Fanatic. As you’re probably aware, a true legend, Ozzy Osbourne has passed away. I got word from Al Cisneros, the bass player in the mighty band Sleep. Within two hours, I was doing one interview after another. I started with the BBC and ended with CNN.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0c6ne7LaM1g&dp_isNewTab=1&dp_referrer=other&dp_allowFirstVideo=1

After all that was over, I suited up and went to the gym. It was there when it started to hit me, the Incredible magnitude of this loss. Obviously, everyone dies, but some passings seem to hit harder than others. Thankfully, we have so much good music that Ozzy, Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler made for us that we can play any time, and in that way Ozzy will always be with us.

It also occurred to me that the next 10 years are going to be very difficult on this subject. To name names is too depressing but if you think about it, it’s going to be heavy. I think it’s difficult to think of the lives of others without referencing yourself at some point. Maybe the passing of Ozzy can be a reminder to run a life with everything we’ve got, and on the Fanatic note, to keep the music playing as often as possible. Ozzy and Black Sabbath gave the world so much, but we also gave them a lot too, by showing up, decade after decade. One of my favorite aspects of Black Sabbath, and this might be perhaps a bit selfish but early on, they got every possible bad review. They were called stupid, simplistic, mere noise. However, their audience snowballed, and the critics were left in frustrated conversations with each other, wondering how millions of people all over the world could’ve gotten it so completely wrong. Their inkwells dried up and no one noticed.

The truth is, Black Sabbath music is a master class in rhythm, cohesion, innovation, and sheer vision. The next time you get a chance to play a Black Sabbath album, listen carefully to what the bass and drums are doing. Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make for one of the greatest rhythm sections in Rock music. The more you concentrate on what they’re doing, the more amazing it becomes. They were anything but simplistic. All four members of the band are the textbook example of the sum being greater than the parts. Each of them had a once in a lifetime, completely natural talent. What they were able to achieve, is not taught in music class. They were from Birmingham, a rough part of a tough country. They did it their way, to our great benefit. It’s sad that Ozzy is gone but his life was a triumph, and that is to be celebrated.

Fanatic, let me get down off my poorly-constructed soapbox. We have for you tonight, a tremendous gathering of tunes that we very much hope you will enjoy. At the end of our first hour, you’ll see that we have a crushing live version of War Pigs. One of my favorite moments of their catalog is the very beginning of the track, when Ozzy yells “Get up!” and then you hear a fraction of a second of feedback as Iommi rolls his volume knob up and then the beginning of the song lands on you with the weight of the universe. I was lucky to witness the band open with this track a couple of times. It leaves an impression.

Please, if you can, check out our playlist for tonight, I think you’ll find we hit the balance rather well. Have a great night of listening. We shall reconvene, next Saturday, in August, a five Saturday month. So much great new music coming up in August going forward. Excellent records from some of our favorite labels. We have some awesome listening to do.

Don’t despair. Carry on and stay Fanatic.

–– Henry

We’re on Bluesky

henryrollins21361.bsky.social

Hour 1

1. Charles M. Bogert And . . . - Mating Call Of Squirrel Treefrog / Sounds Of North American Frogs

2. The Lurkers - New Guitar In Town / God's Lonely Men

3. The Saints(I'm) Stranded / (I'm) Stranded

4. XYZ - Down The Tubes / XYZ Plays The Classics

5. Kim Salmon & The Surrealists - Undying Love / Just Because You Can't See It…

6. The Stooges - I Got A Right Take 1 / I Got A Right (EP)

7. Uncomfortable Police - Bubblegum Guillotine / Michelin Star Hardcore

8. The Fall - Light / Fireworks / The Infotainment Scan

9. Say Sue Me - Good People / Your Book 7”

10. Satanic Togas - Panic Room / X-Ray Vision

11. Horsegirl - Rock City / Phonetics On and On

12. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Moon Is In The Gutter / B-Sides And Rarities

13. Dr Sure's Unusual Practice - Thoughts & Prayers (From The Deckchair) / Scomo Goes To Hawaii

14. Ronnie (The Blond Bomber) Dawson - Rockin' Bones / Loud Fast & Out Of Control

15. Cherry Cheeks - Silica Bags / Cherry Cheeks

16. Dee Dee Ramone - Hop Around / Hop Around

17. Deerhoof - Mario's Flaming Whiskers III / Breakup Song

18. Thug - Dave's Back From Outer Space / Everything Is Beautiful In Its Own Way

19. Black Sabbath - War Pigs / Live at Last

Hour 2

1. Joy Division - Transmission / Substance

2. Wire - Former Airline / 154

3. Fugazi - Dear Justice Letter / Steady Diet Of Nothing

4. Moon Men / Some Kind Of Nut / Missing Links Vol. 3

5. Pere Ubu - Prison Of The Senses / 20 Years In A Montana Missile Silo

6. Paloma 004 - Habit / Alles Fängt Neu An

7. John Dwyer - The Mythomaniac / Chime Oblivion

8. Kid Congo & TNDE - Sophisticated Boom Boom / Live @ St. Kilda

9. The Bobby Lees - Mad Moth / Beauty Pageant

10. Artificial Go - Hallelujah / Musical Chairs

11. Cravats – Precinct / Small Wonder : Vol. 1 - Punk Singles Collection

12. Memo PST - Killed By A Loser / Puzzle Piece b/w Killed By A Loser 7”

13. Generation X - Day By Day (alt. version) / Generation X (Deluxe Edition)

14. Teri Gender Bender - Ayúdame / TGB

15. King Tubby & Soul Syndicate - King Tubby's Key / Freedom Sounds In Dub

16. UK Subs – Kicks / Brand New Age (CD)

17. The Beatles - Only A Northern Song (mono) / Artifacts II

18. Alan Vega Trio – Freedom / Cubist Blues