Wednesday 25 September 1996

The Ozzman

Ozzy had Danzig and Sepulchura opening for him, and the fans were so impatient for Ozzy to take the stage that Tony Danzig pouted and stomped off the stage.  Ozzy had a montage of famous movie scenes with him digitally inserted into them.  He seemed to be troubled by the audience's characteristic Ottawa reserve, and kept shouting and ranting at us to "go crazy."  He shambled up and down the stage waving his arms a lot.  The audience was getting a bit more rowdy, and eventually Ozzy shouted "The croiziest son of a bitch in 'ere can come bockSTOIGE!" and a riot broke out instantly, out of nowhere.     Chairs were being thrown, people were nervously sidling out of the place with the houselights up, the show stopped after only half of it being performed, and the police came in.  On my way out, I saw troops of policemen running in, while troops of policewomen were running out, calling policemen on their radios as they ran.  Two huge guys were on the floor fighting, and I saw a policemen try to break them up and get punched in the face to huge raucous cheers.  It was scary and exhilarating.