Re:
It's good to see someone also calling them the greatest Rock 'n' Roll band ever - something I constantly say about them.
I saw them 3 times in the 70's, when it was a very different experience seeing a band like that compared with today. After Ozzy was sacked in 1979, I thought that they would never reform with the original line-up. I spent the next 18 years supporting them in the various line-ups and seeing them play at every opportunity. Then the unbelievable happened, and they decided to reform and were due to play the headlining slot on the 1997 Ozzfest in America. A U.K date was announced at Finsbury Park on the 23rd August and I was floating on air.
Then the bomb dropped; about 2 months to go before the gig, I walked into the the newsagent to pick up my usual copy of Kerrang, and there was the devastating headline "U.K. Ozzfest is cancelled" :shock: :facepalm: :cry: . I was crying in the shop.
I went into work in a sort of daze, and couldn't concentrate on anything then suddenly thought to myself, sod it, I'll go the the States to see them.
This was before I could use a computer or had a mobile, but I got on the phone to Kerrang magazine and started a trail of calls that eventually led to me blagging three tickets for the San Bernardino gig on the 29th June from Sharon Osbourne. I flew out there with two mates, and we stayed in Los Angeles with a couple that I knew from England who had relocated out there. I hired a car on the day and drove the three of us to the concert - the atmosphere was one of excited disbelief, as all these characters came out of the woodwork to see the reformed Black Sabbath. Unknown to me until the day, we were given Guest Passes - Sharon had thought to organize this kind gesture - wow. The whole experience was without doubt the best thing I have ever done, I yes I did cry a lot when they came onstage.
Pip
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