UKC

Well ozzy has somehow managed to get his wife to arrange his own tribute concert while still alive. Hope he manages to turn up and sing a couple of songs at least. The end. 

They were pioneers in their day, responsible for some of the best heavy guitar riffs ever created. I do think there's an argument though for not spoiling your legacy and retiring before it becomes too obvious that you're past it.

What is this that stands before me?

I’ll be on the phone next Thursday trying to buy tickets. Just to see Sabbath one last time at Villa Park would be enough, but at the same time I never thought I’d see Slayer again. Great lineup, but don’t hold out any hope of actually getting a ticket

I'm gutted I never saw the original line-up in the 70s. I eventually managed to catch them in 1980 at the Birmingham Odeon promoting Heaven and Hell, but by that stage Ozzy had left and been replaced by the ridiculous elf. The magnificent Bill Ward wasn't there either.

I've a suspicion one or more may be slouching on zimmer frames before you ... ?

I’ll be trying to get pitch standing too. Guess it’s going to be close to impossible and from what people on the Download FB page have said close to £200. 

Putting Sabbath to one side, I’d pay that to see Slayer one last time. I didn’t think they were playing outside of the US. Only disappointment is that Megadeth isn’t on the bill.

A lot of bands split and take on new members almost to the point of becoming their own tribute acts. Personally, I just couldn't face seeing something like that especially given the decline of age and the outrageous price of tickets. Last week I was in Morecambe and idly looking at what was on at the Platform. Even the tribute act ticket prices were pretty steep I thought. I count myself fortunate to have been able to see lots of the biggest rock bands around in the seventies and eighties when they were at their peak and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. Ironically, I never saw Sabbath in any incarnation.

I've often discussed with a friend I've seen Sabbath with twice if this Brum farewell gig would ever come to fruition. Happy it has and we'll be in the ticket hunt too.

I don't expect a big set from Sabbath but even without them it's a line-up I'd jump at seeing. 

The line up is endless, presumably some of them will play one song each (but also presumably a lot of guest cross-pollination during each others' sets)? 

Hopefully Lars won't be drumming in any of the 'supergroup' numbers

I saw Megadeth in 1991 at the Marquee (Kerrang 10th BD party) with Alice in Chains. I queued all day and was about 10th in the queue, got on MTV as they were filming outside and saw Dave Mustaine as he arrived in a car and patted him on the shoulder  

2nd best gig of my life - they opened with Holy Wars and the place went off. Alice in Chains were fantastic as well - what a night that was....

What was the best gig?

Mine was Van Halen’s first world tour supporting Sabbath at Birmingham Odeon, I think that was ‘79. The accepted view now is that Van Halen ‘blew Sabbath off stage’, but I was there, and both bands were exceptional. 

Man... I wish Megadeth would come back and do a proper UK tour again... They've got really good again the last couple of albums (Dystopia 2016 and The Sick, The Dying and The Dead  2022.) The lineup had changed again, but I've heard they're working on a new album currently with Teemu in place on lead guitars after Kiko left to spend more time with his kids. Hopefully they'll be back soon. 🤘😖

Enjoyed seeing megadeth twice with kiko. I guess my favourite gig will always be gnr, faith no more and soundgarden straight after finishing my gcses, pretty much my first time out on my own. The iron maiden gig I saw shortly after at pinewood studios that my mate won tickets for off the radio was memorable also. 

More recently setting sabbath at download just before the end was great and pearl jam last year. 

Kiko Loureiro  is a tremendous guitarist, Dave seems to have a knack of finding exceptional musicians, Nick Menza, Chris Poland etc etc. I was lucky enough to see them with a few lineups, favourite was with Marty Friedman.

Saw Sabbath during their first UK tour in 1970 as a 16 year old.

Sitting in the dark at the start of the performance listening to the opening sounds of rain, thunder and the tolling of the bell of Black Sabbath  , followed by those opening guitar chords will live with me forever.

Great stuff. Ozzy was rain spattering on an abandoned tin shed in a West Midlands scrapyard. Asking an American light dramatic tenor with a perm, an overdone hand gesture and a medieval fixation to step into those shoes? Gak-fuelled madness.

Andy generally got the right idea about Mustaine yesterday. 

youtube.com/watch?v=bCLenYtBUIw&t=448

I don’t think it’s either / or. I’ve been watching Sabbath live since 73, and listening to them (almost daily) since 69 (older brother). I also really liked the Dio era esp. Heaven and Hell, and Mob Rules, and also Randy Rhoads era Ozzy. It’s all brilliant. 
If I was really objective, I would say Ozzy era Sabbath produced the first and finest genre defining metal all the way up to and including Sabotage, but the last two albums weren’t up to the same standard. The RJD era reinvigorated the band.

if you take the first 6 sabbath albums, then no other band can compete in any way,  Dio era Sabbath was different but still excellent, just not as good. 

