Geezer.......He's the Geezer

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Nothing to write home about. In America , it was ozzy and metallica puppets on the same bill. Metallica were tearing it up, and ozzy was wearing makeup and wigs.

[sykilz]

If you mean last night, paulconnolly, then the band were absolute mustard. And Ozzy was there. But thats all he needs to do really!

[Gust0o]

I still have a copy of this, somewhere:

http://youtu.be/XWL4rWgUB0k

[redbandit599]

I was at the O2 too, first time of seeing Sabbath (I've seen Ozzy before) though I'm an old git. Really enjoyed it, Geezer is indeed the man.

NIB and Fairies Wear Boots really stood out for me.

His sound on the latest album is also what fuelled a recent spell of effects pedal shuffling/trading/expenditure....

[the boy]

[quote name='paulconnolly' timestamp='1386789325' post='2304625']
Taking the boy to the Manchester gig next week. Way back in the arena so better take my opera glasses
[/quote]
What a way to break it to me. Thank you so much. I am beside myself with excitement.

[Skybone]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386783093' post='2304500']
Geezer is indeed the guv'nor.

What a fantastic player. His sound is always great, and his playing over the years has been an inspiration . Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules are my favourite albums for Geezers playing , but he is great on everything Sabbath have ever done . In fact, it was Geezer Butler and Geddy Lee that really inspired me to take up the bass, and I like to think that if by some amazing breakthrough in medical science Geezer and Geddy were able to have a child together then I would be that child.
[/quote]

Remember watching the "Never Say Die" tour video on telly many moons ago (when we only had 4 channels), and he was knocking seven shades out of a Fireglo 4001, though my absolute favourite was the "Live in Paris" film from about 1970 (Paranoid tour?). Utter classic.

Also remember reading a Guitar mag interview with Tony Iommi a few years back, and he said that Sabbath never had the need of a rhythm guitarist, "because Geezer filled those spaces with the bass". Awesome player and all round top bloke.

[KevB]

Like Dingus I really like the stuff he did with the Dio era albums, I really hope that it is Geezer on those albums. There have always been rumours that it wasn't him on the original recordings as he was a bit in and out of the band at the time (especially H&H). In particular I always cite the bassline in 'Die Young' as particularly good from that album but both albums are chock full of quality low endedness.

[spongebob]

'Heaven And Hell' is indeed a great album.

My fave Geezer records - 'H&H', and the much (in my book) underrated 'Never Say Die' - amazing playing on that one.

[thebigyin]

I agree he's the GEEZER.....his playing on 'Heaven & Hell' fantastic.

[KevB]

Here's a chunk of Wiki about Heaven & Hell album;

[size=3][color="#000000"]Black Sabbath's line-up was in chaos prior to the recording of [i]Heaven and Hell[/i]. Not only had Osbourne recently been replaced, but drummer [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ward_(musician)"][u]Bill Ward[/u][/url][color="#000000"] was battling personal issues that would see him eventually leave the band. Original demo recordings for the album featured [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Nicholls"][u]Geoff Nicholls[/u][/url][color="#000000"] on bass, as the band's longtime bassist [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geezer_Butler"][u]Geezer Butler[/u][/url][color="#000000"] was going through a divorce and his future with the band was in question. In fact, when Dio first joined the band he was doubling as bassist and vocalist, having played bass in the band [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(album)"][u]Elf[/u][/url][color="#000000"] in the early 1970s. At one point Iommi contacted close friend [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa"][u]Frank Zappa[/u][/url][color="#000000"] for help finding a bassist. Zappa offered his bassist for the [i]Heaven and Hell[/i] sessions but Iommi preferred a permanent member. Eventually, Butler returned and Nicholls stayed on as the band's unofficial keyboardist.Former Elf and [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_(rock_band)"][u]Rainbow[/u][/url][color="#000000"] bassist [/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Gruber"][u]Craig Gruber[/u][/url][color="#000000"] also rehearsed with the band during this period, though the true extent of Gruber's involvement is unclear. In a 1996 interview, Iommi stated that Gruber rehearsed with the band only "for a bit".Gruber has stated that his contribution was much more substantial; he claims to have co-written most of [i]Heaven and Hell'[/i]s songs and that it was actually he and not Butler who played bass on the album. Despite not being credited for his contributions, Gruber claims "we came to a suitable financial arrangement".Iommi later stated in his 2011 autobiography that Gruber did in fact record all the bass parts on the [i]Heaven and Hell[/i] album, but that Butler re-recorded the parts upon his return to the band.[/color][/size]

[spongebob]

I didn't know that!

I wonder who's bass it [i]really[/i] is then?

[KevB]

I'd like to think it's Geezer playing even if he's duplicating someone else's lines. The other thing is that the general tone and feel of the basslines on Heaven & Hell are very similar to those on Mob Rules (although the slightly muddy production on MR makes the comparison difficult) and there's never been a suggestion that it's anyone other than Geezer on that album.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I bloody love Geezer... I've had the good fortune of seeing him live several times - -the best being with G//Z/R (supporting Fear Factory!) and with Sabbath on the original reunion tour - both times at the London Astoria. Incredible.

