Old Bloke Upstairs Has The Sabbath Cranked

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

The old fella upstairs has got the Sabbath cranked well before midday, in scenes that are being emulated right around the world.

This follows the news that the legendary frontman of heavy metal group Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, has died.

The Osbourne family confirmed his passing this morning, just weeks after Ozzy performed in an epic farewell concert before a sold-out crowd in his home city of Birmingham, England.

The Prince Of Darkness is remembered as a pioneer of the deliberately stressed and heavily electrified rock subgenre known as ‘heavy metal’.

His death is felt by metalheads all around the world.

Black Sabbath co-founders Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have posted tributes to their bandmate and childhood friend from the streets of Aston, in England’s West Midlands.

The wider music industry has joined to mourn over the loss of one of the most inspiring figures in the history of rock music. Among those posting tributes Tuesday have been Elton John, Jack White, Metallica and Public Enemy.

Elsewhere around the world, in small apartments in quiet suburbs, everyday people who never met Ozzy Osbourne – and in many cases never even saw him play music live, are paying tributes in their own way.

Len from upstairs in unit 6, is one of those ageing rock dogs.

Today, he’s playing every Black Sabbath record he has, and likely smoking a fair a bit of cannabis.

The distorted guitar riffs and sullen vocals of Ozzy are now echoing through the neighbourhood, in a fitting tribute to the boy from Brum.

Employers of metalheads are encouraged to go easy on their staff today, with Australian audio and electronics retailer JB HiFi offering compassionate leave to anyone who needs to take a day off for some solemn headbanging.