{"id":20139,"date":"2012-05-20T15:44:43","date_gmt":"2012-05-20T20:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=20139"},"modified":"2013-02-05T17:29:13","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T22:29:13","slug":"live-black-sabbath-in-birmingham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/live-black-sabbath-in-birmingham\/","title":{"rendered":"LIVE! | Black Sabbath in Birmingham"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alissa Ordabai<\/span>
\nStaff Writer —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

May 19, 2012 at O2 Academy in Birmingham, UK<\/h3>\n

\"\"Black Sabbath\u2019s hugely anticipated homecoming reunion gig was somewhat marred by Bill Ward\u2019s absence and the internet palaver which preceded it, but in the end the show didn\u2019t turn into a riot, a rally in support of Ward (as predicted by some) or a nasty stance against the substitute drummer Tommy Clufetos.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you go extra fucking crazy for this one, we\u2019ll carry on,\u201d Ozzy said to the audience before the band launched into \u201cChildren of the Grave\u201d, the next-to-last song of the set. And, apparently, was pleased enough with Birmingham\u2019s response, rewarding the crowd with \u201cParanoid\u201d which followed straight after \u2013 the last number of the show.<\/p>\n

Not that the crowd was welcoming \u201cChildren of the Grave\u201d with more enthusiasm than it gave to other old-time anthems such as \u201cWar Pigs\u201d, \u201cElectric Funeral\u201d or \u201cIron Man\u201d. From the very start Birmingham\u2019s response to the set comprised exclusively of the band\u2019s early-days hits was that of singing along, moshing, crowd surfing and generally going nuts for the home-grown idols who have for eternity defined their home town as the birth place of metal. <\/p>\n

There are many \u2013 some would say way too may – notes from those early Sabbath songs that Ozzy can\u2019t hit these days, but whatever was lacking in terms of vocal delivery was partially made up by his warm, affable stage presence. It takes a small venue like the 4000-capacity Birmingham O2 to fully appreciate Ozzy\u2019s charisma and sincerity \u2013 the way he talks to the audience and genuinely cares about everyone having a good time, his body language, and the tone of his banter. Or maybe it takes a homecoming show to touch those strings in the soul of the King of Darkness, who often talks \u2013 as he did tonight \u2013 about being proud of being a Brummie. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The substitute drummer Clufetos not once was introduced to the audience, but was given a solo slot (in fact, longer than the one given to Geezer Butler) which drew a mixed reaction from the crowd given the details of Bill Ward\u2019s non-participation which appeared on his web site a few days before the show. Given that Clufetos plays in Ozzy\u2019s band, it\u2019s easy to imagine that substituting Ward was an offer he could not refuse, and to their credit of the crowd treated him with respect.<\/p>\n

By contrast \u2013 and understandably \u2013 Ozzy asked for attention and applause to be given to Tony Iommi many times, at one point falling on his knees before Iron Man during his lead on \u201cDirty Women\u201d. This solo indeed one of high points of the show, the flight of Iommi\u2019s eloquent, intelligent impro as compelling as the best of his studio work. <\/p>\n

\"\"And when Ozzy sang in unison with Iommi\u2019s guitar as on \u201cElectric Funeral\u201d, the sound was pure magic, the whopping immediacy of the song still giving you goosebumps, no matter if you were a seasoned fan or a fresh recruit. And speaking of fresh recruits, there were plenty of those in the crowd \u2013 children and grandchildren of die-hard fans sat next to their fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers. The 10- or 15-year-olds may not know what extraordinary conviction and inspiration it took to write those tunes 45 years ago at the time when flower power and mystical East-meets-West excursions were de rigueur on the music scene, but they surely appreciated what they were hearing \u2013 first-hand and unobscured by the nostalgic glasses of history. <\/p>\n

And at the end of the day this is what tonight\u2019s show was all about that \u2013 the songs that have not only stood the test of time but have become the indelible part of the Western culture. It was also about the tenacity and dedication of the guitar player, the drive and the erudition of the bass player, and the candor of the singer. The three men on stage weren\u2019t the same men who wrote the songs they played this evening, but there are times when bands grow so big the old adage \u201cthe show must go on\u201d becomes less of a choice and more of an imperative.<\/p>\n

Set List:
\n1. Into the Void
\n2. Under the Sun
\n3. Snowblind
\n4. War Pigs
\n5. Wheels of Confusion
\n6. Electric Funeral
\n7. Black Sabbath
\n8. The Wizard
\n9. Behind the Wall of Sleep
\n10. N.I.B
\n11. Fairies Wear Boots
\n12. Tomorrow\u2019s Dream
\n13. Sweet Leaf
\n14. Symptom of the Universe (instrumental)
\n15. Drum solo
\n16. Iron Man
\n17. Dirty Women
\n18. Children of the Grave
\n19. Paranoid (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath intro)<\/p>\n

Photos appear courtesy of Alissa Ordabai<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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