Parental Guidance #1
I’ve been sifting through my dad’s music collection a lot lately mostly because I miss being a kid so much and listening to all of his music reminds me of old sunday mornings. Those mornings where I used to help him clean and we’d dance in the living room.
So, I’ve decided to share some of the music I grew up on and talk about how and why certain pieces have inspired me. I will do this periodically in a new category I created on this blog called Parental Guidance. I also invite you to comment and leave a song or maybe album that your parents introduced you to.
Black Sabbath- Sympton of The Universe
Although I technically didnt grow up on this album, I came across it a few days ago and instead of borrowing all of my dad’s Sabbath cd’s, I borrowed this more convenient compilation that contains just about all my favorite Sabbath tunes. Sympton of the Universe, chronicles some of the best songs put out by the original Black Sabbath during 1970-1978 whilst still Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward.
Not very many people know I’m into Black Sabbath, heck I don’t think anyone knows I am. Just because I don’t run around all mano cornuta or wear heavy eyeliner doesnt mean I’m ashamed or deny my metal blood, yes, I have it in me. But when I got to high school, all the metal heads were a gang of idiots and I wanted to in no way be associated with them. Not only that, but my musical tastes have always been too ecclectic to liken myself to just one group.
The Sabbath, however, never left me. How could I ever forget the impression that Tony Iommi’s guitar playing had on me? I knew as soon as I popped Symptom of the Universe into my car stereo that it was truly time for a Black Sabbath Revival.
As I heard N.I.B. I couldn’t resist the urge to head bang my entire way to work. I mean, really, have you heard that song? It has one of the most monstrous and memorable riffs in all of music history.
And undoubtedly, I listened to Iron Man, which took me back in time when Matthew (my little brother) was only 2 and he was head banging to that song and busted his lip doing so, a time when my older sister was in drill team and they used that song, a time when me and all my brothers and sisters “packed” the van and my dad turned up the song full volume…the days when we could all head bang in unison.
And then…yes, War Pigs. Seriously, I got the urge to stop the car turn back home, grab my guitar and truly shred. As much as I love folk/country/psychadelic/jazz…, blah, blah, blah, blah, but you know sometimes, there’s this tiny demon in me shouting, “fuck all that pansy shit, it’s time to truly rock THE FUCK out.”
So to all my fellow Sabbath lovers and to all you people who havent ever appreciated or discovered the Sabbath (if this is the case, you are being deprived of some serious cock rocking shit, and you deserve to choke on a pretzel)…I ask you to please play N.I.B. while you stand in front of a mirror, legs apart, take one really long deep breath. put your right fist in the air, now mano cornuta for about 2 seconds while simutaneously head banging and now throw that right hand down briskly and begin to play guitar (or air guitar). Now rock THE FUCK out!
God Bless You! Happy Holidays!
