This is my review of the recent Ozzy show in Sioux City, IA.

To begin, when I first heard that Ozzy was coming to Sioux City (where I live), I got really excited. Every Ozzy show I ever went to, I had to do a long road trip to. Anyways, so I heard about the show off of Myspace, and I told the wife "I'm going no matter what" She was excited for me because she knows I'm a big fan, and to my surprise she bought me the VIP platinum pass (which meant a meet and greet with Ozzy and the band). Needless to say, I was in shock!

The night began with me getting my backstage pass. It felt great to have that haning on my chest. There was about 15 people with the VIP tickets, so that was really cool because we got a chance to know eachother a little bit. One of Ozzy's crew, Big Dave, introduces himself to us and we go to his dim-redlighted room, decorted in a Halloween fashion. There was a little bar, so I decided to knock back a few beers to chill my nerves. Eventually, Big Dave tells us that we'll first meet Blasko, Mike Bordin, and the keyboard player (sorry I didn't catch his name), They were all really cool. Blasko seemed really skinny! I told Mike Bordin that he has the coolest hair. and the keyboardist (if someone knows his name, let me know) was cool, first British guy I ever met...b****in!

So after that we go back to are little party room and bulls*** with eachother somemore. Big Dave informs we will meet Ozzy in about 15 minutes and that if we wanted to take our gift bag to our cars we could (we all got a gift bag of Ozzy goodies). So I decided I would do that. When I come back to the building, they almost didn't let me in!!! I told the b**** at the door "I'm with Big Dave in the VIP room" He came up and got me back in :)

So now I'm back with everyone and we are lined up to meet Ozzy!!! Everything to me was so surreal I didn't even think it's real. Finally I hear a familiar voice of a man enter the hallway we are in, it is the one and only Ozzy Osbouren. Dressed in all black with the shades on. At this point I'm freaking out. I was maybe the 5th person in the line to shake his hand and get an autograph. I noticed everyone meeting him didn't get a long time to talk to him, so I decided I wouldn't say too much to him since it'ld piss everyone else off. Anyways, now it was my turn to shake his hand (well he had leather gloves on). I was grinning from ear to ear, totally star-struck! I told him I was a big fan that I hope Sioux City was treating him good. And like an idiot, I forgot to bring in the poster I got from my gift bag for him to sign. So, I dug and dug for something for him to sign. All I had was my receipt of my VIP ticket, good enough. Eventually the line starts all over again to take a picture with Ozzy. When I get to him again I told him that he could come back to Sioux City anytime.

After all that excitement, we go over to the tour bus to meet Zakk Wylde. By this point I'm in Heaven! Entering the bus I hear Zakk saying hi to everyone and I'm freaking out because I'm a huge fan of Zakk's playing since I'm a guitar player who has studied him alot. Zakk was watching a football game and drinking a beer. He was really cool, very down to earth, and just plan cool. I went over to him to get my picture taken and I was right next to his guitars!!! I told him I'm such a huge fan and that his playing is insane!

So now it was time for the show. We walked from the back of the stage to our seats right in the front row. We missed the first band unfortunatly, so we waited in anticipation for Rob Zombie to start his set. I was sitting with the people I have already met in the VIP area so that was cool to sit with them. Eventually the lights go black and out comes Zombie. He did all his classics and some songs I'm not to famiar with. I was very pleased with Zombie's performance. It had everything one would expect from a Zombie show....great sound, great visuals, sexy female dancers, FIRE !!! It was great to see a Zombie show up front.

After Rob Zombie's performance the lights go back on for the break. I really needed to piss but I decided against it for fear of loosing my seat. So I painfully held it in. After waiting for awhile the lights go black again and the crowds roars. A curtain blocking the stage from the crowd is light up from the stage lights and figures of crosses appear on the curtain. Various Ozzy bits are played over the speakers such as "SHARRON!!!" Finally, Zakk plays the opening note to I Don't Wanna Stop and the crowd is louder then ever. The drums and bass kick in and down goes the curtain. There he is, Ozzy, with the rest of the band. I start yelling, which actually hurts my bladder even more, but nevertheless this is Ozzy so damnit I'm going to cheer him on. A camera is right in front of me and he points the camera to me and I see myself on the big screens that the Ozzy crew set up. The sound is perfect, Ozzy was singing great, I knew I was in for a great Ozzy night. However, my bladder was not happy. The last thing I want to do is walk out of an Ozzy, especially when I'm right in front of him!! I made it to about the 3rd or 4th song and I just couldn't take it no more (sorry Ozzy) I made my way to the bathroom, but I quickly came back, and believe it or not I got my same spot back.

When I came back, Ozzy had a big hose and coming out of it was foam. He must of saw me leave and come back, because I got hosed really good with the foam, absolutley covered. It was cool though, I just keeped headbanging. Ozzy played some of the new songs as well as the classics. I was kind of bummed that the only Sabbath song they played was "Paranoid". "Crazy Train" was played earlier in the set which kind of surprised me. I was also surprised to hear them play "Here For You" Zakk played like a 4 hour solo halfway through the set. He played some of the Randy Rhoads solo from the live "Tribute" album (when Randy solos out during Suicide Solution). During Zakk's solo, the cameras were focusing in on ladies in the audience for some flashing, so that was a plus :) Finally, towards the end of the set, Ozzy said to the crowd that he really liked Sioux City and that he would come back, that got the crowd going! Paranoid was the last song, and right at the beginning of the song, Zakk's guitar wires were cutting out! I looked over at Ozzy and I could see Ozzy saying something like "oh f*** no"....that was really cool to see, not cool for them, but it was a very candid moment. They got the wire working and finished the night on a great note.

All in all, the Nov 4th Ozzy show in Sioux City, IA was awesome. The VIP pass is worth every penny. Meeting Ozzy and the band was great, however if you are looking to sit down and have a long conversation with Ozzy, the VIP pass will be a disappointment. Don't get me wrong though, I had a great time, and I was happy with the VIP pass. If you want to meet Ozzy, save some money and get the VIP treatment, just don't expect a long conversation with him.

10 out of 10 !!!! GO SEE OZZY!