The Metal/Punk/Rock Thread

[mim731]

6 minutes ago, cobra_gordo said:

It's always been a whole day thing. I'd hazard a guess at 20-30 minute sets, maybe longer as it gets to Tool, GnR, Slayer, Metallica.

Andy Copping did an interview recently where he's said they've got a revolving stage so one band can be setting up while another is playing, meaning we're looking at 10-12 minute changeovers between bands. He's also said to expect two or three surprise bands that aren't advertised, one is strongly rumoured to be Soundgarden. Hook it up to my fucking veins.

https://blabbermouth.net/news/steven-tyler-and-members-of-soundgarden-added-to-black-sabbaths-final-concert they were confirmed a while back, so definitely more than a rumour!

[cobra_gordo]

I'd only seen dirtsheet speculation so that's excellent news

[Ironic Indie Lad]

Went to see Iron Maiden at the Hydro in Glasgow last night. 

(Full disclosure - I am an absolute Maiden diehard. I am in double digits for seeing them live. My dog is named Eddie. I have a shelf in my living room with Nicko drum skin and Dave Murray plectrum. I adore them.)

I've been going to see them for 15+ years with the same two friends who are equally obsessed. Every now and then a 4th guy will tag along and they are usually absolutely fucking baffled by our sheer level of useless Maiden knowledge. Last night was one of those nights. It was like 3 guys speaking in code to a very confused man.

Every time I see them now, I tell myself during the intro tape "this could be the last time" because you just dont know what could happen at their age.

This tour has seen some mixed opinions from what I can gather. This is literally the first Maiden tour in my entire life without Nicko on drums. For the first time, they have done away with the old fashioned drape backdrops, physical props etc and are using a huge screen instead. A lot of complaints about the setlist being too 'hit heavy' / predictable as well.

Personally I loved the setlist. As I have said before, I genuinely do not know how anyone can feel hard done by when you have the obvious ones (Run to the Hills, Number of the Beast, The Trooper, Fear of the Dark) but also you're getting deeper and rarer cuts like Killers, The Clairvoyant, Powerslave, Seventh Son of a Seventh son. I thought it was a brilliant set with many of their best ever songs and it flowed really well.

Simon was fine on drums. I thought just from a playing style perspective he was better at the Clive Burr stuff than the Nicko McBrain stuff. 

Dave and Adrian are so amazing. For me the best TWIN AXE ATTACK~! ever in metal. They play everything absolutely note perfect and they make it appear utterly effortless as well. Thankfully they did pretty much all of their own solos - sometimes they let Janick do them and he tends to put his own spin on it (and its not as good!).

With one notable exception (Aces High), Bruce sounded sensational. I thought his best performance was for Seventh Son of a Seventh son. There is a point in that song with a very long sustained note and he got a massive applause mid song for that. His voice and general energy on stage continues to be absolutely baffling for a cancer surviving guy pushing 70. As mentioned though, they do need to drop Aces High from that late in the show. Just too fast and too difficult to sing at this stage. 

Next up - Back to the Beginning!

 

 

 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

1 hour ago, cobra_gordo said:

I managed to get a ticket a couple of weeks ago when Ticketmaster released the production holdbacks. Don't mind admitting that I paid just over £400 for gold standing because I had a "fuck it" moment. I still feel sick at spending that much to go to a gig but it feels like a moment in time that I can't miss. I'll still be torrenting the gig though, fuck paying another £25 to relive it and only for a couple of days.

I am in the same boat.

I have major issues with spending money on myself, leaving my wife with our daughter and dogs etc. (I should probably look into why I feel so guilty about this.)

I took my daughter to an animatronic dinosaur thing in Glasgow on Saturday. I arrived a bit earlier than planned and she was still sleeping in her car seat. I went on my phone and, as I have been doing for weeks, checked Ticketmaster just in case. By sheer luck there was exactly 1 ticket on Ticketmaster and it was a pretty decent one in the tiers overlooking the front circle. I bought it in a moment of madness and absolutely could not believe it when I actually got the confirmation through.

All in with the ticket, train down and hotel I am already in for over £450. I cant even feel excited yet as I just feel like a maniac for spending this.

 

[d-d-d-dAz]

Whilst this year is an outlier as I've gone to lots of things once you include the 5 Springsteen gigs, I typically prefer to go to fewer things and spend the money on the best tickets I can afford to the stuff I do go to.

I try and treat the things I go to as being particularly special, so I don't want to be at the back or watching on screens or whatever.

In the old days you'd just arrive early and it was fine, but now every big gig has ticket tiers so you need to pay for the privilege of being anywhere near the front. So I don't go to everything I want, I go to the ones I really want and just accept it's going to take my soul so try and enjoy it.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you've spent the money already... get excited. Get more excited than you would usually. Make it the best day ever... as in my experience it's the only way you can make the expense worth it...

Edited July 1, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz

[Ironic Indie Lad]

Given the fact we are days away from what is surely (this time) the final Sabbath show, I thought it would be an idea to talk about any memories or thoughts people may have on the band.

