Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy

Whilst I'd stop short at using words like 'hero' and 'idol', it's fair to say that Ozzy and his music has been part of my life for as long as I've been listening to rock music which is upwards of 35 years now.

I have usually seen him solo (including with Randy Rhoads) so watching him front Black Sabbath tonight was a first. As Ozzy eloquently pointed out, they've been doing this for 45 f@@@@@g years now. Half century approaching or not, they certainly gave it some beans tonight and Ozzy had the local crowd in the palm of his hand.

They open with War Pigs and have the crowd singing/chanting from the opening bars. There are plenty of other classics in the set but also a fair portion of the new album '13' and this material stands up really well. It would be easy for them to go through the motions on this tour and still make a killing but they all really seem to be throwing themselves into it. No Bill Ward as we know but employing Animal from the Muppet Show would seem to have been an inspired recruitment.

Towards the top right of the frame you can see the balloons ready for the encore and the inevitable Paranoid. The photos of that didn't come out too well.

Finally, a word on the support act : Dreadful.