a spandex
workout outfit that looks like he should be in a Jane Fonda exercize video…and
he still comes off as the greatest frontman in hard rock history! There are a
million great details…the druid pianoman screwing up his costume by wearing his
wedding ring…Ozzy;s tattooist being identified in the end credits…Ozzy drinking
water from a chalice…every note of “Flying High Again,” “Paranid,” “Suiciede
Solution,” “Mr. Corwley,” “Over the Mountain,” and ever other song. But it’s
the big picture that matters…and it’s a big picture of Ozzy maniacally smiling.
Watch this and you will be too.
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