At the Point Theatre

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Reviewed by Dessie Fish.

It's over thirty years since four Brummie mates accidentally formed the very first heavy metal band, Black Sabbath. Since then, much has changed in the world of metal but not enough to prevent 5,000 rockers attending Ozzy Osbourne's first show in Ireland in over fifteen years at Dublin's Point Theatre last night. Osbourne, now 58,was once infamous for outrageous behavior wherever he went. However, he has become known in more recent times as the harmless, cuddly Dad from MTV's reality show, ”The Osbourne's". So, can the man who still calls himself ,"the Prince of Darkness" still rock or should he be confined to his rocking chair? Dressed all in black and with eyes that still reflect a mind of torment and confusion, Ozzy took stage at 9:10pm to a deafening reception. A more stunning opening could not have been made. Ripping into the classics ,"Bark at the Moon, followed by the spine tingling, "Mr,Crowley", new song "Not Going Away" and Sabbath's "War Pigs", this was what his Irish fans had waited so long for. Osbourne belied his advanced years by sprinting across the stage, frantically encouraging his audience to," go fucking crazy". They didn’t need the instructions. With axe-man Zakk Wylde shredding his guitar and skins man Mike Bordin pounding the drums, it didn’t take long to realize that Ozzy is still a man whose natural environment is the live arena.

However, it would have to be said that many of the classic solo songs were strangely omitted. Numbers such as "Road To Nowhere’, ”Mama I’m Coming Home" and "I Don’t Want To Change The World" aren’t bad songs but hardly deserve to be played before, "Diary Of A Madman", "Flying High Again and "Fire In The Sky". A near complete absence of Sabbath material is also highly questionable and to many unforgivable. However, the still controversial, "Suicide Solution" was delivered with stunning precision. Ever the entertainer and being the considerate gent he is, Osbourne helped to keep the first five rows of the crowd refreshed during the show by firing full buckets of water over them at 20 minute intervals! Mooning the audience was also essential. This, for those in the audience too young to remember, was a lesson in old school British metal. The crowd loved it.

Finishing the show with the still jaw droppingly stunning, "Paranoid", Ozzy bid his adoring audience good-night at 10:45pm. He may be approaching his 60th year but his enthusiasm and energy for his craft is undeniable. Still, turning in a great show and smiling that devilish smile. Ozzy Osbourne: still crazy after all these years.