OVERDUB THE MOUNTAIN: “CLASSIC” OZZY “LIVE” DVD REISSUED TODAY
Following guitarist Randy Rhoads’ senseless death in 1982, Ozzy Osbourne reassembled his band with Night Ranger axeman Brad Gillis to complete the Diary Of A Madman tour. This line-up never made it to the studio — Oz’s next records were guitared by Jake E. Lee — but this transition period for the presumably bereaved Osbourne organization is documented by Speak Of The Devil, a live album of all Sabbath songs, and a rare concert video of the same name that bears a typical Osbourne live set.
The latter is reissued on DVD today, and only this morning has an official preview clip surfaced (above). What does it reveal? That, beyond its obvious novelty, SOTD is boring as whaleshit, a completist-only purchase, and a rush production that expects fans to enjoy Osbourne’s ahem studio-enhanced vocals. Even Ozzy management might’ve been content to let the brazenly phony SOTD disappear — Osbourne has distanced himself from it, and producer Max Norman once stated that a few tracks are rehearsal takes passed off as in-concert footage — but today’s official rerelease could be justified to combat the free one that appeared on YouTube in October. And hey it’s worthwhile if drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Rudy Sarzo get paid. Lol of course the key word is if.
-ADF
