Ozzy visiting US Troops in South Korea, February 2002
Posted on 07/24/2004 6:00:29 PM PDT by ambrose
Bush/Hitler Image Removed From Ozzfest Video Montage
07.22.2004 2:38 PM EDT
Ozzy Osbourne (file)
Photo: Peter Pijlman / Image Direct
There's something a little different about Black Sabbath's performance at Ozzfest nowadays, and if you blink you might miss it.
Two images of George W. Bush, shown during Sabbath's performance of the metal classic "War Pigs," have been removed from the video montage that accompanies the song, which usually kicks off the band's headlining set. One image that juxtaposed Bush and Adolf Hitler was captioned "Same sh--, different a--hole," while the second superimposed a round, red clown nose on the president, along with the words "White House Clown."
The edit comes days after Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, who claimed he was unaware of what was showing behind him, distanced himself from the images and the sentiment they implied.
"It has been brought to my attention that the widescreen portrays President George W. Bush with a clown nose appearing with past warmongers, including Adolf Hitler," Ward wrote on his Web site. "I wish to say this video structure does not represent my personal views towards President Bush. This video was made without my prior knowledge or consent."
The Ozzfest camp said it did not create the inflammatory images, but only compiled pre-existing footage to accompany the anti-war song.
"The Ozzfest 'War Pigs' clip is a video montage of conflicts and war protests from the last century to today with stock footage secured from third parties," read a statement from festival organizers. "The image of President Bush and Hitler is taken from a CNN news feature that shows a protestor holding a sign with President Bush and Hitler. The video is part of a musical performance and the images should not be taken out of context."
An article in Wednesday's USA Today alleges that the Bush images were removed due to complaints, though an Ozzfest spokesperson denied the claim. Instead, the spokesperson said, the montage was edited because too many media outlets were taking the footage out of context, and it steered attention away from Black Sabbath's performance.
Two years ago, Bush met Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, attended as guests of FOX News host Greta Van Susteren (see "Ozzy Accepts Invite To White House Dinner").
Ozzie IMOP is a pig........as verified by his voyeur show and a peek into the Osborne sty.....all else should be self explanatory......
Out of context. Well, I'd sure like to know the real context!
Love it
Ozzie should worry less about politics and more about staying off the drugs and remembering how to formulate a complete sentence.
Don't think remembering is his strong suit, if it ever were.
Thanks......it's a line that had been making the rounds in emails and I just thought it perfect for FR.
As if they could give a crap about Ozzie and his stupid kids.
John Fonda Kerry has Ozzie. Pres. Bush has Ted Nugent. Wonder who will win the election?
Doesn't matter, I can listen to Stevie Ray Vaughn just fine.
One other thing confuses me: When did Ozzy rejoin Black Sabbath? I've read a couple of pieces on this now and am still unclear. Was this a performance by Black Sabbath, or was it Ozzy doing an old Black Sabbath tune?
I'd like to see him snort some Georgia fire ants.That'd be a sight to behold.
Posters in a previous thread wondered why Ozzy would trash our President after George Bush was so nice to him two years ago. I speculated that this was the work of his ditzed-out wife who's own talk show is a solid parade of Hollyweird Leftists, or his toad-like son who spends all his time with anarchist punkers. I don't know; I just can't imagine the old burnout trusting himself for anything beyond his single responsibility of singing his set. The wife has been micromanaging everything for him since she relaunched his career.
Bottom Line - They took their lumps for screwing up on the initial outing, cleaned up their act immediately and have been doing right by everyone since.
I wish it was that simple. Right now, I'm thinking Bush wins, but it won't turn on who is the more popular supporting rock star. If it did, I imagine Kerry would win. I like Ted, but he can't hold a candle to Sabbath with the average rock fan.
I went to Ozzfest at Jones Beach. The Hitler montage was disgusting, and the crowd booed it. Ozzy seemed like he did not raally know what was going on on the screen. Lamb of God front man was wearing anti-Bush shirt. However, BLS and others - SSLLAAYYEERR - were in support of the troops. SSSSSSSLLLLLLAAAAYYYYYEEEEEERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!
Ozzy visiting US Troops in South Korea, February 2002
I wouldn't make too many assumptions based on things like this video. As mentioned, I doubt Ozzy had a thing to do with the video and/or coherent enough to pay attention to it. Sharon Osbourne is scarier than Ozzy because she actually has a clue what she is doing.
I read something similar about the current Van Halen tour..they have a video screen that shows a reworking of Right Now (the video that had all the words which was considered a breakthrough video ten years ago) and some said it had a vague line they took offense to, yet Sammy Hagar is a huge George W. Supporter Him and his wife donate money to him and their GOP congressmen in Cali. I never did read what the EXACT message was on that VH video though.
I was mistaken, then. They were doing that at least three shows in (I caught the seventh). That's pretty slow on the uptake. I read an article where Elton John was accusing Ammericans of stifling freedom of expression. All I could think of was how Noel Coward, flitty British superstar of his time, actually worked for British Intelligence during World War II at considerable personal risk.
Hawkeye: How about our home-girl Joan Jett? She goes anywhere, anytime for the troops.
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