Sabbath liked Marshall amps.
The seventies was the apogee of Heavy Rock, the holy trinity were Deep Purple ( Smoke on the Water),Led Zeppelin ( Whole Lotta Love) and Black Sabbath ( Paranoid). By the mid 70’s, Zep had become Rock megastars, and arguably the biggest band in the world, usurping The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple had lost guitar Svengali Blackmore by 75, leaving Sabbath as the last man standing in the battle of the heavy rock bands.
In 1975 Sabbath released “Sabotage”, their sixth album. Following a fearsomely impressive five albums in four years it was inevitable that their creative impetus might suffer alongside a relentless touring schedule. The title of the album reflected the band’s perception that their career was being sabotaged by outside forces, specifically their manager Patrick Meehan with whom they were about to break from resulting in him closing Worldwide Artiste Management of which Sabbath were the lynchpin act. Meehan had previously worked with legendary producer and hardman Don Arden, an association which led to his introduction to Don’s daughter Sharon whom he was to go on to marry.
The album was the least successful to date, yet in retrospect contained some of their best material. So the first time I saw them at their Hammersmith show on 22nd Oct 75 was not the best time to catch them. Drummer Bill Ward was visibly, and obviously, scooping large quantities of cocaine from a bowl in an appallingly disjointed, lacklustre performance by the band. Ozzy looked to be going through the motions. Only Tony Iommi held things together, “Killing Yourself to live” an ironic statement on the position the band found themselves in was rip roaring, shamelessly stealing a riff, lifted from Chicago’s hit “25or624”,the rest of the evening veered from the indifferent to the not very good.
That was not going to put me off, and on 14th March 1977 I returned to Hammersmith, my loyalty was rewarded with one of the best rock shows I have ever seen.
14th March 1977, Hammersmith Odeon
Supertzar
Symptom of the Universe
Snowblind
War Pigs
Gypsy
Black Sabbath
Dirty Women
Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor
Electric Funeral
N.I.B.
Iron Man
Children of the Grave
Encore
Paranoid
It was a staggering, potent set list with a smattering of material from the new “Technical Ecstasy” album seamlessly fitting, in of which “Dirty Women” was the highlight. The classics were delivered flawlessly, the finale of NIB/ Iron man/ Children of the Grave/ Paranoid had the power and visceral impact of a German blitzkrieg. “Black Sabbath” was totemic, the “Snowblind/ War Pigs” duo was the stuff of tablets from God.
For reasons that I now fortunately forget, my gig going companion, Keith Emerick, was moved to strip to his string vest with a handkerchief on top of his head to urge the boys on, they responded magnificently. If any show was to epitomise Heavy Rock at its best, this was it. Free of fired manager Meehan their power was unfettered, their onslaught relentless- and yes, the show was probably heard in Poland, it was that loud. In retrospect “Technical Ecstasy” was their last great album and their exposition of the Heavy Rock genre had just about run its course. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and Def Leppard would, to a greater or lesser extent, run the next leg of the relay race.
22nd october 1975, Hammersmith Odeon.
Supertzar
Killing Yourself to Live
Hole in the Sky
Snowblind
Symptom of the Universe
War Pigs
Sabbra Cadabra
Sometimes I’m Happy
Supernaut
Iron Man
Orchid
Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor
Black Sabbath
Spiral Architect
Children of the Grave
Encore:
Paranoid
Time has been kind to Black Sabbath. Their 70’s output has stood the test of time. Iommi’s status as an axe hero belied his expertise as a jazz inspired guitarist who briefly played with Jethro Tull. subsequently ozzy left the band replaced by Ronnie James Dio who was not to my taste. Subsequent line up changes revolved around Iommi, the only continuously serving band member. in recent years th band has toured and recorded around the original line up, the best line up.
Garyswordz 