I grew up in a working class town (Newcastle) on the east coast of Australia. My friends were listening to The Doobie Brothers, Pink Floyd, Neil Diamond and The Beach Boys. I found none of this music in any way appealing...it just didnt relate to my situation. Then Vicki Parsons (the most beautiful girl at Wallsend High School) played me "Black Sabbath Vol.4" and I was immediately hooked. I went out and bought the first 4 Sabbath albums over the following weeks and couldnt wait till the next one came out. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" certainly didnt disappoint. "Sabotage" was awesome followed by "Technical Ecstacy" and "Never Say Die" which although not as strong as the earlier albums had some great moments. (eg: "Back Street Kid", "Johnny Blade"). Anyway...then Ozzy was gone and though the first 2 albums Sabbath recorded with Dio were cool in my opinion they didnt move me in a way that "Master Of Reality" did. Then Ozzy released "Blizzard Of Ozz" followed by "Diary Of A Madman" and everything was right in the world again. Ozzy has continued to release quality product (both solo and with Sabbath) through out the quagmire years of the 80s and 90s into the 00s. I had the great pleasure to meet him in New York on the "Theatre of Madness" tour and he was an absolute gentleman. Ozzy is a rock'n'roller of the highest degree and you've just gotta love that. Long live The Ozzman.

Best wishes...MAC