Ozzy Osbourne Plays His ‘Final Song' With Black Sabbath
James Hetfield, the guitarist and lead vocalist for Metallica, gazed out at the crowd at Villa Park, a football stadium in Birmingham, England, on Saturday. His band was the last of a slew of headliner-caliber metal acts and seasoned pros in and around the genre to perform ahead of the night's honoree and hometown hero: Ozzy Osbourne.
The gathering, a daylong festival called Back to the Beginning, was designed as both a tribute and a farewell. Osbourne, who has stepped back from live performance amid health issues including Parkinson's disease and emphysema, played solo for the first time in nearly seven years and then, for the first time since 2005, reunited with all three other original members of his pathbreaking 1970s band Black Sabbath — the guitarist Tony Iommi; the bassist Terence Butler, known as Geezer; and the drummer Bill Ward — for a four-song set.
Both performances were billed as career finales at the event, which was organized by Osbourne's wife, Sharon, along with the Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and streamed worldwide with a two-hour delay.
'Metallica is so grateful to be invited here to see all your beautiful faces and celebrate the band Black Sabbath, because without Sabbath there would be no Metallica,' Hetfield continued. 'Thank you, boys, for giving us a purpose in life; thank you, Black Sabbath.'
Gratitude was a theme throughout the concert, where artists didn't simply cite Black Sabbath for inspiring them musically, but often credited the group with fostering an entire global subculture.
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British novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) sat in his study in Gads Hill near Rochester, Kent ... More circa 1860. He wrote one of the best first lines in literature. Great opening lines to books set the tone for what's to come. Whether the beginning broaches a central issue in the book, creates the mood for the remainder of the novel, or introduces a character who will drive the action, the best first sentence of a book can make or break the reading experience. When readers feel intrigued by the start, they are much more likely to stick with a book. Plus, the best opening line of a book also establishes the narrator and suggests the perspective that will be presented going forward. This list of famous opening lines to books contains famous authors whose greatest gifts are on display. Memorable First Lines In Literature A good opening sentence usually tees up a story or a mood, or it tells a universal truth. 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The rest of Metamorphosis explains how he got there and whether he can return to human form. This book is best for those who enjoy books about transformations (physical and/or metaphorical). Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis is available from Simon & Schuster. The dichotomy between the first half of this opening sentence—just a brisk spring day—and the second part—the equivalent of pigs flying—forms a brilliant opener to Orwell's dystopian novel. Clearly, all is not right in this future where The Party controls everything, and one ordinary man dares to push back. This book is best for anyone who's ever wondered where the phrase 'Big Brother is watching' comes from. George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four is available from publisher Simon & Schuster. Neale Hurston's writing style is pure poetry, and this opener captures the romance of the unknown. When you can't touch something, it always carries the promise of being exactly what you want; but no 'ship' grants everyone's wish. 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This line has become cliché for a reason—it perfectly sets tone, mood and expectations for this novel about a young girl's quest to find her lost father. The guileless tone and straightforward description (nothing flowery) create expectations that L'Engle fulfills for a thrilling yet winnable adventure. This book is best for children's literature fans. Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time is available from publisher Macmillan. Ellison's narrator lays it all on the line to start. He tells the reader that he is invisible, and it soon becomes apparent that this truth is a metaphor for Blackness in the early 20th century. The unnamed protagonist (unseen even by the reader) struggles to fulfill his dreams of professional success due to racism. This book is best for those who want to read about the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is available from publisher Penguin Random House. Dickens penned arguably the most famous opening line ever with his observation about how two things can be true at once, depending on your circumstances. The novel follows the saga of families in London and Paris who navigate tumultuous historical events as well as personal upheavals, including love, loss and even murder. This book is best for Dickens fans and epic family fiction lovers. Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities is available from publisher Simon & Schuster. Bottom Line See which opening line appeals to you, and then enjoy a terrific read that builds on the imaginative opener. These books are all among the best ever written, and the opening lines are just one part of their genius. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What Are Great Book Passages? Great book passages combine several sentences to flesh out a character or move the plot forward by conveying a universal truth. This wonderful excerpt from E.B. 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Writing a good first sentence in a novel requires the same approach no matter what genre you write in—romance, fantasy, mystery or science fiction. The first line should give the reader a small insight into what your book is about while also introducing an essential element of the story. That element could be the central problem of the book, the narrator or another main character, or the location of the action, if that is important to your plot. The number of words don't matter, but how you use them does. Write the first line in the same style as the rest of the book. It may be easier to come back after you have finished the book and then write the first line. This also allows you to incorporate foreshadowing, a valuable literary tool. What Are Great Novel Closing Lines? Great novel closing lines summarize the point of the novel without getting preachy or repetitive. The final line from One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962) sums up the utter banality of Ivan's life in the Soviet labor camp: 'There were three thousand six hundred and fifty-three days like that in his stretch. From the first clang of the rail to the last clang of the rail. The three extra days were for leap years.' The final line of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007) by J.K. Rowling confirms Voldemort, Harry's sworn enemy, has never returned: 'The scar had not pained Harry for 19 years. All was well.' How Do You Write A Good Book Ending? Writing a good book ending means deciding whether you want to end things with a neat bow, wrapping up all the book's loose ends, or keep the reader guessing, leaving some critical questions open to interpretation. The author has the prerogative on what to do here, but it's important to know that some genres, like mysteries, romances and children's books, tend to demand pat endings, while others don't. Book endings should address, if not outright resolve, most of the pressing plotlines in the book. Harkening back to the book's opening lines or themes can also provide a great finishing point for a novel. Maintaining the same tone and approach as the rest of the novel is critical for continuity. Of course, if you write a book series, you may want to use a cliffhanger to drive people to buy the next book, which presumably resolves your situation.
