Around 9500 fans showed up at the MTS Centre to see Ozzy's third Winnipeg show in seven years, but I think many were actually bigger Rob Zombie fans.
Ozzy played about two or three songs from his weak new album, Black Rain. Classic material heard included "Crazy Train," "I Don't Know," "Mr. Crowley," "Suicide Solution," "Bark At The Moon," the ballad, "Mama I'm Coming Home" and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid."
Not so classic material played included "Fire In the Sky," "Not Going Away," and "I Don't Wanna Stop." Missing were favorites "Over The Mountain," "Flying High Again," "Iron Man," "No More Tears," "The Ultimate Sin," and "Journey To The Centre of Eternity."
Ozzy is a nostalgia act, like many veteran artists, and as such he continues to survive and draw fans largely based on the strength of his best material, as opposed to his new releases.
Ozzy's vocals were all right, but obviously past their prime.
Fortunately for us, he didn't take his shirt off like he did the last time I saw him, about seven years ago. He looked like he came from a workout with his black outfit appearing as sweats and a sweatband across his head.
Throughout the set, there was a video camera panning the crowd, which stopped on a woman who was jiggling her breasts. She noticed herself on camera and was really delighted to display them for all to see. Of course, a few exhibitionists decided to pull up their tops for the camera, including this one woman standing with her girlfriend beside me.
One guy in front of me realized that the camera was showing a woman with red horns and turned around to confirm that it was this young woman by me. He pointed toward her bare boobs with his full arm, obviously enjoying the scene and then decided to take a few steps toward her, to get into the party by copping a feel. Well, her friend was having none of that and sternly slapped his hand away.
As usual, Ozzy spent a fair amount of time trying to get the audience fired up with his constant beckoning of "Make some f**king noise. I can't f**king hear you!"
I know Zakk Wylde is a guitar hero to many and is successful with his own band, Black Label Society, but....his ten-minute guitar solo was woefully lame.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
In comparison, Wylde was about as good as the guys from Twisted Sister.
Dude, I'd take Eddie Ojeda over that one string bender(Wylde)anyday. I could care less for BLS, they bore me. Granted,new Twisted kinda blows, I would rather listen to their old stuff over anything that Zak Wylde had to do with... Yea, I miss Randy as well.
I'm sorry to hear that Ozzy sucked. What a waste of drumming talent to have Puffy on the kit.
I can agree that Rob must put on a great visual show, but his music is rather boring.
I would ask for my money back...
2 - Triniman
Just wait, some Zak Wylde may comment on what an awesome talent he is, right up there with Jimmy Page, etc. My favorite Ozzy recording is still the live Tribute album with Randy Rhoads. I didn't mean to dis Eddie Ojeda or Mark French (or whatever his name was), but you get the point that I was trying to make.
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Yea.. This could start up another lame ass "Best Guitarist" showdown. I apologize & I do get the point you were trying to make.
It's unfortunate that Ozzy blows the amount of chunkage that he does nowawdays because I loved Blizzard & Diary. There is some of the greatest Metal material on those albums!
As for Rob Zombie... He should stick to making movies because his music has sucked @$$ even when he was doing the whole White Zombie thing.
*Yawn* F*cking Boring...
4 - Mark Saleski
i saw this exact pair a few years ago and thought Zombie was way better. loved his stage show, a sort of comic book/horror movie come to life.
5 - JAmes
did anyone open for both bands?
or was it just ozzy and rob zombie..
cuz im going to see them in january.. sooo.. lol