Ozzy, Zakk Wylde and Iron Maiden rule Ozzfest

Posted on July 16, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music, Ozzfest, Travel, Zakk Wylde

I went to Ozzfest in Mansfield, Mass yesterday with my friend Peter. In short, it was the best time I’ve ever had at a concert. I was shocked with Iron Maiden, pleasantly surprised with Ozzy and of course, loved Zakk Wylde’s performance.

The first of the big three to hit the stage was Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society. Zakk hit the stage in usual no-nonsense style and completely took control of the show, getting people on their feet with an introductory blazing guitar riff that left your chest bruised.

Zakk started the show with Stoned and Drunk from The Blessed Hellride. He did other new hits like Fire It Up and Suicide Messiah from the bands new album Mafia, finishing up his set playing Stillborn.

Zakk appeared to get pissed off with the sound at one point when the band started a song. Zakk just tore into a solo and the band kicked into backup mode while Zakk carried the song for several minutes. Being the pros they are, Nick, James and Craig had no trouble laying down a nice riff for Zakk to play with.

During this stage in the concert, Zakk took off his Buzzsaw custom Les Paul and threw it into the crowd. People went absolutely crazy trying to get their hands on the guitar, bring Zakk’s roadies out of the woodwork to retrieve the guitar, which they eventually did.

Zakk paced the stage for a minute and then finally took another guitar — this time his white polka dot Flying V. It wasn’t too long before Zakk held that guitar out over the crowd, dangling it over their heads as they screamed. And yes, he dropped it into the mass of waiting fans.

This time, Zakk jumped into the crowd himself and the roadies passed him the guitar that had quickly recovered from the crowd. After he strapped on the guitar he tore into an amazing solo in the middle of everyone.

I don’t blame Zakk for being pissed at the sound. Of the big three, Zakk sounded the worst. Come on Ozzy, give Zakk his due — give the man a better setup. I saw Zakk in LA in January and the sound was amazing. The show would be much better if he could rip it out like we all know he can.

I saw Iron Maiden before and was certainly looking forward to their show, but I had no idea it would be as good as it was. Bruce was simply incredible from the time he took the stage until he left. He was all over the place and the voice of Iron Maiden hasn’t lost anything over the years.

From Hallowed Be Thy Name and The Trooper to Revelations and The Number of the Beast, Maiden showed their fans they can still belt it out. While Bruce looked really good, the rest of the band left a little to be desired.

Bruce had a short haircut and looked really good for his age. The other members just looked plain old — not that they didn’t play well, but they looked like middle-aged people trying to capture their past. They should all take a note from Bruce’s playbook.

And then there’s the Ozzman and Black Sabbath. I was almost sure when Bruce Dickinson left the stage that he had just stolen the show — I was wrong. Ozzy came out and looked like the Ozzy of old, not the befuddled man we see on television.

Ozzy was laughing, jumping and singing his ass off for about an hour, punching out hits like The Wizard, Black Sabbath, Iron Man and Paranoid. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward were amazing in their own right, as Sabbath solidified to their fans that they are back and can play with the best young bands in metal today.

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Off to Ozzfest to see Zakk Wylde and Ozzy

Posted on July 15, 2005 | Filed Under Guitar, Music

Now that Macworld Boston is over, Peter and I are taking a day to relax in the tranquility of music. Okay, that’s not so true, but we are going to Ozzfest this morning in Mansfield, Mass.

Mansfield is the first show for Ozzfest 2005. I’ve been so excited for weeks to be going to this year’s and now it’s here! The band line-up is pretty hot this year too.

Of course, there is Ozzy and Black Sabbath, but I really want to see Zakk Wylde. Zakk is without a doubt the best guitarist on the face of the earth these days and I should get to see him a couple of times.

He leads off the main stage with Black Label Society and then he should play with Ozzy before Black Sabbath takes the stage.

This is going to be one hell of a day!

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Broken or bruised, it hurts like hell

Posted on July 15, 2005 | Filed Under Life, Travel

I’m not sure at this point what’s up with the pinky finger on my left hand, but I do know it hurts like hell. An incident late last night in Boston left my hand in some serious pain that hasn’t diminished yet.

A bunch of us went out last night and had dinner and drinks, so alcohol was definitely a factor. Afterwards we went bowling and had a really good time. It wasn’t the same type of bowling we have in Canada, this was like Fred Flintstone bowling, with big balls that you fit three fingers into the holes.

I was actually doing very well for my first time. I got a spare the first time and a strike on my second turn. Then came the incident.

One asshole decided to try to trip me as I was taking my turn — luckily, I saw him out of the corner of my eye and stopped. I restarted my run up to the foul line and he tried it again — this time I gave him a good shove into the next lane hoping it would get him to back off.

Figuring it was over, I again started my run up to the foul and just as I was about to release the ball he swept my legs out from under me sending me crashing to the hardwood floor.

As I lay there on the bowling lane, I knew right away that all was not right with my left hand — When I looked down, I could see my pinky now had quite a curve at the end as it took a sharp right turn at the last knuckle.

When I looked up this idiot was laughing hysterically at my embarrassment and pain. I know that violence is no way to solve problems, but I was furious. I got up, jumped on top of him and started whaling away on him.

I don’t know if he even realizes that in my rage I purposely didn’t hit him in the face, but maybe someday he will.

The worst part of it all is that it is my guitar hand. How the hell am I supposed to fret chords with a twisted finger? The one thing that takes my mind off of endless hours of work and he takes it away.