He also has the honour of playing on my favourite album ever - Black Sabbath's Sabotage.

[Dingus]

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1386842464' post='2305139']
Remember watching the "Never Say Die" tour video on telly many moons ago (when we only had 4 channels), and he was knocking seven shades out of a Fireglo 4001, though my absolute favourite was the "Live in Paris" film from about 1970 (Paranoid tour?). Utter classic.

Also remember reading a Guitar mag interview with Tony Iommi a few years back, and he said that Sabbath never had the need of a rhythm guitarist, "because Geezer filled those spaces with the bass". Awesome player and all round top bloke.
[/quote]

Apparently, Geezer had just aquired that Rickenbacker in a swap deal done that night backstage with Glenn Hughes for a Gibson Thunderbird and decided to do the gig with it.

[Dingus]

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1386930585' post='2306470']
I'd like to think it's Geezer playing even if he's duplicating someone else's lines. The other thing is that the general tone and feel of the basslines on Heaven & Hell are very similar to those on Mob Rules (although the slightly muddy production on MR makes the comparison difficult) and there's never been a suggestion that it's anyone other than Geezer on that album.
[/quote]

I tend to think it must be Geezer on Heaven and Hell for this exact same reason . I cannot believe anyone else but Geezer played on Mob Rules and stylistically the playing on the two albums is very similar.

[spongebob]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386948912' post='2306738']
Apparently, Geezer had just aquired that Rickenbacker in a swap deal done that night backstage with Glenn Hughes for a Gibson Thunderbird and decided to do the gig with it.
[/quote]

I read in a book written by a Sabs roadie that their stuff was stuck in customs, and that's why GH lent Geezer the Ric for that show.

Like many rock stories, their seems to be multiple variations!

I remember reading somewhere where Geezer denied ever using the Ric except for that one gig. I swear he's using a 4001 on parts of 'Never Say Die' - 'Junior's Eyes' for example, and from memory, some of the other songs as well.

[The Admiral]

And sometimes forgotten that he is also the primary lyricist in the band.


And there's some great video here of the man in action. The second video clip has Zakk Wylde playing some nice harmonica - multi talented guy!

http://loudwire.com/metal-greats-black-sabbath-geezer-butler-bass-player-live-concert/

Edited December 14, 2013 by The Admiral

[Dingus]

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1387013845' post='2307379']
And sometimes forgotten that he is also the primary lyricist in the band.


And there's some great video here of the man in action. The second video clip has Zakk Wylde playing some nice harmonica - multi talented guy!

[url="http://loudwire.com/metal-greats-black-sabbath-geezer-butler-bass-player-live-concert/"]http://loudwire.com/...r-live-concert/[/url]
[/quote]

Geezer Butler's playing really shows that, contrary to popular myth, you don't need to use a pick and/or lots of distortion in your sound to cut through the mix in a heavy rock group. With the right tone and attack ( and really big amps) , you can make yourself heard just as well playing with your fingers.

He's a devoted Aston Villa fan, too. I really can't say whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but that is more to do with Villa's patchy form and years of underachievement than anything to do with Geezer. I can't help but notice , though, that it was around the time that Ron Saunder's formidable Villa side were conquering England and then Europe between 1980 and 1982 that , for my tastes, Geezer was playing at his best , too.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Dingus

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1386954766' post='2306818']
I read in a book written by a Sabs roadie that their stuff was stuck in customs, and that's why GH lent Geezer the Ric for that show.

Like many rock stories, their seems to be multiple variations!

I remember reading somewhere where Geezer denied ever using the Ric except for that one gig. I swear he's using a 4001 on parts of 'Never Say Die' - 'Junior's Eyes' for example, and from memory, some of the other songs as well.
[/quote]
Junior's Eyes is a Rickenbacker, no doubt about it.

[Gust0o]

Sounded good last night in Sheffield! Typically thunderous

[tommorichards]

Anyone seeing him in birmingham this week? I need a favour

[Paul S]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1387027481' post='2307543']
Geezer Butler's playing really shows that, contrary to popular myth, you don't need to use a pick and/or lots of distortion in your sound to cut through the mix in a heavy rock group. With the right tone and attack ( and really big amps) , you can make yourself heard just as well playing with your fingers.
[/quote]

I remembered, when I read this, that I had recently seen some footage of Geezer playing with a pick - but I couldn't remember which track. It came to me this morning - not seen it in any others but during *some* live footage of Children Of The Grave you can see him playing with a pick.

http://youtu.be/eSM_ufbBlZQ

Or, in this rather confusing clip you can see him playing with both pick and fingers - different nights footage cobbled together, I suppose.

http://youtu.be/lboS7psz-qc

[Dingus]

Geezer does indeed occasionally play with a pick , apparently when a particular kind of tempo dictates the need to do so. "Neon Knights" is another example where he chugs along with a plectrum.


.

[The Admiral]

Slightly OT, but I wondered how Ozzy manages with the Dio era material, given that RJD was technically a better singer than Ozzy is? I presume they actually do Dio era material? For those who have seen them recently - I'd be interested in views.

[lou24d53]

They don't do any Dio era songs - at least at they didn't Glasgow date anyway - and I think it's been pretty much the same set each night on this tour.