EVERYBODY HOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s what I remember most about the live show.
As you last recall, we had just entered the Aragon
Ballroom. The design of this building is
that patrons walk down a long corridor which is actually under the Ballroom
itself (the Ballroom is on the 2nd floor). At the end of the corridor is a grand
staircase going up – then once up top, patrons need to walk back the same
distance towards the stage, which is actually just above the front
entrance. So, for a general admission show
– you can picture the chaos.
Ended up in the 5th row. Probably could have found seats in rows 1 or
2, but didn’t want to risk not finding them, and then ending up back in rows 10
or 11. Yes, there is a big difference
between 5 and 10 or 11.
There was an opening band, maybe two, but I honestly don’t
remember who they were or what they played.
I was too focused on the Brawlroom itself, the excitement of seeing my music
hero up close, and just the excitement of the day. I do remember, the opening band did not
suck. Even though we stood outside all
day in rain AND snow, by the time Ozzy came on, all coats were off! I think by the end of the night, I sweated
out 5 pounds, easily. With all those
people and all that energy and excitement, coats were not needed inside – and
it had nothing to do with the heating system of the giant ballroom.
The Aragon Ballroom was the perfect venue for a tour
entitled “Theatre of Madness” – it’s an old-school venue from the days of the
Big Bands. The walls and ceilings are
sculpted, the colors are majestic and royal, and there are balconies around 3
sides, all designed like the Italian village of Venice. The ceiling itself has tiny lights installed
to look like stars, and some even flicker.
Before the lights are turned out, that ceiling has clouds and blue sky. This place was royal in appearance (still is
actually). I think most of the opening
band time slot was spent soaking in the Aragon Ballroom. (Which by the way, over the years was
nicknamed Brawlroom, due to the general admission format and fights that would
break out). No fights here tonight
though. Everybody was there to see The
Madman himself, and nobody was going to screw that up with fighting. And besides, nobody even wanted to
fight. We had all gotten to know the
people in our corrals and we were lifelong friends by this point. Most of us were seated close to each other
due to general admission seating.
Seriously, the world was at peace in here. Anything that was going on outside,
politically, internationally, personally, in our neighborhoods, etc etc – none of
that mattered. It was like the world
stopped for these 2 hours – and all that existed was that very moment. I don’t
believe I’m the only one that felt that way.
Then the music started – the grand royal opera-esque Omen
soundtrack-style opening that Ozzy was using at the time. The curtains were drawn, and the lights went
back out, and the music got louder and louder.
Then there was backlighting and the drums and the guitar player silhouettes
could be seen through the curtain, then
the fog came, then the curtains started to rise, as the volume of the music
continued to rise – and then – all of the sudden – like magic – front and
center – 10 yards away (or less) – OZZY FREAKING OSBOURNE MAN!!!!!!!!
Right there – right freaking there!!!!! We were all smiling ear-to-ear – getting right
up against the chairs in front of us – standing on our chairs – lighters in the
air (they could still do that then) – and mentally pushing to get as close as
possible – the excitement at an all-time high.
And there Ozzy was, surveying the crowd, and, what I remember most of
all, was he was smiling larger than all of us were!!! This guy truly loves his fans – he really
does!
Then the music started, Bark At The Moon opened the
set. The crowd yelling the entire time,
the music and the cheers intermixed, equal, neither louder than the other,
working together in some strange harmony.
Zakk Wylde rocking it up, hair flying everywhere (no beard at this time
in his career) – Mike Inez, THE MOST ACTIVE bass player I’ve ever seen on stage
jumping and running around the stage, as if he was more excited than we were –
and my favorite Ozzy drummer of all time, Mr. Randy Castillo, beating those
drums like there was no tomorrow, fan blowing his hair in true “rock and roll”
style. And Ozzy – running back and forth
– back and forth – high fiving the people in the front row the entire song.
Then came “the howl” during the bridge of the song – and just
before it Ozzy yells “EVERYBODY HOWL”.
And everybody – everybody – DID howl – and it was the coolest sound I
have ever heard, still, at a concert – thousands of people howling in unison –
which drew a huge smile on Ozzy’s face – and – well, just wow. This was one big happy family!!!!
The show continued like this the entire evening – Ozzy running
around and doing that frog hop thing he does, Zakk Wylde spinning wildly (see
what I did there?), Mike Inez proving bass players DO move, and Randy Castillo
pounding the drums as if he were beating them into submission (in a good
way). Until...........
Until, the song Desire (at least I think it was that song) –
I remember all of the songs played, but not the order. I wrote down the set list the second I got
home, and put it somewhere safe. So
safe, I can’t find it today, but I know I still have it. Anyhow, until “Desire”. Ozzy jumped off of one of the amps, and
everything seemed fine, he kept doing his frog hop and running around. Then the guitar part came and Zakk went into
a solo – the solo was wrapping up (bass and drums joining back in, building
back to the song melody) and all the sudden Zakk goes back into solo mode while
looking off stage. Those of us up close,
noticed something, but really didn’t know why this was happening. Solo ends, Ozzy somes running back on stage –
and the show goes on – for the next 10+ songs – all just the way I explained
the very first song.
Two days later, we read in the paper, that Ozzy broke his
ankle at the Aragon Ballroom while performing the song “Desire” and had to cancel
Milwaukee and some other shows.
But here is the ever-lasting memory – he still did 10 more
songs – WITH FULL ENERGY – that night – he did not slow down one bit. NONE of us could tell anything was wrong –
everything looked just fine. This is why
Ozzy is the best live performer I’ve ever seen, not because he got hurt, but
because he cared about the show – the fans – he kept going – he never let on
that something was wrong. Watching him
smile and clap the ENTIRE show, proved to me that he tours FOR HIS FANS, not
for money (though I’m sure he likes the money too) – but he truly loves his
fans. He said something like this during
the show “My job is to make you absolutely f-ing crazy – and I’m not going to
stop until you are all f-ing crazy – STAND UP STAND UP IN BACK”. He wanted to make sure WE had fun – his focus
was THE FANS and nothing else. And that,
my friends is awesome!!!!
(by the way, the same goes for Zakk, Mike, and Randy!)
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