I was in two minds whether or not I should even write anything. I mean, it’s not like I knew the man personally. However, the more I thought about it, the more I felt like I needed to say something. Ozzy Osbourne was such a cultural touchstone of my life. He was ever present, be it in music, TV or Film; the man felt like he was everywhere. I guess I just wanted my chance to say goodbye to a man that shaped my life, even indirectly. I was a kid, maybe 10 or 11, when I first came across a band called Black Sabbath on my Dad’s computer; along with names like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Dio. I heard the crazy man with a worbled voice singing over dark-infected blues music, and I knew that I wanted nothing more than to listen to this type of music forever. It led me into the weird world of heavy metal. Not just a genre, but a culture, one that accepted me, a culture where I found my friends and a world I felt at home. It wasn’t just in the world of music when I heard Ozzy. The Osbournes w...
This was such a special day for me. When I first saw the lineup on the poster, my teenage nostalgic brain went into overdrive. An entire day of Welsh rock and metal music in the confines of a medieval castle in one of the biggest cities in the UK. Sign me the feck up! I was immediately drawn in by the name of The Blackout and Funeral For A Friend . Two bands that I’ve spent a little too many hours with in my life. Between the years of 2010 and 2016, I must have seen both of them over 10 times live in concert. Both have always been super consistent over the years. I think it would be difficult for them to put on a bad show. Then, if we look down the rest of the poster, we have names that have certainly stuck their claim in the cultural zeitgeist. I think what makes this even more special is the sheer fact that all of the bands on the poster come from Wales. The Welsh rock and metal scene has always been one to stand in awe at. I think, over the years, Wales has produced some of the mos...