Heavy Metal – a constant companion
I watched some great TV on BBC 4 on Sunday night (08/07/12) – 'God Bless Ozzy Osbourne' and 'Classic Albums'. The Classic Albums episode was
about the second Black Sabbath album ‘Paranoid’, released in 1970. This CD has been in my rack for many years now and, if it’s not in yours, you might want to think about acquiring a copy.
'God Bless Ozzy Osbourne' is a documentary about his life and the title is great because to many head bangers/moshers, myself included, Ozzy Osbourne is a deity in the pantheon of heavy metal heroes. He is God like in his heavy metal status and you just have to love him.
Ozzy was the front man for Sabbath and although he, and his illustrious band mates, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, are all aging in a similar way to my own parents, it was great to listen to them reminiscing about a damn good album and indeed some good times.
For those of you unfamiliar with the life and times of the Oz Man, and aside from the documentary, I would like to wholeheartedly recommend that you read his autobiography ‘I am Ozzy’. In places, I promise you, the book is ‘laugh out loud’ funny and it remains one of most entertaining autobiographies I have ever read.
Ozzy and the rest of Sabbath grew up in Birmingham and, as I lived and worked in that great city for a significant number of years, the tales were even more entertaining because I knew the locations and environments.
Watching the programmes made me reflect upon my life under the influence of heavy metal and that in turn made me reach for my keyboard; I am a nostalgic soul, as regular readers will appreciate.
I have listened to heavy metal music for something approaching 30 years now and my enthusiasm for the genre shows absolutely no signs of diminishing – in fact it will accompany me to my grave – I know, I’ve already drafted the playlist.
In my early days of exposure to the form, I can remember borrowing an Iron Maiden album called ‘Live After Death’ from a mate (Ben Saunders) at school and taking it home at lunchtime. The memory of laying on my bed and the music washing over me remains with me to this day. I skived the afternoon off school and became a life-long Maiden fan - and grew my hair long.
As a teenager, and into my early twenties, I spent pretty much everything I earned on records and going to gigs (oh and beer of course). Hammersmith Odeon felt like a second home and I used to steward for the Wasps at Wembley Arena, Wembley Stadium and Earls Court to get to even more gigs. I still have all the ticket stubs from those halcyon days.
Do any of you remember Reckless Records on Islington High Street? The money I spent there was significant! Such fond memories.
Then there was Carnaby Street? That was a mecca for my mates and I back in the days when it wasn’t so upmarket (it does nothing for me now). My first black leather biker jacket was purchased in Carnaby Street in 1987; I still have it, although it is pretty grey now (and yes it still fits and accompanies me to gigs).
I am generally un-moved by celebrity but there are a handful of my musical heroes that I would love to have a beer or a coffee with. Ozzy is one of them, as are Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, and Ian Kilmister (Lemmy). All are still alive too despite some good attempts at self-destruction.
I last went to see Motorhead at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2010, it was a great gig; the band was supported by Megadeth, another long-term favourite. Every time I see Lemmy, I can’t help but reflect upon the fact that he is the same age/school year as my dad – you have to applaud his stamina. Lemmy is quite a character too, his autobiography 'White Line Fever' and the film 'Lemmy' are well worth making time for.
Heavy metal has been a constant companion - some people follow football teams or rugby teams throughout their lives, for me the allegiance has been to bands instead.
Up the Irons!
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about the second Black Sabbath album ‘Paranoid’, released in 1970. This CD has been in my rack for many years now and, if it’s not in yours, you might want to think about acquiring a copy.
'God Bless Ozzy Osbourne' is a documentary about his life and the title is great because to many head bangers/moshers, myself included, Ozzy Osbourne is a deity in the pantheon of heavy metal heroes. He is God like in his heavy metal status and you just have to love him.
Ozzy was the front man for Sabbath and although he, and his illustrious band mates, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, are all aging in a similar way to my own parents, it was great to listen to them reminiscing about a damn good album and indeed some good times.
For those of you unfamiliar with the life and times of the Oz Man, and aside from the documentary, I would like to wholeheartedly recommend that you read his autobiography ‘I am Ozzy’. In places, I promise you, the book is ‘laugh out loud’ funny and it remains one of most entertaining autobiographies I have ever read.
Ozzy and the rest of Sabbath grew up in Birmingham and, as I lived and worked in that great city for a significant number of years, the tales were even more entertaining because I knew the locations and environments.
Watching the programmes made me reflect upon my life under the influence of heavy metal and that in turn made me reach for my keyboard; I am a nostalgic soul, as regular readers will appreciate.
I have listened to heavy metal music for something approaching 30 years now and my enthusiasm for the genre shows absolutely no signs of diminishing – in fact it will accompany me to my grave – I know, I’ve already drafted the playlist.
In my early days of exposure to the form, I can remember borrowing an Iron Maiden album called ‘Live After Death’ from a mate (Ben Saunders) at school and taking it home at lunchtime. The memory of laying on my bed and the music washing over me remains with me to this day. I skived the afternoon off school and became a life-long Maiden fan - and grew my hair long.
As a teenager, and into my early twenties, I spent pretty much everything I earned on records and going to gigs (oh and beer of course). Hammersmith Odeon felt like a second home and I used to steward for the Wasps at Wembley Arena, Wembley Stadium and Earls Court to get to even more gigs. I still have all the ticket stubs from those halcyon days.
Do any of you remember Reckless Records on Islington High Street? The money I spent there was significant! Such fond memories.
Then there was Carnaby Street? That was a mecca for my mates and I back in the days when it wasn’t so upmarket (it does nothing for me now). My first black leather biker jacket was purchased in Carnaby Street in 1987; I still have it, although it is pretty grey now (and yes it still fits and accompanies me to gigs).
I am generally un-moved by celebrity but there are a handful of my musical heroes that I would love to have a beer or a coffee with. Ozzy is one of them, as are Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, and Ian Kilmister (Lemmy). All are still alive too despite some good attempts at self-destruction.
I last went to see Motorhead at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2010, it was a great gig; the band was supported by Megadeth, another long-term favourite. Every time I see Lemmy, I can’t help but reflect upon the fact that he is the same age/school year as my dad – you have to applaud his stamina. Lemmy is quite a character too, his autobiography 'White Line Fever' and the film 'Lemmy' are well worth making time for.
Heavy metal has been a constant companion - some people follow football teams or rugby teams throughout their lives, for me the allegiance has been to bands instead.
Up the Irons!
Back to Observations Home
Home