Ozzy Osbourne

[eutychus]

Glad to see buzz about BLS in this thread. Zakk Wylde is one with the guitar. Don't know if I'd go as far as to say he is more amazing than Rhoads was, but it is a close call.

I think Ozzy is discredited alot, but I agree - there needed to be a thread. The lyrics in his music, though sometimes ambiguous, are diverse in content, leaving a pleasant feeling in the listener tired of hearing the same message ad infinitum. Though Sabbath's music is incredibly different from Ozzy's (I haven't really listened to much past "No More Tears"), both are awesome, inspirational, and refreshing.

Lyrically, Led Zeppelin wasn't as intriguing. Sabbath's clandestine lyrics are impeccable.
Musically, I'd make it a draw. Each band knew how to enrapture its listener's mind with its distinct sound.

 

[Starcrystal]

Eutychus,
Sabbath's clandestine lyrics are impeccable.

I'll second that,

I don't think anyone has even come close to the lyrics of Sabbath. many have tried, but since Sabbath was probably the originator of Heavy Metal, all others are copycats...

 

[oldrooster]

I have always had a guilty love for Ozzy, watching him on tv makes me like him even more. He is absolutely helpless in the world.

 

[Breetai]

I started listening to Sabbath/Ozzy a few years before I got into Zep (when No More Tears came out. Shows how young I am). They were the first group(s) that I really got into. That's another reason that I had to make this thread; for my first musical love. You guys are right too, Ozzy/Sabbath lyrics are generally much deeper then Zep...and most other bands. One of the only bands to compare in my mind is Iron Maiden.

As far as I know, No More Tears was the first Ozzy album to be written while the madman was sober.

Starcrystal, you're not missing too much if you uite Ozzy at The Ultimate Sin. The only studio albums that he's put out since are No Rest For the Wicked(1988, which sounds more or less the same as his other 80s albums), No More Tears(1991, you already know that I love that album the best), Ozzmosis(1995, it's a bit of a different style, but it's quite listenable) and Down to Earth(2001, I haven't even listened to it. I've heard that it's pretty much a rip-off of Ozzmosis with a mix of nu-metal, which I could live without. Ozzy uses Zakk on this album instead of his 'actual' guitarist. I love Zakk, but Ozzy screwed over his guitarist that's been touring with him for years. Zakk's only there because Ozzy wanted higher sales, and that's not cool).

There's a couple of worthwhile live albums in there too. The first is Tribute(1990?), which features live performances with Randy Rhodes. It's usually pretty cheap in record stores and worth the buy. Randy is amazing live. The second live disc worth anything is Live and Loud(1992). It's a double-disc album and features live material from Ozzy's retirementD, yeah right) tour in 91-92. It's also the tour to support No More Tears I think. This, in my opinion, is the best that Ozzy has to offer. I'd rather listen to Live and Loud then No More Tears. Zakk is absolutely brilliant throughout the whole thing, which is the best part for me. A few tracks feature the original Black Sabbath members for a few classic Sab. tunes. Ozzy is actually in good health on this one; sober and in good shape. It shows too. Everything comes togather here for what is my favorite live album that I've ever heard from anyone. Cheap Trick doesn't even come close. The only other live album that I listen to as much is Styx: World Live(2001), but that's only because I'm in the audience on a few songs. I'm on a CD!!!! I rock!!!!

 

[Starcrystal]

Breetai,
There's a couple of worthwhile live albums in there too. The first is Tribute(1990?), which features live performances with Randy Rhodes. It's usually pretty cheap in record stores and worth the buy. Randy is amazing live. The second live disc worth anything is Live and Loud(1992). It's a double-disc album and features live material from Ozzy's retirement(, yeah right) tour in 91-92. It's also the tour to support No More Tears I think. This, in my opinion, is the best that Ozzy has to offer. I'd rather listen to Live and Loud then No More Tears. Zakk is absolutely brilliant throughout the whole thing, which is the best part for me. A few tracks feature the original Black Sabbath members for a few classic Sab. tunes

I've heard both of these live ones I think. A few years ago at work someone had that Randy Rhodes tribute. I think I heard the one where he does live Sabbath songs in '99. I drove my truck up a dirt trail to the top of a hill about 11:00 PM, and when I turned on the radio there was an hour long show just starting with Ozzy doing live Sabb. At first I thought it was Sabbath but the guitar was a bit different & it wasn't the same as the old live Sabbath. But it was ALL Sabbath songs... Black Sabbath, War Pigs, paranoid, Iron Man, Children of the grave.....I think NIB, and maybe a couple others... Sabbath Bloody Sabbath....
Wonder what that was all off of?

 

[Breetai]

Maybe it was from Speak of the Devil(1982)? All it has is live Sabbath stuff. It was made shortly after Randy's death. Or it could've been the Black Sabbath Reunion album from 1998. If that was the case, than it was Blake Sabbath that you heard...only many years older.

 

[Starcrystal]

I think it must have been the '98 reunion album. I heard Speak of the Devil in the 80's, and it wasn't that....

 

[Badfish]

Yeah it was a reunion album in 98.

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

yeh ozzy is cool. specially when he was with black sabbath. not as good as maiden though

 

[Breetai]

Overall.....no. Neither Ozzy nor Black Sabbath is as good as Iron Maiden. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Badfish]

Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
that God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes! I think it's too late.

After Forever

From the Master of Reality album. It would make a good gospel song.

 

[Starcrystal]

Thats what I say... and if he's mocking, he's mocking those who don't know Christ.
But flip the record over (Yeah, I had the 12" vinyl version in 1976 before CD's!) and Lord of this World is a completely different story. Thats why I say Ozzy sends a confusing message.

Maiden might be better than Ozz, but not Sabbath.... Close, but not better. Can't go there.

Being part Native, I did especially like "Run to the Hills" by Iron Maiden though, except it tempted me to start a revolution! (Only kidding... sort of... it did invoke those kind of thoughts and made me angry at the oppressor.)

 

[blackwasp]

I don't know if you could call Zeppelin a better band.

Well I won't if I don't have to!

Sabbaths music flowed in some kind of harmony.... "Something draws you to sabbath" Yeah, thats what I felt too, and I don't think its good.

I personally don't think that there is anything wrong with it. I think it is due to perfect rhythm between Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.

NIB may be a take off on Genesis 6? "Sons of God" (Fallen Angels) taking wives of whom they chose. Whether joke or not, its not funny, because he calls himself Lucifer and says "Follow me now and you will not regret leading the life you led before we met..." Well, I "followed": those words and worshipped Lucifer, and I certainly REGRETTED it!

Sabbath's inspiration for their music was to make songs that scared people, much in the same way that people pay to see horror movies. I think taking the Nephilim from Genesis 6 is a bit of a stretch. Not quite sure how to interpret that verse anyway, some say that they were fallen angels, while others claim that they were heathen men.

After Forever is mocking if you look at it that way. It sounds like he is saying those who don't follow Jesus will go to hell though: mocking those who DON'T believe in Jesus. War Pigs is an anti-Vietnam war song but the judgement of God is expressed clearly in it. Electric Funeral also speaks of Gods judgement on Nuclear war.

I like to pretend that "After Forever" was a heartfelt song from the band, but I know better. Although those tunes discuss judgment, there is a lot of dark illusions in them ("Satan laughing spreads his wings"). I don't know if that necessarily makes them good or bad. (Btw, Ozzy's voice scares me during the bridge of Electric Funeral.)

To sum it up, I think Ozz has some serious demon issues and needs to confess to Christ so he can be healed, because I think his mind is burnt. We did pray for his wife when she was sick too. That whole family needs Gods help...

Amen.