At just 36 years of age, drummer Tommy Clufetos wasn’t even born when Black Sabbath changed the world with their earth-shattering first four albums – 1970’s Black Sabbath and Paranoid, 1971’s Master of Reality, and 1972’s Vol. 4.
But as the replacement for the band’s founding sticks man Bill Ward, Clufetos is a symbol of the multi-generational appeal of the band widely cited as having pioneered the heavy metal genre, if not single-handedly invented it with their horror-inspired lyrics and doomy riffs.
A packed-out Rod Laver Arena is awash in a sea of black T-shirts, denim vests, and leather trousers, which are being donned by fans of every age. Fathers have brought their sons, daughters have dragged along their mothers, cliques of retirees are head-banging along with every note.
Four notes, to be precise. It’s the ‘Devil’s tritone’, named such because it supposedly awakens Lucifer himself, and it makes up the infamous riff of Black Sabbath’s titular tune with which they’ve decided to open the evening’s performance.
Tony Iommi, an icon in a band comprised of icons, deftly plays the infernal notes as frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who is hunched over the microphone with his characteristic Mr. Burns-like hump sings the tune’s iconic opening words: “What is this that stands before me?”
It, is thousands of fans who recognise the impact that songs like ‘Paranoid’, ‘War Pigs’, ‘Children of the Grave’, and ‘Iron Man’ have had on music. Sabbath are remarkable in that they not only helped forge heavy metal, but were instrumental in forging its various sub-genres as well.
The setlist is comprised entirely of songs from the band’s 1970s catalog, which is surprising given the level of acclaim and affection their last album, the aptly titled 13, received. But it’s not like the crowd is complaining.
In fact, the crowd are giving the band members, the chance to see first-hand the movement they created as they mosh, slam dance, and form circle pits in praise of Iommi’s timeless riffs, backed by the rhythmic powerhouse that is bassist Geezer Butler.
What’s perhaps most remarkable about the performance, however, is the way a tour billed as the band’s final ever outing — in fact, the very name of the trek is The End — is such a joyous and hope-filled occasion. There’s no sense that this is all a conclusion.
Instead, watching Ozzy employ his well-worn crowd banter tactics — asking the audience if they can scream louder than Adelaide and Perth or making cheeky references to ‘Snowblind’ being about one of their “former bad habits” — is cause for applause and jubilation.
It’s a testament to the band’s timelessness that even they can’t put a full stop on their legend. Black Sabbath is something that will live on long after the band’s individual members are gone and their Rod Laver Arena performance is glorious proof of that.
Setlist
Black Sabbath
Fairies Wear Boots
After Forever
Snowblind
Into the Void
War Pigs
Behind the Wall of Sleep
N.I.B.
Hand of Doom
Rat Salad (with drum solo)
Iron Man
Dirty Women
Children of the Grave
Paranoid
Black Sabbath Australian Tour Dates
Friday, 15th April 2016
Perth Arena, Perth
Sunday, 17th April 2016
Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Tuesday, 19th April 2016
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Saturday, 23rd April 2016
Allphones Arena, Sydney
Monday, 25th April 2016
Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