I’m hoping for a nice recovery.

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Luck was with me flying today

Posted on July 10, 2005 | Filed Under Travel

I overcame the stupidity of the Halifax Airport by continuing my commitment to fly Continental everywhere I go. If I was still flying Air Canada, I would be stranded like so many other people in Halifax this morning.

The Halifax airport took the one runway it has to guide planes in during fog offline for the next month or so. What does this mean? In weather that planes would normally fly, they don’t in Halifax — in or out. The dumbasses in Halifax basically set the airport down during tourist season, not to mention business trips.

I gave up flying Air Canada about two years ago because they suck so bad. Most flights are late, the staff from ticket agents to flight attendants are rude as hell and the airline basically thought treating their travelers like shit was the way to do business.

I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear they were going bankrupt! And to hear the Air Canada people on TV saying, “we don’t know why flights are down.” Oh, oh, pick me, I’ll tell you so many stories of being stranded by the airline it’s a wonder I stayed with them so long.

Anyway, on to my good luck today. When I booked this trip I could have taken the 6:30 am out of Halifax or the 7:50 am — I always take the 6:30 am to make my San Francisco connection, but I’m going to Boston today. The travel agent said it didn’t make any difference, the connection was the same. I chose to sleep and take the later flight.

When I arrived at the airport at 6:00 am the line for Continental was huge! Apparently the idiots at the airport wouldn’t let some planes land last night, so different airlines were all sending them to Continental. I waited in line for about an hour and didn’t get very far — but then someone came and took me out of line brought me to the front of the line. No explanation at all, but there I was at the front.

Two minutes later I had my boarding passes and headed outside for a smoke with lots of time to spare.

During my time in line, Air Canada continued their great service and cancelled all of their flights for the day. Dumbasses!

When I got to security, the line there was obviously huge and wasn’t moving. All of a sudden, the line starting moving very quick, which was good for me because I needed to get to my gate. No problems at all in security, I just breezed right through.

When I got to the gate, all the people from the 6:30 flight were still there. Their plane was one of the ones that wasn’t allowed to land last night. However, my plane and crew were there — shortly later, we boarded. If I had of taken that earlier flight, I would still be sitting in Halifax.

I had plenty of time in Newark for a smoke and to catch my connection to Boston. I arrived in Boston, walked right out and jumped into a cab for the drive to my hotel in the city. They had a nice smoking room all ready for me.

I walked outside and just up the street was a McDonald’s, Duncan Donuts, Starbucks and a huge guitar store.

The only bad thing was that they took my lighters at security, but that’s no big deal.

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Michael, Dad and I at the drag races

Posted on July 10, 2005 | Filed Under Family, Life, Sports

On Saturday Michael, my father and I went to see 4×4 drag races about half an hour away from the house. It was a lot of fun overall, althought the event could have been better organized.

The three of us have gone to a hockey game, stock car races and now drag racing. I know it’s a good time for Michael, but it’s just as fun for me. Dad and I used to go to the stock car races all the time, but as I got older we stopped doing things — I guess that happens.

But now, it’s like a blast from the past for me too. It’s a chance to get away from work and spend some much needed time with him and Michael.

They had several different categories of trucks racing: street, stock, pro stock, modified and one more that I can’t remember. I was thinking of taking my truck out there for the street class — by the looks of the competition, I could have kicked some serious butt.

Maybe not, but I want to race one of these days.

At any rate, it was a good time yesterday — hopefully this summer, we’ll be able to go to some more races.

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Hey Trudeau, more terrorists need your help

Posted on July 9, 2005 | Filed Under Canada, Terrorism

First of all, I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the families of all those affected by this week’s cowardly bombings in London. I was shocked and outraged that so many innocent people were once again the target of extremists.

The thoughts of the terrorists quickly brought anger and frustration that some Canadians are openly supporting known terrorists in Canada. Alexandre Trudeau, the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, has offered his support for a man the government considers to be a threat to national security.

Writers Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis are also openly supporting terrorists in this country, going so far as to offer a ridiculous bond for his release.

So Trudeau, Klein and Lewis, what now? Why don’t you take your bond money and fly to London — have a chat with the families of the dead rail passengers and tell them how you feel about supporting terrorists.

Maybe you could offer any of the terrorists arrested over there a $50 bond and of course, the promise you’re sure he’ll be a good boy.

Despite the support these three dumbasses openly show to terrorists in Canada, I want my friends in London to know that this is not the feeling of all Canadians. I do not support terrorism.

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Good news for Michael!

Posted on July 8, 2005 | Filed Under Family

After a week of worrying about Michael, we finally have some good news to share. The first may seem small, but him it’s a big deal; the second item is huge for all of us.

Okay, the first item — He started eating again! Earlier in the week he had a few chunks of KFC, which led to some pasta and other soft foods. Michael lost eight pounds from his liquid diet, so seeing him eating is great for him and us.

The second bit of news — Michael went in yesterday for the first of his root canals, which were necessary because the teeth were dead after the accident. The doctor did some tests and Michael could feel the cold on his teeth, which meant they were not dead afterall.

The doctor sent him home and told Monique to come back in two months! If the teeth don’t die and turn black in the meantime, Michael is done with the accident. Of course, if the teeth die, we will have to do something with them, but we are keeping our hopes up.

He will still have to get a partial for the front tooth that is missing, but that’s okay. Overall, his spirits are very good.

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