I was born at the end of 86 so my childhood was very much the 90s. As we all know, there was probably nothing less cool in the mainstream than heavy metal for most of the decade. I knew the name Black Sabbath and obviously Ozzy and I was sort of aware they were an important band way back in the day.

It was probably around 2002 or 2003 and one day I just happened to be watching MTV2 and the video for Paranoid came on. At the time I used to go back and forth between MTV2 and Kerrang for hours. Just a Day by Feeder was never off these channels then. That along with My Friends Over You by New Found Glory, In to Deep by Sum 41, First Date by Blink 182 and you still had loads of Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Staind, Puddle of Mudd etc.

In amongst all that, Paranoid was so jarring to me. I remember I downloaded it right after that and I was hypnotised by it completely. I used to just listen to that song over and over again. Not long after that I remember having a huge black and white Sabbath poster on my wall but with the logo in classic purple. I had grown my hair long at the time and was very baby faced and I can vividly remember someone telling me I looked like a young Ozzy and it was the greatest compliment ever.

Over the years I got really into Black Sabbath but primarily the first 5 albums. For years I simply assumed they were a band then Ozzy went solo and they ceased to exist. I genuinely had no idea that Dio fronted them and that the Dio material is actually great. They released 'The Dio Years' comp in the mid 2000s and I got really into that stuff. The first time I saw any incarnation of the band was in 2007 when I saw the Dio/Iommi/Butler/Appice line up. I can vividly remember the lights going down and before the intro started, Iommi and Geezer just played a couple of notes and it was so, so much louder than at any concert I had ever been to before. 

Eventually the classic line up got back together for the Thirteen album and tour. I can remember when God is Dead? came out and being absolutely floored that it was actually really good.

They came to Glasgow in December of 2013. The Hydro had only opened in September of that year so this would have been one of the first big concerts there. I can remember that day so well because I didnt get fucking tickets! My friend and I both worked in the same office at the time and we were in such a depression. Just kept saying we couldnt believe Black Sabbath were playing that night and we werent going. That day there was supposed to be this big catered meeting in our work with some of the top brass from down south. They brought in loads of Pizza and Pasta from DiMaggios but for whatever reason the meeting got cancelled so all the shitmunchers (including me) got a slap up meal for the price of absolutely gratis. While eating this, I snagged some very last minute tickets from someone on Gumtree for well under the going rate.

So there we were. Seeing the actual Sabbath (sans Bill Ward) after all. Me and one of my best mates just standing there like little children going "omg thats actually Tony and Ozzy!!!!!". Beautiful stuff. To me they sounded so good that night and I had zero complaints. If I never saw them again I would have been fine with it.

(I did see them again on the farewell tour of course. Very similar setlist but Ozzy had deteriorated a lot by then. )

Having posted all this meaningless drivel only interesting to me, it honestly feels so surreal that I am going on Saturday now. 

 

[WyattSheepMask]

33 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

Given the fact we are days away from what is surely (this time) the final Sabbath show, I thought it would be an idea to talk about any memories or thoughts people may have on the band.

 

The only time I ever saw the original lineup was when they did ‘The Last Supper’ shows in 1999. They did two nights at the Birmingham NEC, which had Godsmack, Drain STH and System Of A Down opening. SOAD were great and still on that first album cycle, Drain STH I only knew at the time from doing Simon Diamond’s theme in ECW but they’d been working with Tony Iommi the previous year and Maria (their vocalist) had gotten into a relationship with him by then so that’s probably how they ended up on the bill (their vocalist band folded less than a year later). Godsmack I was fairly indifferent to even at that time and they only got worse as the years went on.

As for Sabbath, they were phenomenal. Ozzy could still go and the band was as tight as anything.

The Birmingham NEC was left in somewhat of a state however, as the floor had been made for seating rather than standing. This didn’t go down well and when Sabbsth began, the seats were promptly ripped apart and the seat cushions tossed through the air for the entirety of the set. It’s was like watching shock & awe attack if it were to be done with soft furnishings.

Even at that time I knew this wasn’t going to be the “final” show, Ozzy even made an “until the next one” joke after referencing it. I’m fairly sure they were back together for Ozzfest in 2001 less than 18 months later.

As I say, the was the only time I saw the original lineup, but I did get to see Heaven & Hell twice though
I always preferred Dio era over Ozzy era Sabbath. For me, Ozzy on his best day could never come close to Ronnie James Dio. 
I saw them play Sheffield arena and also saw them when they played at Wacken Open Air, a show which was later released on DVD and ended up being Dio’s penultimate European show (the band played Sonisphere the next day). 
There was a great moment where earlier in the day we caught a glimpse of Ronnie through one of the fences. He was just there chatting to some member of his crew and we just shouted “Ronnie!” and waved our arms not expecting him to do anything. He turns around, giving us a little sort “oh hey guys” wave, and then he just shot us the devil horns as only he could. We lost our shit, genuinely one of the best moments I’ve ever had at a gig.