In general I agree it's best to avoid either/ors and choose boths. Here, I just can't. It's like the Tristan overture played on a penny whistle, just indecent. He was wrong man for the job, totally. But then there was never a right man. All singers are derivative and have descendants, but not here. There's no such thing as an Ozzy soundalike, an Ozzy school of singing. I heard the guy try to sing his songs and it was ridiculous, that consummate vibrato and La Scala drama. The band should have done the decent thing, like their mate in Zep, and hung up their crosses. But they were out of their minds at the time. 

As for Ozzy, he ought to have packed it in after Sabotage. After that it was self-parody.

Andy missed out DM subsequently writing Holy Wars about it and so arguably the definitive thrash song

He's reached that age where you do forget things, quite major things. He did a Top 20 Metal Bands video the other day, uploaded it to YouTube, then a while later realised he'd forgotten Maiden. (I don't like the genre post-78, and I really don't like IM, so no biggie for me.)

I can see your point and agree with you to a certain extent. I wasn't a Sabbath fan so don't really have an axe to grind concerning the various incarnations. I do like some of their songs though. I was a fan of Van Halen and saw them when they toured in 1979/80/81 (?) when they were big enough to headline by themselves. They weren't actually that good live on that occasion, the sound was poor and they didn't put on a great show. When Roth left I even bought some of the Hagar era stuff (I liked him when he was in Montrose) but they were effectively two different bands. Very similar situation with AC/DC. When Roth returned to Van Halen, anyone with eyes (and ears) could tell that this was not any return to the good old days. That's why I think watching old rockers is not for me.

I had that first Montrose album, and actually is still sounds pretty good. Hagar was a great singer and Ronnie Montrose has epic Les Paul tone, but the Van Hagar era was disappointing. That being said, I stuck it out with VH until the synths on 1984 and lost touch.

"And fools like me, who cross the sea and come to foreign lands 
Ask the sheep, for their beliefs do you kill on God's command?

...

Up on my soapbox, a leader out to change the world 
Down in my pulpit as the holier than-thou-could-be-messenger of God...

...

Next thing you know they'll take my thoughts away..."

Perhaps the derision of some metal/music fans is part of The Punishment Due? 😁 Sardonic, self aware, self deprecating & yet still defiant lyrics. Awesome riffs and musicianship... whichever way you look at it, it's just a great song 

Failed to get a ticket today, but if the prices in this image are accurate (I'd want standing) I won't be going.

Sabbath! Bloody Sabbath! I know the whole ecosystem for funding artists has changed since the days of bringing out an album and then touring but those prices are eye watering. I'll stick to YouTube.

Never saw DLR Van Halen, only Sammy in front. 

My best gig was Metal Church at the Marquee again. Not a big band at all, but I absolutely loved them ever since I bought Blessing in Disguise (I saw the video for their single Badlands  on Headbangers Ball on MTV). I then really got into their first two albums and I absolutely loved them. They came to the UK for a small tour, so I jumped on the tube and sat outside the Marquee for the afternoon to make sure I was front and centre at the stage. 

Outside the venue and electronic sign was scrolling "Metal Church and support act Vertigo" - i turned to speak to the other few hard core MC fans to ask if they had heard of Vertigo? nope (no phones or internet in my pocket back in 1990)

Anyway, my mate worked at the marquee as a stage hand/  in house roadie. I didn't see him until I walked in (I was front of the queue) and placed myself centrally at the stage. I waved at him as he was on the stage at the side and he pointed at the drum kit telling me to look, and I saw two mini Danish flags sticking up off the bass drums. Then it all fell into place "f *ck!!! Metallica - Vertigo is Metallica!! No way!" telling everyone around me, news spreading like wild fire....and there is only about 100 people in here, maybe 200 by the time the dry ice machine clicked on and the lights dimmed. Out walks Mike Howe (RIP) and asks us to welcome on stage Vertigo... and then out walks James Hetfield, Explorer hanging by his knees, I can touch it....and he goes into the opening riff of Creeping Death. 

Totally surreal for me, unexpectedly found myself in heaven. 

It was a warm up gig for their UK shows supporting the Black Album. After their set I had the pleasure of enjoying my "favourite" band - and then after the gig, my mate got me back stage into a dingy room where I hung out with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet (he was naked sitting on a couch which was a bit weird) plus the Metal Church band members. Had a couple of beers with them Didn't see Lars.

Crazy night still giving me tingly vibes typing this now was just one of those right place/right time/total fluke nights

https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallica-support-metal-church-marquee...

Just realised there is a grainy youtube video of the gig in that link - wow , not seen that before, i'm in there right at the front at JH feet

I was very lucky... managed to get through quite easily in the pre-sale and got some reasonable looking seats in the cheapest price bracket (came to £417 for 2 tickets + fees). I think general admission standing were around £300ish each (which is further back than golden circle standing).

Stupid pre-sales!

I had an email through this morning but it gave no info other than "here's a code". By the time I checked all gone.

Those prices though! I think they might be above what I want to pay. I had £250 in mind as my ceiling but I feel there's better places that cash could go.