Brad Gillis on Speak of the Devil

[Tatosh Guitar]

I had a long drive yesterday on my own (something I don't really do these days) and I was able to listen to some stuff I don't usually spend time on. I did put Ozzy's Speak (or Talk depending on your side of the pond) of the Devil, and I noticed a few things I really hadn't before.

First, is it me or is Brad Gillis out of pitch at times on some of the solos? I suppose it might be the whammy bar abuse, which might sound as heresy to some considering he is usually regarded as a sort of whammy bar god to his fans, or solid proof that this is an untouched live recording, but I think I hear some flat notes here and there.

That said, the dude really knocked it off the park with some performances here. Fairies Wear Boots is specially awesome here.

Also, I know Tommy Aldridge isn't usually seen in the same category as guys like Cozy, Paice or Kerslake, but I like him here. Certainly more than in Tribute which is a total Rhoads showcase to me.
 

[Dinosaur David B]

First, is it me or is Brad Gillis out of pitch at times on some of the solos? I suppose it might be the whammy bar abuse.
 

I haven't listened to that recently, but if he's off, it's more likely an inability to hear himself properly on what was a huge stage, and before the days of in-ear monitors. 

[Tatosh Guitar]

First, is it me or is Brad Gillis out of pitch at times on some of the solos? I suppose it might be the whammy bar abuse.

 

I haven't listened to that recently, but if he's off, it's more likely an inability to hear himself properly on what was a huge stage, and before the days of in-ear monitors. 

 

According to wiki:

"The Ritz, which held just under 1,000 people, was sold-out for the performances. Sarzo described the audiences as "rowdy", and also described the acoustics of the converted Latin ballroom as warm, intimate, and perfect for their needs. The band typically used side-fill monitors to allow the musicians to hear the drums while playing on larger stages, but the Ritz's smaller stage forced them to be removed for these shows. This change forced Gillis and Sarzo to spend the majority of the shows standing directly in front of the drum riser in order to hear Aldridge's drums over the intense volume of the band's backline"

So it was actually a small stage, but with a different setup to which what they were used to. Hearing themselves was definitely an issue.

Also, don't get me wrong. The way I phrased it might have make it seem as if I thought he was extremely off. He wasn't. I heard it sparsely, here and there in some solos. It could have been my head playing tricks for all I know.
 

[Haffner]

No offense meant to fans, but I always thought Gillis was the only thing worth listening to on that album. Osbourne's vocals are both terrible and (over) produced sounding to me. I never really heard the rhythm section take off, in fact the only person who really seems interested to me on this album is Gillis.

I always wondered if Steve Vai took influence form Gillis or vice versa. 
 

[Dr Nick]

Didn't they end up using the audio from pre-show rehearsals for some of it as well? Sounds like the whole thing was a car crash, and to have produced anything half-decent is a triumph. 

Much prefer Live Evil, but I gather SotD sold way more. Funny old world...

[Tatosh Guitar]

Didn't they end up using the audio from pre-show rehearsals for some of it as well? Sounds like the whole thing was a car crash, and to have produced anything half-decent is a triumph. 

Much prefer Live Evil, but I gather SotD sold way more. Funny old world...

 

I think I read they did, but only for one or two songs. Also, in the beginning, they were gonna include the versions of Paranoid, Iron Man and Children of the Grave with Rhoads that eventually ended on the Tribute album. Because they were not supposed to use those songs, they basically sleepwalked thru those the day they recorded this (according to them). But then the record label did a complete 180 and chose to save the Rhoads stuff for a later time, and used the versions with the current line up that we all now, and are of inferior quality to the rest of the record, according to all those involved.

Also, if the internet is to be believed, this is the album that made Gillis and Sarzo quit, as they were quite unhappy with everything about it, and with Ozzy, Sharon and everybody else involved.

[axe]

I love that record.
Yes it has some warts and Gillis told me years ago that the band was not given enough time to properly learn the material. Thus there are a couple of trainwrecks on the album.
But Gillis still shines on that record. I love the rawness of it.

axe

[bourbonsamurai]

Symptom is another favorite of mine on this record, besides Fairies.   my favorite version of the tune.