Several years back, my wife Brenda came into our old studio a couple of times to serve as guest co-host for that week's show. There was a presumption among some of our listeners that Brenda's taste in pop music ran strictly toward a mix of folk and soul, a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll, all born of immersion in the AM Top 40 radio that forged us. The presumption was not unfounded. The listeners likely expected Brenda to program some Carole King and Gladys Knight (as she did), and other stuff along those pleasant and agreeable lines.
When Brenda played "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath, intrepid TIRnRR listener Joel Tinnel immediately said to us, "I...was not expecting that."
The democracy of pop radio encouraged the blending of different genres. It was, of course, all pop music. The late Ozzy Osbourne was part of the wonderful world of pop music. As he should be. I do not pretend to be an authority on Ozzy or Sabbath or metal or hard rock in general. But I used to hear "Iron Man" on AM radio. And it felt cool in a way I couldn't have understood or articulated.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio cannot claim to have ever played much Sabbath, nor any of Ozzy's solo work, nor even his duet with Lita Ford. We've only played six Black Sabbath songs--"Paranoid," "Iron Man," "Looking For Today," "Rat Salad," "St. Vitus Dance," and "Tomorrow's Dream"--with "Am I Going Insane" added this week, and "Paranoid" back now for an encore spin (leading into a track by the Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne’s all-time favorite band). But we have much respect for Osbourne. If my own pop path led me in other directions, I must nonetheless acknowledge that Ozzy was a welcome part of my path. Do I get to the Ramones without hearing and appreciating Black Sabbath first? I don't think I do.
The members of Black Sabbath proclaimed that they'd sold their souls for rock 'n' roll. Ozzy Osbourne was hailed as the Prince of Darkness. But as I've said many times: There is no such thing as the Devil's music; the Devil has no music to call his own. Music visits us from the heavens. It lifts us, drives us, embraces us, and propels us. Its trappings vary. Its transcendence does not.
And furthermore: It's been reported that Ozzy's just-completed final shows with Black Sabbath enabled him to donate 190 million dollars to worthy charities in this crushing time of global need. If there really is an eternity beyond us, Ozzy Osbourne has now ascended into its ranks. Godspeed, Prince of Darkness. There isn't a trace of irony in that statement. Godspeed, Iron Man. Godspeed, Blizzard of Oz. This crazy train is bound for glory. Godspeed, Ozzy, and thank you.
This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO.
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
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Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
AL JARDINE: Islands In The Sun (n/a, Islands In The Sun)
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