Fortunately, we live in a time where no one has to wake up to that annoying buzz of those old fashion alarm clocks. Personally I like to use an app on my iPhone that wakes me up to one of my all time favorite tunes. I’m sure, from the title of this article, you can guess what tune it is…, of course, Fairies Wear Boots by Black Sabbath. Try it yourself, I guarantee you’ll like it.
When I think back to the songs that were playing on the radio back in the 70’s, names like, Eric Carmen and Simon and Garfunkel come to mind. In fact, I can still hear Kodachrome playing in some dark recess of my brain. Luckily for me, my musical world was about to change for the better. Just when I thought Radio couldn’t suck more than it did, I met up with a bunch of guys that turned me on to a new kind of music. Music I had never heard before. Music played by none other than the father’s of heavy metal, Black Sabbath.
Sure there were a number of very talented hard rock bands gaining popularity at the time, like The Who and Led Zeppelin that radio stations were pushing. But Black Sabbath was gaining popularity solely through word of mouth since no radio stations would touch them. Even with their dark feel and demonic overtones, Black Sabbath’s energy was undeniable and embraced by a legion of followers screaming for something new. And Black Sabbath delivered, with a front man whose unique tonal quality has never been duplicated to this day.
As time went on, eventually radio stations started to capitulate to popular demand by playing Sabbath tunes like, Paranoid or Iron Man, but for the most part, Black Sabbath was still considered a musical oddity. My older sister referred to their music as “popcorn” music; with little value. However, no one knew at the time, that Black Sabbath would start the heavy metal revolution that is more popular today than ever. Their influence is undeniable.
Hats off to the men that started it all, Tony, Geezer, Billy and of course Ozzy. You guys are amazing and Black Sabbath will go down in musical history as true pioneers of rock.
(Andy Bang)
