Name: OZZY OSBOURNE - BUDOKAN 1998 SOUNDBOARD (2CD)
SKU: K37648
Availability: BackOrder

Description

Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 5th March 1998 STEREO SBD(from Original Masters)

★UPGRADE!!!

　Ozzy Osbourne returned to Japan in 1998 after a spot reunion with his friend Zakk Wylde. The legendary full soundboard has been updated. It will be released as a permanent preservation press 2CD, also known as “LOVE & LOUD Part 2”!

　This work is engraved with the performance at the Nippon Budokan on March 5, 1998. It is a stereo soundboard recording. At the time, Joe Holmes was Ozzy’s regular guitarist. It was assumed that Joe would also be there for the Japan tour, but Zack’s sudden return was a big surprise. On the other hand, Zack’s return was only temporary. To understand the situation, let’s first take a look at the band’s activities at the time.

●1998
{January: Wylde/Inez/Castillo lineup}
*February 12th-20th: Oceania (5 performances)
*February 24th-March 5th: Japan (6 performances) ←★here★
{March: Holmes/Trujillo/Bourdain lineup}
・May 23rd: Appearance at 93X Fest
・May 29th-June 1st: Europe (3 performances)
+ June 3rd-14th: Europe (7 Sabbath performances)
・June 20th: Performance in Milton Keynes
+ June 20th-30th: Europe (6 Sabbath performances)
・July 3rd-August 2nd: North America (18 performances)
+ December 31st: Phoenix (Sabbath performance)
*Note: “*” indicates the Zakk Wylde lineup, “・” indicates the Joe Holmes lineup, and “+” indicates a Sabbath performance.

[The highest peak update of the ultra-realistic leaked soundboard]

　This is Ozzy Osbourne in 1998. At the time, he managed the incredible feat of juggling both his solo career and the reunited Sabbath. After releasing his greatest hits album at the end of 1997, Ozzy embarked on “THE OZZMAN COMETH Tour” in early 1998. Zack returned for the first 11 shows in Oceania and Japan. This time, not only Zack, but also the rhythm section (Mike Inez/Randy Castillo) joined the band. This also marked the return of the “LIVE & LOUD” lineup. The Nippon Budokan performance in this album was the final day of this fleeting reunion tour.

　This work, which conveys such an extremely rare highlight performance, is an extremely thick and genuine soundboard leaked by those involved. The leak route has not been revealed, but even without being revealed, the sound itself loudly shouts, “It’s being recorded directly from the mix desk!” The cheers seem like ripples in the distance, and the live performance and fame are imprinted in the brain. Naturally, it is unprocessed and unedited, with no effects applied, making it a completely raw sound.

　This work is the highest peak update of this legendary soundboard. Originally, the quality was so high that you might think, “Can it be improved any further?”, but it has been meticulously treated for re-CD. Strict pitch correction and balance adjustment have been performed, further enhancing the contours and extending the high notes beautifully. It achieves a supremely clear sound that further utilizes the soundboard feel of the original sound.

[A full reunion show that could be considered a sequel to LIVE & LOUD]

　This original soundboard depicts the extremely rare “OZZMOSIS Tour with Zack” worldwide. As mentioned above, it is “THE OZZMAN COMETH Tour” accompanying the best album, but the set itself is based on the “RETIREMENT SUCKS Tour” after the release of “OZZMOSIS”. The members are the same as on the official album “LIVE & LOUD”, but there are some repertoires that cannot be heard there, so let’s organize them by comparing them.

●Solo (5 songs + 5 songs + 3 songs)
Blizzard of Oz: Goodbye To Romance/Suicide Solution/Mr. Crowley/Crazy Train/I Don’t Know
No More Tears: Desire/I Don’t Want To Change The World/No More Tears/Road To Nowhere/Mama, I’m Coming Home
Others: Bark At The Moon/Flying High Again/I Just Want You (★)
●Sabbath (2 songs + medley)
War Pigs/Paranoid (featuring Max Cavalera)
Medley (★: Iron Man/Sweet Leaf/Into The Void/Children Of The Grave)
*Note: Songs marked with “★” are songs that could not be heard on the official “LIVE & LOUD” album.

…And that’s how it goes. The basic formula established during the “LIVE A & LOUD” era, “BLIZZARD OF OZZ + NO MORE TEARS + others,” is followed, and the selections from each album are similar. The biggest difference is that the “THE ULTIMATE SIN” and “NO REST FOR THE WICKED” eras are omitted, replaced by “I Just Want You” from “OZZMOSIS” and a rapid-fire medley of Sabbath classics. These two are extremely rare and powerful. “I Just Want You” was performed several times during the Gas G era, but it’s primarily a song from the Joe Holmes era. There are very few live performances where Zack played the original version, and this is the only one where you can hear it on a superb soundboard.

