Contra Costa Times: OZZY OSBOURNE Isn't Aging Very Well

July 10, 2003

Tony Hicks of Contra Costa Times reports that Ozzy Osbourne isn't aging very well, based on his performance at Ozzfest 2003 in Mountain View, California Tuesday night (July 8) — he's shaky and almost lost onstage at times. Thankfully he's surrounded by one of the best hard rock bands ever assembled, including superbly aggressive guitarist Zakk Wylde, former FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin and former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted. It's subtle, but if Ozzy misses a cue or his timing breaks down, the band immediately adjusts without a second glance.

Because he's not touring behind a record this year, it was a greatest-hits set heavy on BLACK SABBATH classics. In addition to standards including "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and "War Pigs", he trotted out "Children of the Grave", "N.I.B." and "Sweet Leaf". The rest of the set was a powerful look back at 23 years of solo success, with Ozzy — sporting some very mod-metal braids in his hair — acting as nutty as his body allows. Generally that means mooning and turning a fire hose loose on the crowd. It was almost painful to watch Ozzy at times because he moves like a man 25 years older, but he's done it so long that it's still pretty natural. He can rely on the material and his band to get him through. Read more.

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