World Wide Woozle episode #652

Welcome back at what is a sad, sad time for fans of heavy music.

The Prince is dead, long live the Prince.

Ozzy Osbourne died this week at age 76. While we all knew that he'd been unwell for a number of years, this news hits hard given that he was performing only a couple of weeks ago at his own farewell concert.

In my last couple of years of high school, heavy metal music became a passion and it remains so to this day. My friend Simon loaned me his LP copy of Blizzard of Ozz to dub onto cassette and over the following years I almost wore it out. The honest truth is that I'm not a big Black Sabbath fan. I understand their importance in metal music but Ozzy's later solo stuff is what grabbed my attention. Some of that, naturally, is to do with time and place. Ozzy was long gone from Black Sabbath by the time heavy music was on my boombox and walkman.

The iconic riff from Crazy Train (track 2 from Blizzard of Ozz) was the first real metal guitar piece that I could play. Simon played some bass and we would practice that bit over and over again. It felt good. These days it's a bit of a no-no in guitar shops because everyone plays it. There's a reason though; it's just such a great riff.

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train - https://youtu.be/FVovq9TGBw0

In mid-1989 I bought my first CD player. I also bought two CDs that day, one was the Ozzy Osbourne live album, Tribute. Yesterday, on my march through my entire CD collection, that album along with all the other Ozzy ones I own was played. Coincidence?

Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Know (live 1981) - https://youtu.be/mvwBbPIMhTY

Ozzy had a knack for attracting and working with some of the most influential guitar players. Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde to name the most well known. Tony, of course, remained with Black Sabbath and is the author of some of the heaviest riffs of all time. Randy (dec. 1982) is well known for incorporating a range of influences, including classical music, into his playing.

Randy Rhoads - Dee - https://youtu.be/J9BQRMBjUOY

In other news, I am having a major struggle with some back issues. It's been a problem on and off for many years now but I've usually been able to manage it with a range of strategies. There is a limit, however, to how much massage, physio, stretching and exercise I can do. Sadly, it's just getting worse. I begged the GP for help and he finally took notice. Some new drugs are almost managing the pain and instability. Meanwhile I've been to see a chiropractor who came highly recommended. What we already knew is that two discs are a problem, two nerve roots are being impacted, and there is some joint arthropathy too. Quite a bit of this is age related, but a couple of injuries have helped it along. Let's see what the chiropractor can do because I'd really like to get back on my bike, walk without worrying about electric shocks down my leg, and most importantly, stop the triggering of my mental health because that is even harder to deal with.

Black Flag - Fix Me - https://youtu.be/ICdgH_LDo5Q

That's it. I've got nothing else today. Go and listen to some Ozzy.

Keep smiling,
The Woozle

"Heaven is for heroes, and Hell is full of fools..."
Ozzy Osbourne, Revelation (Mother Earth), 1980.

World Wide Woozle episode #651

Welcome back loyal listeners. Welcome also to newbies, irregulars, curmudgeons, and anyone else brave or silly enough to join in. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, let's begin.

This week DJ Toddo and I headed out to the theatre to see the production, Big Name No Blankets. This was a stage show / rock musical all about the Warumpi Band. Told from the perspective of founding member and lead guitarist Sammy Butcher, it was a real treat. Musically, the band were spot on and Taj Pigram moved and sounded exactly like singer George Burarrwanga. It's a three show run here in Canberra and I'd thoroughly recommend seeing the show if you can. I've listened to Warumpi Band since their iconic song, Blackfella Whitefella, appeared, with This Land by Coloured Stone, on Midnight Oil's The Dead Heart single in 1986. Hearing their songs played live, along with some of the stories and meaning behind them was more than worth the price of admission.

Warumpi Band - Stompin' Ground - https://youtu.be/HHYbwHTGOv4

Wet Leg are a band from the Isle of Wight who are getting a lot of exposure at the moment. They had a slot at Glastonbury and also on NPR's excellent Tiny Desk Concert series. It's a bit quirky, but poppy and infectious nonetheless. Other than the cool vibe, I was instantly hooked by seeing guitarist Hester slinging a Richie Sambora Kramer guitar! So cool.

Wet Leg - CPR - https://youtu.be/3tibZ_DBmVE

Many of you may have watched, or at least been aware of, the final Ozzy / Black Sabbath show that was in Birmingham last weekend. The whole day was a complete festival of heavy music as well as love for Ozzy. I've watched quite a bit of it and I hope there is a decent BluRay release coming soon. There were great moments and there were also plenty of singers and musicians who didn't really hit the mark. Nuno Bettencourt, guitarist for the US band Extreme, proved himself to be the consummate artist. He carried many performances and made it look almost effortless. Singer Yungblud probably made a whole lot of people check out his music after his superb rendition of Changes. Steven Tyler from Aerosmith proved that you can still sing, move and be a total rock package well into your seventies. I can only imagine how much fun it would've been that day. There's a ton of bootleg footage out there on YouTube so fill your boots. Here's a track that highlights Ozzy's voice and the superlative guitar work of the legend, Randy Rhoads.

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Goodbye To Romance (vocal/guitar mix 2010) - https://youtu.be/-vrT1SQDYhA

Very few artists do justice in their attempts to cover AC/DC tunes. I'm still scarred by footage of Shania Twain murdering one of their biggest hits. I'm not even going to link it here for fear that you might inadvertently hear it. In sharp contrast, Morgan James' version of Thunderstruck is a total soul/r&b triumph, What fun!

Morgan James - Thunderstruck - https://youtu.be/IFe-AU7jwBI

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and guidance about photography after the last blog post. I won't be spending thousands on gear I can assure you. I might, however, get a small tripod that'll hold my phone from time to time. Otherwise I'm sticking with my quick draw, point and shoot style for now!

Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem - Kodachrome - https://youtu.be/6_01zRwJOPw

That'll do for this time. Happy Birthday Fitzwilliam.

Keep smiling y'all,

The Woozle.

"Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond

Call me what you will..."

Metallica, Wherever I May Roam, 1991

World Wide Woozle episode #650

Hello and welcome back all you radio fans.

The World Wide Woozle current listening playlist is, and remains, an ever-changing window into what I'm listening to now. You can access it HERE via Spotify. I love feedback and discussions about music so please feel free to engage me about this, via email, at any time.

In this episode I'm going to write about a few topics, and it might get long. I'll include some sub-headings so that you can skip what you aren't interested in. So, strap in for the ride and don't forget to hydrate.

Iron Maiden – Rime of the Ancient Mariner - https://youtu.be/gewer650wqc

Checking out

Some of you will have seen an article that I pointed to in The Guardian that reflected on the instant-response culture that we have created with text messages and other forms of instant online communication. Over the last few years many of us have allowed ourselves to be sucked into responding to messages instantly and at all hours of the day and night. Guess what, it's not good for you. And if you get that reputation in the workplace then you will never have a moment to think about anything. I am one of those people. Living alone, it is very easy to rely on messaging for human contact when the truth is that some quiet time isn't a bad thing. It means I can limit distractions when I am reading, writing, and meditating.

In pre-instant messaging days, you would never telephone someone after 8.30pm unless it was an emergency. Now, however, there seem to be no boundaries with regards to messaging. We all know that we should stop looking at our electronic devices at least thirty minutes before bedtime but we don't. I know I don't need to send stupid memes and pictures at 10pm, but I do. And I most definitely don't need to respond to that message at 3am because I forgot to put my phone on 'do not disturb'.

So, in the interests of my own wellbeing (selfish, I know) I am checking out. It's not that I won't respond or that I won't send messages, I'm simply going to make a big effort to not let it rule my life. One of the ways I will deal with this is dumping my smartwatch or at least stopping all the notifications. Every time my wrist vibrates, I am interrupted, stop what I'm doing and my mind wanders. I must remember to set up my phone so that the do not disturb setting actually works.

Jesus Jones - Who? Where? Why? - https://youtu.be/JlMZjFRFzBM

AC/DC
Yes, the best rock and roll band in the world are coming back home for a series of shows at the end of the year. Angus (Marshall, not Young) and I have tickets for one of the Melbourne shows. To be frank, I was shocked to be able to actually secure them. AC/DC were the first rock band that I really connected with, and they are still my favourite. It's uncomplicated, foot tapping, head nodding, rock and roll and this will be the fourth time I will see them live. Some will complain that it's not the original band, they are too old, tickets are too expensive, and so on. In this case, I simply don't care. Angus is the only original member, but Brian has been singing with them since 1980. Malcolm and Bon are dead so they really can't be expected to show up. Yes, they are old, but does that mean they can't do what they love? And ticket prices are much cheaper than some other international acts to recently grace our shores, cough, cough, Pearl Jam. I have little doubt that this will be the last tour, and they may have slowed down a little. Brian is 77, Angus is 70, and Stevie is 68. I'd absolutely love to be able to get on stage in front of a huge crowd at that age. "Hail, hail to the good times, 'cause rock has got the right of way...we're just living for today."

AC/DC – For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) - https://youtu.be/RtMGoU9NcMo

Not getting better

Honestly, I well and truly understand that any kind of mental health recovery journey is far from a linear process. I know there are moments of clarity as well as deep despair and everything in between. In recent times I think I have been making really good progress and importantly my psychologist thinks the same. I was reminded by a well meaning friend that I was now 54 and had been battling this for a number of years. They then asked when I would have it sorted out. Well, that sat me back on my heels and rendered me speechless. I don't know the answer but I do know that I wish it was today. I wish it had never happened to me, to my family, and to my friends. I'm ok now and I'm deeply appreciative to the people that helped me navigate my way over that particular hill this week.

John Williamson & The McClymont Sisters - I'll Be Gone - https://youtu.be/Cd6FhmogDY8

Photography
I have discovered that I like taking photographs. I just need to be better at remembering to pull out my phone to snap them! There are a couple of places near my house that are rather beautiful, and I've found myself walking there more and more searching for spots to shoot. I know that photography can be a very technical pursuit, but, with a half decent phone and a bit of patience I can get some rather pleasing results. I am a sucker for sunsets and a glassy surface on a pond. There's a rabbit hole to go down with regards to camera gear, but I don't need to even peek inside. Or do I?

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band – Photograph - https://youtu.be/oG14CJ0klhw

Maliyan Tour 2025

Melbourne readers need to be aware that my mate George has a live gig for you Victorians on the 2nd of August. All the details are on the flyer at the bottom of this blog post. Get there if you can for what promises to be a great show. It's the 10th performance on his Maliyan Tour (aka Bing's World Tour of Australia). Most big international bands manage to play in three or four major Australian cities but not George, he out there in cities and towns laying it down for y'all.

Brian Wilson

I thought I'd finish with a Beach Boys song. Brian Wilson passed away recently although many would argue that he really hasn't been with us for quite a while. It's a sad story but we are left with some superb songs. The Beach Boys Greatest Hits was one of the first albums I was given. First on cassette and then on LP, thanks Mum! 

The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice (vocals only) - https://youtu.be/FPN53PHDwe4

Lukim Yu,

The Woozle

"Same playbook as 2003,

looks familiar to you,

looks familiar to me..."

Jesse Welles, Sometimes You Bomb Iran, 2025.