　And then there’s the 14-minute Sabbath medley. It’s just so cool! Zack never tries to copy perfectly; he plays his own style, but somehow it feels natural. Without fear of misunderstanding, Iommi sounds like he’s pumped himself up into Captain America with the super serum… or at least that’s how I’d describe it. While he’s shown his true colors as a successor in recent years with ZAKK SABBATH, this album is loaded with the energy of a 31-year-old at the time. His powerful guitar work is on a whole different level from the average stoner band that doesn’t go beyond imitation, and it really sinks into your brain.

　Furthermore, the great Ozzy is also in top form on this album. It was said that he was suffering from a cold last time (1996 with Joe Holmes), but he was in excellent condition on this day. There are some scenes in the beginning where his voice is raspy, and there are some songs where he can’t quite get the high notes and it almost seems like he’s going to fall over. However, that’s within the standard for Ozzy in the ’90s, and he’s in a good mood, energetic, and driven. From the point where he sounds better after that, it seems like he might actually be getting too much momentum.

[Sound check on the day / Bonus DOWN TO EARTH demo included]

　The full show alone is heart-warming, but this work also includes two bonus soundboards. One is a sound check from the day that was leaked at the same time as the main program. Ozzy is not there, but Zack sings instead. He plays Jimi Hendrix’s masterpiece with none other than Zack Sound.

　The other is the “DOWN TO EARTH” demo, which was Zack’s comeback album. It includes three tracks: “Facing Hell (3 takes),” “Gets Me Through (1 take),” and “Black Skies (3 takes).” “Bang Bang ‘You’re Dead'” is a version of “Facing Hell” with alternate lyrics. While the backing track for “Facing Hell” feels very demo-like, the rest of the album is highly polished and musically enjoyable. It’s better described as an “alternate version” than a demo.

　Particularly interesting is the single’s B-side, “Black Skies.” It’s an unusual track featuring Neal Schon on rhythm guitar and Reeves Gabrels of TIN MACHINE on lead guitar. Apparently, in the early stages of “DOWN TO EARTH” development, there was some consideration to bring in Gabrels instead of Zack, and this track was created at that time. It was originally planned to be included in a game, but was shelved due to its evocation of the September 11 attacks. It saw the light of day as the B-side of a single (although you can also enjoy a version with Neal Schon playing lead on this album).

　Zakk Wylde, Ozzy’s eternal partner, continued to appear and disappear many times after that, but each time he was mentioned as “the one who has to be Ozzy.” This is a one-of-a-kind soundboard album that gives you a full taste of the “Spot reunion,” which also includes Zakk, Mike Inez, and the late Randy Castillo.

　This work itself is an extremely powerful live album, and can also be enjoyed as a “sequel to LIVE & LOUD” and as “Zack’s version of the OZZMOSIS tour.” This is the only absolute soundboard left in the “hidden Zack era,” connecting “Until NO MORE TEARS” and “After DOWN TO EARTH.” It’s here, with the highest quality update, it’s permanently preserved!

★A stereo soundboard recording of the March 5, 1998, Nippon Budokan concert, where the band reunited with members of “LIVE & LOUD.” This top-of-the-line album features meticulously polished soundboards directly connected to the mix desk, leaked from the studios. Zack plays the rare “I Just Want You” and a delicious full show with a Sabbath medley. Also included are rare soundchecks from the day and a “DOWN TO EARTH” demo. This is the birth of an absolute must-have album, where you can even enjoy “Black Skies” with Neal Schon playing lead.

Disc 1 (74:10)
1. Introduction
2. Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
3. Bark At The Moon
4. Desire
5. Flying High Again
6. I Just Want You
7. I Don’t Want To Change The World
8. War Pigs
9. No More Tears
10. Goodbye To Romance
11. Band Introduction
12. Suicide Solution
13. Sabbath Medley: Iron Man / Sweet Leaf / Into The Void / Children Of The Grave
14. Mr. Crowley

Disc 2 (65:46)
1. Road To Nowhere
2. Crazy Train
3. Paranoid (with Max Cavalera)
4. Mama, I’m Coming Home
5. I Don’t Know

SOUNDCHECK
6. Little Wing (Zakk Wylde Vocals)
7. Jimi Hendrix Jam
8. Guitar Solo

BONUS: ‘DOWN TO EARTH’ RARITIES
9. Bang Bang “You’re Dead” (Demo)
10. Facing Hell (Backing Demo 1)
11. Facing Hell (Backing Demo 2)
12. Gets Me Through (Rough Mix)
13. Black Skies (Unreleased Mix)
14. Black Skies (Alternate Mix)
15. Black Skies (Neil Schon Version)

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING

Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals
Zakk Wylde – Guitar
Mike Inez – Bass
Randy Castillo – Drums
John Sinclair – Keyboards