[cobra_gordo]

I've been a Sabbath fan since I was 16 or 17 but I've never seen them live. Oddly, despite knowing the big Sabbath hits, I was only a fan of Ozzy's solo stuff initially, having discovered Crazy Train at age 14 and quickly deciding Randy Rhoads was God. Sabbath always ended up being a band where I was on holiday when they toured or was simply too skint. A similar situation I've found myself in with Slayer, a band I've loved for over 25 years.

I have seen Ozzy live once though when I won tickets to see him at The Roundhouse as part of Wireless festival in 2010. It was the week before our wedding so I cancelled my stag do and went down to That London with my now wife. We were on the barrier throughout, got a bucket of water chucked directly in our faces by the Ozzman and had the time of our lives. You could tell Ozzy was enjoying being back on stage as he called for a couple of songs that weren't in the set, making then guitar player Gus G roll his eyes.

I will add, as a guitar player, four of the guitarists Ozzy has associated with throughout his career (Iommi, Rhoades, Zakk Wylde and Jake E Lee) have been a massive influences on me and my playing so I'm particularly excited that I'll get to see three of them under one roof at the show on Saturday. The solo tours planned after that Roundhouse show ended up getting cancelled meaning I never had the chance to see him play with Zakk so I can't wait for that. And Jake being there meaning we might get Bark At The Moon (and in an ideal world the superior Shot In The Dark) with him.

Have I mentioned I'm excited?

[cobra_gordo]

Does anybody have any tips on where to park around Villa Park that won't cost a million quid? Cheapest I've found is £50 7 minutes walk away from the venue and I'm loathed to pay that to park in a school's car park.

[Ironic Indie Lad]

All the lads have started arriving in Birmingham now based on my social media this morning.

Insanely, Zakk Wylde did an interview on Sunday where he claimed the bands know as much as the fans do. They are all just showing up on Saturday and winging it. I simply cannot believe this to be true as that has the potential for a monumental car crash.

I picked up the new Metal Hammer magazine yesterday as theres a lot of Back to the Beginning stuff in there.

Rob Trujillo says his band mates have never been this excited about the covers they are doing before. Could be a Medley? The Metallica lads love a covers medley.

Most guys are tight lipped but Jerry Cantrell outright says they are planning on playing Fairies Wear Boots. 

[WyattSheepMask]

4 hours ago, cobra_gordo said:

Does anybody have any tips on where to park around Villa Park that won't cost a million quid? Cheapest I've found is £50 7 minutes walk away from the venue and I'm loathed to pay that to park in a school's car park.

Probably no help to you whatsoever, but might it be an idea to park somewhere else entirely and then get a train into Birmingham?

Parking at Coventry train station will cost you around £10 to park for the whole day (going off the most recent photo on Google Maps that shows the parking tariffs) and you can then get a train from there to Witton (6 minute walk to Villa Park) for just under £9 return according to The Train Line app

If I were doing it I’d go with the following-Leave Coventry on the 10:27am, change at Birmingham New Street and get the 11:00am to Witton (arrives 11:10am) then returning get the Witton 10:48pm to Birmingham New Street change to the 11:16pm to Coventry arriving at 11:44pm.

Makes it a long day admittedly but it’ll save you some money 

Edited July 2, 2025 by WyattSheepMask

[waters44]

5 hours ago, cobra_gordo said:

Does anybody have any tips on where to park around Villa Park that won't cost a million quid? Cheapest I've found is £50 7 minutes walk away from the venue and I'm loathed to pay that to park in a school's car park.

Where was that out of interest? We were planning on parking half hour away and walking in but the closer it gets the more i’m thinking to get a bit nearer 

 

EDIT - ignore, I think I’ve found it 

Edited July 2, 2025 by waters44

[cobra_gordo]

55 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said:

Makes it a long day admittedly but it’ll save you some money 

That was pretty much the only reason for not doing that or going on a coach, after standing for 12 hours it might send me over the edge, plus I'd be paranoid about missing that train. In the best but also lamest turn of events, my mum saw a post I made on Facebook asking for tips on cheaper places to park, ranting about the overpriced places and she's paid for me to go in the £50 car park, bless her.

Edited July 2, 2025 by cobra_gordo

[deathrey]

5 hours ago, cobra_gordo said:

Does anybody have any tips on where to park around Villa Park that won't cost a million quid? Cheapest I've found is £50 7 minutes walk away from the venue and I'm loathed to pay that to park in a school's car park.

£50?! That's extortionate. Park at Hawthorns and get the tram in to Birmingham 

https://www.westmidlandsmetro.com/maps/stops/the-hawthorns/

[cobra_gordo]

5 minutes ago, deathrey said:

£50?! That's extortionate. Park at Hawthorns and get the tram in to Birmingham 

https://www.westmidlandsmetro.com/maps/stops/the-hawthorns/

And that's nowhere near the dearest place sadly. Some places closer are £100+. It's a disgrace